Luke 7

Listen to Luke 7

The Faith of the Centurion

1 When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. ¹

2 There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.

3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.

4 They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,

5 for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

6 So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

7 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

10 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.

12 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”

14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, ^[a] and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”

15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”

17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.

John’s Inquiry

18 Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. ²

19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’”

21 At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.

22 So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers ^[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

23 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me. ^[c]”

Jesus Testifies about John

24 After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? ³

25 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.

26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

27 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ^[d]

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

31 “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus

36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ⁴

37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

40 But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

41 “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, ^[e] and the other fifty.

42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

43 “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.

46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

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Videos for Luke 7

How is John the Baptist the Least in the Kingdom (Luke 7:24-30)?

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!