THE GREATER AUTHORITY

Matt 8:5-13
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak
the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to
another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so
great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his
servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

I. WHO HAS GREATER/GREATEST AUTHORITY?

A. The centurion?
1. “I am a man under authority, having [100] soldiers under me.”

B. Jesus Christ?
1. Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth.

2. 1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and
powers being made subject unto him.

3. Eph 1:19-22 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to
the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and
set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and
might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which
is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the
church,

II. IN THIS WORLD, WHO RECEIVES MORE OBEDIENCE?

A. The centurion?
1. “I say to this man, Go, and he goeth.”
2. “… and to another, Come, and he cometh.”
3. “…and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

B. Employers?
1. I say to this person, “Go to New York City,” and he goes.

2. I say to another, “Come to work,” and she comes to work – on time, every day.
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3. I say to this employee, “Do this,” and he does it – with diligence and perseverance, even working
overtime.

C. Jesus Christ?
1. I say to these people go … :
a. Matt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between
thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

b. Matt 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the
young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

c. Luke 15:4-6 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave
the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he
hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together
his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was
lost.

d. Heb 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.

2. I say to these people come …:

a. Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

b. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

c. Matt 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

d. 2 Cor 6:17-18 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

3. I say to these people do …:

a. Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and
to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent,
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

b. Matt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

c. John 13:15-17 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he
that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
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d. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

e. 1 Cor 11:24-25 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body,
which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink
it, in remembrance of me.

f. Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them
who are of the household of faith.

g. Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against
any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

h. Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Jesus Christ, also, says “Come, go, and do. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the remission of
sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful until death.

If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and for you.