Luke 7NASB
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Luke7

New American Standard

1When He had completed all His teaching in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

2Now a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

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

4When they came to Jesus, they strongly urged Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;

5for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

6Now Jesus started on His way with them; but already, when He was not yet far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof;

7for that reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant shall be healed.

8For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; 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.”

9Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

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

11Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.

12Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

13When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her and said to her, “Do not go on weeping.”

14And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”

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

16Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and, “God has visited His people!”

17And this report about Him spread throughout Judea and in all the surrounding region.

18The disciples of John also reported to him about all these things.

19And after summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for another?”

20When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Coming One, or are we to look for another?’”

21At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

22And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.

23And blessed is anyone who does not take offense at Me.”

24When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!

26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.

27This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’

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

29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

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

32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.’

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

34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a heavy drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35And yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

36Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

38and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

39Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!”

40And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

41“A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty.

42When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So which of them will love him more?”

43Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

44And turning toward 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 has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in.

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

47For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”

48And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

49And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying to themselves, “Who is this Man who even forgives sins?”

50And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 7.

Full AI study →

Chapter Summary

In this chapter: 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).

vv1-10

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.

vv11-18

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.

vv19-35

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.

Cross References

Luke 7
v1Matthew 8:5-13thematic

The direct parallel account of the healing of the Centurion's servant in Capernaum.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v18Matthew 11:2-6thematic

Parallel account of John the Baptist sending his disciples to question Jesus from prison.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v31Matthew 11:16-19thematic

The exact parallel parable of the children in the marketplace and the contrasting ministries.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v22Isaiah 35:5fulfillment

Prophetic description of the blind seeing and deaf hearing, which Jesus points to as proof.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v27Malachi 3:1fulfillment

Direct prophecy of the messenger sent to prepare the way, cited by Jesus of John.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v151 Kings 17:23typology

Elijah raising the widow's son and delivering him to his mother, echoing Jesus' actions.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v152 Kings 4:32-37typology

Elisha raising the Shunammite's son, matching the prophetic visitation theme in Luke 7:16.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v22Isaiah 61:1-3fulfillment

Messianic prophecy of preaching the gospel to the poor, fulfilled in Jesus' ministry.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v37John 12:3thematic

Another instance of anointing with costly ointment, showing similar devotion and cultural practice.

Supported by JFB

v16Luke 1:68thematic

Echoes the prophetic theme of Zacharias' song that God has visited His people.

Supported by JFB

v29Matthew 21:32thematic

Contrasts the publicans believing John's ministry with the self-righteous rejection by religious leaders.

Supported by JFB

v41Matthew 18:24thematic

Similar parabolic use of monetary debt to illustrate the vastness of spiritual transgression.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v48Luke 5:20thematic

Jesus exercising His divine authority to declare sins forgiven, sparking similar internal controversy.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v44Genesis 18:4thematic

Demonstrates the ancient Near Eastern custom of offering water to wash guests' feet.

Supported by JFB

v46Psalms 23:5thematic

Illustrates the traditional cultural hospitality of anointing the head with oil.

Supported by Matthew Henry