Luke 7
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Slave
1After He had finished all that He had to say in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
2Now a [Roman] centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and on the verge of death. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly [to come], saying, “He is worthy for You to do this for him, 5because he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].” 6And Jesus went with them. But when He was near the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof. 7Therefore I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You. But just speak a word, and my slave will be healed. 8For I also am a man subject to 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.” 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 [as this man’s].” 10When the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
11Soon afterward Jesus went to a city called Nain [near Nazareth], and His disciples and a large crowd accompanied Him. 12Now as He approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her [in the funeral procession]. 13When the Lord saw her, He felt [great] compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14And He came up and touched the bier [on which the body rested], and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise [from death]!” 15The man who was dead sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16Fear and profound awe gripped them all, and they began glorifying and honoring and praising God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people [to help and care for and provide for them]!” 17This news about Him spread through all of Judea and in all the surrounding countryside.
A Delegation from John
18John’s disciples brought word to him [in prison] of all these things. 19John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?” 20So the men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?’ ” 21At that very hour Jesus healed many people of sicknesses and infirmities and evil spirits; and He gave [the gracious gift of] sight to many who were blind. 22So He replied to them, “Go and tell John about everything you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news (gospel) preached to them. 23Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.”
24When John’s messengers left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh wilderness]? Those who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces! 26But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one far more [eminent and remarkable] than a prophet [who foretells the future]. 27This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi],
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28I tell 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 [in privilege] than he.” 29All the people and the tax collectors who heard Jesus, acknowledged [the validity of] God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and the lawyers [who were experts in the Mosaic Law] annulled and set aside God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.
31“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation [who set aside God’s plan], and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, and saying, ‘We played the flute for you [pretending to be at a wedding], and you did not dance; we sang a dirge [pretending to be at a funeral], and you did not weep [so nothing we did appealed to you].’ 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, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a [heavy] wine-drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews].’ 35Yet wisdom is vindicated and shown to be right by all her children [by the lifestyle, moral character, and good deeds of her followers].”
The Anointing in Galilee
36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house [in the region of Galilee] and reclined at the table. 37Now there was a woman in the city who was [known as] a sinner; and when she found out 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 wetting His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and [respectfully] kissed His feet [as an act signifying both affection and submission] and anointed them with the perfume. 39Now when [Simon] 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 woman this is who is touching Him, that she is a [notorious] sinner [an outcast, devoted to sin].”
Parable of Two Debtors
40Jesus, answering, said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Teacher, say it.” 41“A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they had no means of repaying [the debts], he freely forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave more.” Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.” 44Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house [but you failed to extend to Me the usual courtesies shown to a guest]; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair [demonstrating her love]. 45You gave Me no [welcoming] kiss, but from the moment I came in, she has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46You did not [even] anoint My head with [ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly and rare] perfume. 47Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49Those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith [in Me] has saved you; go in peace [free from the distress experienced because of sin].”