Do the Accounts of the Healing of the Centurion’s Servant in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke Contradict?
By Peter Salemi
Many critics claim that this is an alleged contradiction. Matthew seems to suggest that it was the centurion himself who was seeking Jesus. While Luke claims that he sent “elders” and “friends” (Luke 7:3, 6) to talk to Jesus. Is this a contradiction?
What Matthew did
What we see in Matthew is a compacted version of the incident between Jesus and the centurion. “St. Matthew’s, which is not only compressed, but, if taken by itself, gives a wrong idea of what appears to have actually taken place.” (Pulpit Commentary, emphasis added). This is of course is what most people have done, and believe that these accounts contradict-they do not!
One must realize the purpose behind each Gospel and the message they are trying to convey. In summary the Gospel message in each one are:
· Gospel of Matthew-The Gospel of the King (Audience -The Jews)
· Gospel of Mark-The Gospel of the Servant (Audience-The Gentiles)
· Gospel of Luke-The Gospel of the Humanity of Christ (Audience-Greeks & Romans)
· Gospel of John-The Gospel of the Divinity of Christ (Audience- All People)
Why we see many times Matthew leaves out certain phrases, words events, etc.… whereas Luke or Mark do not, is not because there is a contradiction in their stories; the Gospel writers are just sticking to their message and audience.
In Matthew’s Gospel, “It teaches there the dispensational lesson, that the Gentiles would enter the kingdom and the children of the kingdom would be cast out into the outer darkness. As Luke writes for another purpose he omits Matthew 8: 11-12” (Gaebelein’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible p.819, emphasis added).
What we read in Matthew is a compacted version, “The account given by Matthew is more fully explained by Luke.” The Purpose of Luke’s Gospel is showing the humanity of Christ, “‘Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed,’ is a marvelous utterance of faith. The centurion owned Him as Lord of all, with power over all. To him He is the Creator with omnipotent power. And the Lord marveled at him. It is an evidence of His true humanity.” (ibid, p.819, emphasis added).
Conclusion
One must understand context, purpose, custom, and the audience the Gospel writers are putting forth to the people. Matthew has a certain purpose for his Gospel, and Luke has another with totally different audiences.
But why the discrepancy when it comes to who Jesus spoke with? The source writes:
“Both Matthew and Luke are correct. In the 1st century, it was understood that when a representative was sent to speak for his master, it was as if the master was speaking himself. Even in our day this is still the case. When the Secretary of State meets individuals from other countries, he goes out in the name of the President of the United States. In other words, what he says, the president says. Therefore, Matthew states that a centurion came entreating Jesus about his sick slave, when in fact the centurion sent others on his behalf. So, when Matthew declares that the centurion was speaking, this was true, even though he was (as Luke indicated) speaking through his official representative.” (When Critics Ask, by Geisler & Howe, p.334, emphasis added).
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