Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 7:3
And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
3. when he heard of Jesus ] Rather, having heard about Jesus.
he sent unto him the elders ] Rather, elders ( Zekanim), with no article. These ‘elders’ were doubtless some of the ten functionaries, whom the Jews also called Parnasim, ‘shepherds.’ Their functions were not in any respect sacerdotal.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. Elders of the Jews] These were either magistrates in the place, or the elders of the synagogue which the centurion had built, Lu 7:5. He sent these, probably, because he was afraid to come to Christ himself, not being a Jew, either by nation or religion. In the parallel place in Matthew, he is represented as coming to Christ himself; but it is a usual form of speech in all nations, to attribute the act to a person which is done not by himself, but by his authority.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And when he heard of Jesus,…. That he was come, as the Ethiopic version adds, into the city of Capernaum; or of his miracles, which he had done there, and elsewhere:
he sent unto him the elders of the Jews: in whom he had an interest, judging himself, being a Gentile, very unworthy and unfit to go himself, and ask a favour of so great a person as Christ was, such was his modesty and humility. These elders he sent, were not the more ancient inhabitants of the city, called , “the elders of, or among the common people”, as distinguished from , “the elders of the law”, or those that were old in knowledge; of both which it is said by R. Simeon ben Achasia m, that
“the elders of the common people, when they grow old, their knowledge fails in them, as it is said, Joh 12:20 but so it is not with the “elders of the law”; but when they grow old, their knowledge rests in them, as it is said,
Job 12:12.”
But these were either some principal officers of the city, called the elders of the people elsewhere; particularly, who were members of the sanhedrim; for as elders, when they design the elders in Jerusalem, mean the great sanhedrim n there; so elders, in other places, intend the sanhedrim, consisting of twenty one persons, or the bench of three; and such were these, the centurion sent to Christ:
beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant: he besought him most earnestly by these messengers, that he would come to his house, and cure his servant of the palsy, by laying his hands on him, or commanding the distemper off, by a word speaking; or in what way he should think fit, for he made no doubt that he was able to heal him.
m Misn. Kenim, c. 3. sect. 6. n T. Hieros. Sota, fol. 23. 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sent unto him elders of the Jews ( ). Mt 8:5 says “the centurion came unto him.” For discussion of this famous case of apparent discrepancy see discussion on Matthew. One possible solution is that Luke tells the story as it happened with the details, whereas Matthew simply presents a summary statement without the details. What one does through another he does himself.
Asking him ( ). Present active participle, masculine singular nominative, of the verb common for asking a question as in the old Greek (Lu 22:68). But more frequently in the N.T. the verb has the idea of making a request as here. This is not a Hebraism or an Aramaism, but is a common meaning of the verb in the papyri (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 168). It is to be noted here that Luke represents the centurion himself as “asking” through the elders of the Jews (leading citizens). In Mt 8:6 the verb is (beseeching).
That he would come and save ( ). H is the more common final or sub-final (as here) conjunction, but still occurs. is effective aorist active subjunctive, to bring safe through as in a storm (Acts 28:1; Acts 28:4). Common word.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And he heard of Jesus,” (akousas de peri tou lesou) “Then upon hearing about or concerning Jesus,” about His miracle working and healing deeds; When the reports came to him of Jesus, like the Syrophenician woman, Mar 7:25; and like the woman with an issue of blood, Mar 5:27.
2) “He sent unto him the elders of the Jews,” (apesteilen pros auton presbuterous ton loudaion) “He, the centurion, sent or mandated to Him (to Jesus) that he might come and recover his slave,” or his servant that was so dear to him, Mat 8:5-6.
