Note 3 at Lu 7:9: The Jews had misinterpreted the fact that God had chosen the Israelites to be His people. They thought people could not really know God unless they were, or became, Jews. Jesus pointed out on a number of occasions the fact that God also loved and answered the prayers of Gentiles (Lu 4:24-27; see Life for Today Study Bible Notes, Introduction to Luke, paragraph 4), and this was, no doubt, His purpose in talking about the centurion's faith in this manner. He was pointing out to the pious Jews that this Gentile had a greater faith than any Jew He had ever seen.