Luke 7:5

5 for he loveth our folk, and he builded to us a synagogue. [for he loveth our folk, and he built to us a synagogue.]

Luke 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:5

For he loveth our nation
The Jewish nation, which was Christ's nation, as well as theirs, he being a Jew; see ( John 18:35 ) . This they mention as an argument to induce him to have a regard to the centurion, though he was a Gentile; since he was a friend of the Jews, and well affected and disposed to them, which was very rare: it was not common for the Gentiles to love the Jews, any more than the Jews the Gentiles; there was an hatred, yea, an enmity between them; but this man, very likely, was a proselyte to their religion, as the following instance seems to show:

and he hath built us a synagogue;
at his own private charge, and by the assistance of his soldiers under him, whom he might employ in this work: sometimes a single person built a synagogue at his own expense, and gave it to the citizens; of which the Jews say, ^F15

``if a man builds an house, and afterwards devotes it to a synagogue, it is as a synagogue.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Piske Harosh Megilia, c. 4. art. 1.

Luke 7:5 In-Context

3 And when he had heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elder men of Jews, and prayed him [praying him], that he would come, and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they prayed him busily, and said to him, For he is worthy, that thou grant to him this thing; [And, when they came to Jesus, they prayed busily, saying to him, For he is worthy that thou give to him this thing;]

5 for he loveth our folk, and he builded to us a synagogue. [for he loveth our folk, and he built to us a synagogue.]

6 And Jesus went with them. And when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent to him friends, and said [saying], Lord, do not thou be travailed, for I am not worthy, that thou enter under my roof;

7 for which thing I deemed not myself worthy, that I come to thee; but say thou by word, and my child shall be healed.