House
![White House at Night White House at Night by Vincent van Gogh](/bundles/ncbsw/media/Whitehousenight.webp)
A "house" is essentially a container -- for a person, a family, several families or even a large group with shared interests (think of the term "houses of worship.") In the Bible, a "house" is also a container, but for spiritual things rather than natural things. In various uses a "house" can represent part of the mind, the whole mind, a whole person or even a church. The other nuance to the word "house" is that it is generally used in regards to our affections and desires rather than our thoughts and principles. This makes sense; we tend to engage our thoughts and rationality when we are out in the world doing our work, but when we are inside our houses we are driven most by love for our families and the desire to be good to those we love. So "house" tends to represent the things we want and care about -- which are ultimately the things that define us.
Matthew 8:5-14
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When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him,
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and saying, "Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented."
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Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."
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The centurion answered, "Lord, I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
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For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and tell another, 'Come,' and he comes; and tell my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
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When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, "Most certainly I tell you, I haven't found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
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I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,
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but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
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Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed." His servant was healed in that hour.
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When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.