Luke 7:4

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him,

Luke 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:4

And when they came to Jesus
To that part of the city where he was; either at Peter's house, where he used to be when in this place; or rather it might be as he was passing along the streets, that they came up to him

they besought him instantly;
or with great vehemence and importunity; very studiously and carefully they urged the case, and pressed him much to it:

saying, he was worthy for whom he should do this;
or, "for whom thou shouldst do this", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, and some copies; and which reading connects the words best. This speech of theirs savours of their "pharisaic" tenet and notion of merit, and is very different from the sense the poor centurion had of himself.

Luke 7:4 In-Context

2 Now a centurion had a slave who was dear to him, who was sick and at the point of death.

3 When he heard of Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his slave.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him,

5 for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue."

6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof;