Topical Bible: Prayer: Importunity in The Roman Centurion

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The account of the Roman centurion, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10, provides a profound example of importunity in prayer, characterized by persistent faith and humility. The centurion, a man of authority in the Roman army, approaches Jesus with a request for the healing of his servant, demonstrating a remarkable understanding of both authority and faith.

In Matthew 8:5-6 , the narrative begins: "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, 'Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.'" The centurion's approach is marked by urgency and earnestness, reflecting a deep concern for his servant's well-being. Despite his high status, the centurion humbles himself before Jesus, addressing Him as "Lord" and acknowledging His power to heal.

The centurion's importunity is further highlighted by his understanding of authority, as he explains in Matthew 8:8-9 : "The centurion replied, 'Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.'" Here, the centurion expresses a profound faith in Jesus' ability to command healing from a distance, recognizing the divine authority of Christ.

In response to the centurion's faith, Jesus marvels and commends him, saying in Matthew 8:10 , "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." This commendation underscores the centurion's importunity—not in the sense of repeated requests, but in the depth and sincerity of his faith. His belief in Jesus' power is unwavering, and his humility is evident in his acknowledgment of his own unworthiness.

The account concludes with Jesus granting the centurion's request, as stated in Matthew 8:13 : "Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.' And his servant was healed at that very hour." The immediacy of the healing serves as a testament to the power of importunate prayer when coupled with genuine faith and humility.

The Roman centurion's example teaches that importunity in prayer is not merely about persistence in asking but also about the quality of faith and the recognition of Christ's authority. His account encourages believers to approach God with a similar spirit of humility and confidence, trusting in His power to act according to His will.

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Matthew 8:5
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
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Luke 7:3,4
And when he heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
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Library

A Call to Prayer and Testimony
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the sign of coming action on ... Take no rest from prayer, and give him no rest. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/a call to prayer and.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... Importunity will, of course, be needed (Luke 11:5-10 ... Gospel because it makes so much
of prayer, especially in ... It is a Roman word, for adoption was hardly, if at ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

The Gospel of Luke
... only tells us of His parable on Importunity in prayer ... be seen what a prominent place
prayer has in ... a similar testimony borne by the Roman centurion: "Now when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/the gospel of luke.htm