Luke 7

A Centurion's Faith

1 When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.

2 A centurion's slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die.

3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave.

4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this,

5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."

6 Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from^[a] the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, "Lord, don't trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

7 That is why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.^[b]

8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command.^[c] 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 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, "I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!"

10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

A Widow's Son Raised to Life

11 Soon afterwards He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him.

12 Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was also with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, "Don't cry."

14 Then He came up and touched the open coffin,^[d] and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!"

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.^[e]

16 Then fear^[f] came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited^[g] His people."

17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

In Praise of John the Baptist

18 Then John's disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples

19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?"

20 When the men reached Him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask You, 'Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?' "

21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and He granted sight to many blind people.

22 He replied to them, "Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, ^[h] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news preached to them.

23 And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed."

24 After John's messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed ^[i] and live in luxury are in royal palaces.

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

27 This is the one it is written about: Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; ^[j] he will prepare Your way before You. ^[k]

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, ^[l] but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness,^[m] because they had been baptized with John's baptism.

30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

An Unresponsive Generation

31 "To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other: We played the flute for you, but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't weep!

33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

35 Yet wisdom is vindicated ^[n] by all her children."

Much Forgiveness, Much Love

36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.

37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil

38 and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him-she's a sinner!"

40 Jesus replied to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he said, "say it."

41 "A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50.

42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?"

43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more." "You have judged correctly," He told him.

44 Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.

45 You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in.

46 You didn't anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why ^[o] she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little."

48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"

50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

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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!