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Luke 7

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Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

1 1When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, 2He went to Capernaum.
2 And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.
3 When he heard about Jesus, 3he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.
4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him;
5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue."
6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not 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 come under my roof;
7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 "For I also am a man placed under authority, with 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 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, 4not even in Israel have I found such great faith."
10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
11 Soon afterwards * He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
12 Now 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.
13 When 5the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!"
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 6Fear gripped them all, and they began 7glorifying God, saying, "A great 8prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"
17 9This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

A Deputation from John

18 10The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.
19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to 11the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"
20 When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, 'Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?' "
21 At that very time He 12cured many people of diseases and 13afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.
22 And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the 14BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the 15POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
23 "Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."
24 When 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?
25 "But 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!
26 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.
27 "This is the one about whom it is written, '16BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.'
28 "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged 17God's justice, 18having been baptized with 19the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and the 20lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
31 "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?
32 "They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, '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 has come 21eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'
34 "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
35 "Yet wisdom 22is vindicated by all her children."
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
37 23And 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,
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were 24a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

Parable of Two Debtors

40 And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."
41 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred 25denarii, and the other fifty.
42 "When they 26were unable * to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."
44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you 27gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 "You 28gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
46 "29You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
47 "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
48 Then He said to her, "30Your sins have been forgiven."
49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "31Who is this man who even forgives sins?"
50 And He said to the woman, "32Your faith has saved you; 33go 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!

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 33

  • 1. Matthew 7:28
  • 2. Luke 7:1-10: {Matthew 8:5-13}
  • 3. Matthew 8:5
  • 4. Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:50
  • 5. Luke 7:19; Luke 10:1; Luke 11:1, 39; Luke 12:42; Luke 13:15; Luke 17:5, 6; Luke 18:6; Luke 19:8; Luke 22:61; Luke 24:34; John 4:1; John 6:23; John 11:2
  • 6. Luke 5:26
  • 7. Matthew 9:8
  • 8. Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:39
  • 9. Matthew 9:26
  • 10. Luke 7:18-35: {Matthew 11:2-19}
  • 11. Luke 7:13; Luke 10:1; Luke 11:1, 39; Luke 12:42; Luke 13:15; Luke 17:5, 6; Luke 18:6; Luke 19:8; Luke 22:61; Luke 24:34; John 4:1; John 6:23; John 11:2
  • 12. Matthew 4:23
  • 13. Mark 3:10
  • 14. Isaiah 35:5
  • 15. Isaiah 61:1
  • 16. Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2
  • 17. Luke 7:35
  • 18. Matthew 21:32; Luke 3:12
  • 19. Acts 18:25; Acts 19:3
  • 20. Matthew 22:35
  • 21. Luke 1:15
  • 22. Luke 7:29
  • 23. Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:37-39; John 12:1-8
  • 24. Luke 7:16; John 4:19
  • 25. Matthew 18:28; Mark 6:37
  • 26. Matthew 18:25
  • 27. Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2; Genesis 43:24; Judg Genesis 19:21; 1 Timothy 5:10
  • 28. 2 Samuel 15:5
  • 29. 2 Samuel 12:20; Psalms 23:5; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Daniel 10:3
  • 30. Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5, 9; Luke 5:20, 23
  • 31. Luke 5:21
  • 32. Matthew 9:22; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42
  • 33. Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48

Footnotes 32

Luke 7 Commentaries

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.