Mat 8:5-6 represents the centurion as coming himself, yet this may have been as James and John are said to have petitioned the Lord, when they got their mother to actually do it for them, Mar 10:35; or as Jesus “made and baptized more disciples than John, though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,” Joh 4:1-2; or as Pilate is said to have scourged Jesus, when and because he ordered it to be
done, Joh 19:1.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(3) He sent unto him the elders of the Jews.The noun has no article. Better, He sent unto Him elders; not as the English suggests, the whole body of elders belonging to the synagogue or town. This is peculiar to St. Luke, and is obviously important as bearing on the position and character of the centurion. He was, like Cornelius, at least half a proselyte.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. The elders of the Jews Presbyters. The word literally signifies the older men. But as it became an official epithet, it acquired the official sense. The elders of Israel were anciently the heads of the tribes, chosen for their age and wisdom. In latter times, subsequent to the restoration from the captivity, a part of the Sanhedrim consisted, with the chief priests and the scribes, also of the elders. Similarly the courts of the individual towns, consisting of seven judges, were composed of the elders of Israel. In the present case the elders were of this last class. The centurion, feeling that as a Gentile and a sinner he might have little hope of a favourable reception from the holy and divine prophet of the Jews, the wonderful Jesus, sends the most weighty men and magistrates of Jewish Capernaum.
Beseeching The Greek word for beseeching, here, is a participle, agreeing with the centurion. So that even according to Luke’s language, the words were those of the centurion.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant.’
He was also a humble man. He did not despatch his soldiers to bring Jesus in, as he might have done. Nor did he go himself in order to exercise his influence as a servant of Rome. He recognised that he was dealing here with something greater than Rome, and that, as he was a Gentile, a Jewish prophet may well not wish to enter his house (no Pharisee would so so). So he rather approached some of the elders of the synagogue which he had built for the Jews, and asked them to intercede with the Prophet on his behalf. They on their part were willing. This was an indication that general Jewish hatred of Gentiles could be overborne when Gentiles were willing to show favour to Judaism. But had he been a proselyte they would surely have said so.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
Ver. 3. He sent unto him ] St Matthew saith, he went unto him, sc. by his messengers.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
3. ] ., not elders of the synagogue (who in Luke are , Act 13:15 ), but of the people .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 7:3 . : reports of previous acts of healing had reached him. : there is no mention of this fact or of the second deputation (in Luk 7:6 ) in Mt.’s version. Lk. is evidently drawing from another source, oral or written. , elders of the Jews; the reference is probably to elders of the city rather than to rulers of the synagogue. From the designation “of the Jews” it may be inferred that the centurion was a Pagan, probably in the service of Antipas. , bring safely through the disease which threatened life.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
of = about. Greek. peri. App-104. Not the same word as in verses: Luk 7:7, Luk 7:21-; Luk 7:-30; Luk 7:35.
Jesus. App-98.
sent = sent away (the sender remaining behind). Greek. apostello. App-174.
unto. Greek. pros. App-104.
the elders = some of [the] elders.
beseeching = asking. Not the same word as in Luk 7:4. App-134.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
3.] ., not elders of the synagogue (who in Luke are , Act 13:15), but of the people.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Luk 7:3. , having heard) He had not yet seen Jesus.-, elders) These, though they were not destitute of faith, Luk 7:4, yet had less faith than he by whom they were being sent, Luk 7:9. Yet nevertheless it is not in vain that they ask in his behalf. [The benefits of Christ at that time appertained especially to the Jews: hence it was becomingly that the Jews in this case acted as intercessors.-V. g.] Often those who have little weight of influence with God, have more power to be of service to others, who are their superiors, than to themselves.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Luk 8:41, Luk 9:38, Mat 8:5, Joh 4:47, Phm 1:10
Reciprocal: Gen 23:8 – entreat 1Ki 14:3 – he shall tell Mar 5:23 – besought Luk 4:38 – they 1Th 5:13 – and be Jam 5:16 – Confess
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
3
The centurion was a Gentile, but was in good standing with the Jews, for they had their elders to take a message of request to Jesus from the officers.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Luk 7:3. Heard concerning Jesus, as he naturally would in Capernaum.
Elders of the Jews. Not elders of the synagogue, but of the people. Here Luke is more accurate than Matthew.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 3
The peculiar point and interest of this story consist in the fact that the centurion was a foreigner, a Roman officer, under Herod Antipas, who, as such, occupied a peculiar position in regard to the Jews. These officers were often haughty and oppressive; but this centurion seems to have been a devout man, and just and beneficent towards the people whom he assisted to govern. Under these circumstances, it was natural for him not to apply directly to Christ himself but to ask the friendly mediation of other officers, of Christ’s own nation, with whom he must have been, from the nature of the case, on friendly and familiar terms. How true to nature, and to the circumstances of the case, is the plea which they urged, in the Luke 7:4,5!