Luke 7

1 When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum.

2 There a Roman army officer's valuable slave was sick and near death.

3 The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant's life.

4 They came to Jesus and begged, "He deserves your help.

5 He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense."

6 Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, "Sir, don't bother. I don't deserve to have you come into my house.

7 That's why I didn't come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured.

8 As you know, I'm in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, 'Go!' and he goes, and another, 'Come!' and he comes. I tell my servant, 'Do this!' and he does it."

9 Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, "I can guarantee that I haven't found faith as great as this in Israel."

10 When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again.

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him.

12 As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow's only child. A large crowd from the city was with her.

13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. He said to her, "Don't cry."

14 He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I'm telling you to come back to life!"

15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has taken care of his people."

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

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

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

20 The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?'"

21 At that time Jesus was curing many people who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. Also, he was giving back sight to many who were blind.

22 Jesus answered John's disciples, "Go back, and tell John what you have seen and heard: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean, deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.

23 Whoever doesn't lose his faith in me is indeed blessed."

24 When John's messengers had left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. "What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?

25 Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces.

26 Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet.

27 John is the one about whom Scripture says, 'I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way in front of you.'

28 I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.

29 "All the people, including tax collectors, heard John. They admitted that God was right by letting John baptize them.

30 But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses' Teachings rejected God's plan for them. They refused to be baptized.

31 "How can I describe the people who are living now? What are they like?

32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, 'We played music for you, but you didn't dance. We sang a funeral song, but you didn't cry.'

33 John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'There's a demon in him!'

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! He's a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

35 "Yet, wisdom is proved right by all its results."

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee's house and was eating at the table.

37 A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she took a bottle of perfume

38 and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them.

39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She's a sinner."

40 Jesus spoke up, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon replied, "Teacher, you're free to speak."

41 [So Jesus said,] "Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty.

42 When they couldn't pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?"

43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You're right!"

44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "You see this woman, don't you? I came into your house. You didn't wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

45 You didn't give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.

46 You didn't put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet.

47 That's why I'm telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little."

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

49 The other guests thought, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"

50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith 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!