Luke 7

1 When Yeshua had finished speaking to the people, he went back to K'far-Nachum.

2 A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death.

3 Hearing about Yeshua, the officer sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he come and heal his servant.

4 They came to Yeshua and pleaded earnestly with him, "He really deserves to have you do this,

5 for he loves our people -- in fact, he built the synagogue for us!"

6 So Yeshua went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to him, "Sir, don't trouble yourself. I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof --

7 this is why I didn't presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover.

8 For I too am a man set under authority. I have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, `Go!' and he goes; and to another, `Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, `Do this!' and he does it."

9 Yeshua was astonished at him when he heard this; and he turned and said to the crowd following him, "I tell you, not even in Isra'el have I found such trust!"

10 When the messengers got back to the officer's house, they found the servant in good health.

11 The next day Yeshua, accompanied by his talmidim and a large crowd, went to a town called Na`im.

12 As he approached the town gate, a dead man was being carried out for burial. His mother was a widow, this had been her only son, and a sizeable crowd from the town was with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, he felt com passion for her and said to her, "Don't cry."

14 Then he came close and touched the coffin, and the pallbearers halted. He said, "Young man, I say to you: get up!"

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Yeshua gave him to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe and gave glory to God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and, "God has come to help his people."

17 This report about him spread throughout all Y'hudah and the surrounding countryside.

18 Yochanan's talmidim informed him of all these things. Then Yochanan called two of his talmidim

19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come? Or should we look for someone else?"

20 When the men came to him, they said, "Yochanan the Immerser has sent us to you to ask, `Are you the one who is to come? Or should we keep looking -- for someone else?'"

21 Right then he was healing many people of diseases, pains and evil spirits, and giving sight to many who were blind.

22 So he answered them by saying, "Go, tell Yochanan what you have been seeing and hearing: the blind are seeing again, the lame are walking, people with tzara`at are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, the Good News is being told to the poorp --

23 and how blessed is anyone not offended by me!"

24 When the messengers from Yochanan had gone, Yeshua began speaking to the crowds about Yochanan: "What did you go out into the desert to see? Reeds swaying in the breeze?

25 No? then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? But people who dress beautifully and live in luxury are found in kings' palaces.

26 Nu, so what did you go out to see? A prophet! Yes, and I tell you he's much more than a prophet.

27 This is the one about whom the Tanakh says, `See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'

28 I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he!"

29 All the people who heard him, even the tax-collectors, by undergoing Yochanan's immersion acknowledged that God was right;

30 but the P'rushim and the Torah-teachers, by not letting themselves be immersed by him, nullified for themselves God's plan.

31 "Therefore," said the Lord, "how can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like?

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling to one another, `We made happy music, but you wouldn't dance! We made sad music, but you wouldn't cry!'

33 For Yochanan has come not eating bread and not drinking wine; and you say, `He has a demon!'

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, `Aha! A glutton and a drunkard! A friend of tax-collectors and sinners!'

35 Well, the proof of wisdom is in all the kinds of people it produces."

36 One of the P'rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table.

37 A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume,

38 stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.

39 When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner."

40 Yeshua answered, "Shim`on, I have something to say to you." "Say it, Rabbi," he replied.

41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other.

42 When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?"

43 Shim`on answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." "Your judgment is right," Yeshua said to him.

44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim`on, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house -- you didn't give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!

45 You didn't give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet!

46 You didn't put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet!

47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins -- which are many! -- have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little."

48 Then he said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."

49 At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, "Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?"

50 But he said to the woman, "Your trust has saved you; go in peace."

Luke 7 Commentary

Chapter 7

The centurion's servant healed. (1-10) The widow's son raised. (11-18) John the Baptist's inquiry concerning Jesus. (19-35) Christ anointed in the house of the Pharisee The parable of the two debtors. (36-50)

Verses 1-10 Servants should study to endear themselves to their masters. Masters ought to take particular care of their servants when they are sick. We may still, by faithful and fervent prayer, apply to Christ, and ought to do so when sickness is in our families. The building places for religious worship is a good work, and an instance of love to God and his people. Our Lord Jesus was pleased with the centurion's faith; and he never fails to answer the expectations of that faith which honours his power and love. The cure soon wrought and perfect.

Verses 11-18 When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death itself. The gospel call to all people, to young people particularly, is, Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light and life. When Christ put life into him, it appeared by the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us spiritual life, he opens the lips in prayer and praise. When dead souls are raised to spiritual life, by Divine power going with the gospel, we must glorify God, and look upon it as a gracious visit to his people. Let us seek for such an interest in our compassionate Saviour, that we may look forward with joy to the time when the Redeemer's voice shall call forth all that are in their graves. May we be called to the resurrection of life, not to that of damnation.

Verses 19-35 To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is preached. It clearly pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he sent before him to prepare his way, did it by preaching repentance and reformation of heart and life. We have here the just blame of those who were not wrought upon by the ministry of John Baptist or of Jesus Christ himself. They made a jest of the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of multitudes; they are not serious in the concerns of their souls. Let us study to prove ourselves children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's word, and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisees deride and blaspheme.

Verses 36-50 None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they feel they cannot enough express self-abhorrence on account of sin, and admiration of his mercy, the self-sufficient will be disgusted, because the gospel encourages such repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character. But without free forgiveness none of us can escape the wrath to come; this our gracious Saviour has purchased with his blood, that he may freely bestow it on every one that believes in him. Christ, by a parable, forced Simon to acknowledge that the greater sinner this woman had been, the greater love she ought to show to Him when her sins were pardoned. Learn here, that sin is a debt; and all are sinners, are debtors to Almighty God. Some sinners are greater debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we are able to pay. God is ready to forgive; and his Son having purchased pardon for those who believe in him, his gospel promises it to them, and his Spirit seals it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let us keep far from the proud spirit of the Pharisee, simply depending upon and rejoicing in Christ alone, and so be prepared to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to recommend him unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the forgiveness of our sins. What a wonderful change does grace make upon a sinner's heart and life, as well as upon his state before God, by the full remission of all his sins through faith in the Lord Jesus!