CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Luke 7
Chapter 7 of 24
Chapter Overview
What happens in Luke 7
Jesus heals a centurion's servant from a distance, marveling at the Gentile's extraordinary faith. He raises a widow's dead son at Nain, answers John the Baptist's question about His identity, and contrasts the responses of sinners and Pharisees. The chapter climaxes with a sinful woman's extravagant act of love and Jesus' declaration that her sins are forgiven.
Scripture
Luke 7
The Centurion's Faith
Study note
A Roman centurion sends Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his dying servant. When Jesus approaches, the centurion sends a second message saying he is unworthy for Jesus to enter his home -- just a word of command will suffice, since he understands authority. Jesus is amazed and declares He has not found such great faith even in Israel. The servant is healed without Jesus even entering the house, demonstrating that faith, not proximity, is what connects us to Jesus' power.
1 After he finished saying all this to the crowd, Jesus went into Capernaum. Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 A Roman centurion there had a servant he cared about deeply. This servant was very sick and about to die. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 The centurion heard about Jesus. He sent some Jewish leaders to ask Jesus to come. He wanted Jesus to save his servant's life. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 They came to Jesus and begged him with real urgency, saying, "This man truly deserves your help." And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 "He loves our people and even paid to build our synagogue." For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Jesus started walking with them. But when he was getting close to the house, the centurion sent some friends with a message: "Lord, please do not go to all that trouble. I do not deserve to have you come into my home." Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 "Therefore I did not feel worthy to come see you in person. Say the word from where you are, and my servant will get better." Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 "I know how authority works because I am under it myself, and I also have soldiers who answer to me. I tell one to go, and he goes. I tell another to come, and he comes. I give my servant a task, and he does it." For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He turned around and told the crowd behind him, "I am telling you, nowhere in all of Israel have I come across faith this strong." When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 When the friends went back to the house, they found the servant completely healthy. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Raising the Widow's Son at Nain
Study note
Jesus encounters a funeral procession for the only son of a widow -- a woman facing not only grief but economic destitution. Moved by compassion, Jesus touches the coffin and commands the young man to arise. The dead man sits up and speaks, and Jesus gives him back to his mother. The crowd recognizes that a great prophet has risen and that God has visited His people, echoing the language of Zacharias' hymn from chapter 1.
11 Shortly after that, Jesus traveled to a town called Nain. His disciples and a big crowd went along with him. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12 As he got near the town gate, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was a young man -- the only son of a widow. A large group from the town was walking with her. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 When the Lord noticed her, his heart broke for her. He gently said, "Please do not cry." And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 He stepped forward and touched the stretcher they were carrying the body on. The men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man, I am telling you -- get up." And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 The dead man sat straight up and started talking! Jesus gave him back to his mother. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16 Everyone there was gripped with awe. They praised God, saying, "An amazing prophet has appeared among us!" and "God has come to take care of his people!" And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
17 Word about what Jesus did traveled all through Judaea and the entire region. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.
Jesus Answers John the Baptist
Study note
From prison, John the Baptist sends disciples to ask if Jesus is truly the expected Messiah. Rather than giving a direct yes, Jesus points to His works -- the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and the poor hear good news -- all fulfilling Isaiah's messianic prophecies. Jesus then praises John as the greatest born of women while declaring that the least in the kingdom of God is greater, revealing a new era of salvation.
18 John's followers told him everything that was going on. And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
19 John picked two of his followers and sent them to Jesus. They asked, "Are you the one everyone has been waiting for? Or should we keep looking?" And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 The two men came to Jesus. They said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask you this. 'Are you the one we've been waiting for? Or should we look for someone else?'" When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 At that moment, Jesus was busy healing all kinds of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. He was also restoring sight to many blind people. And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Jesus told the two men, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard. Blind people can see now. People who could not walk are walking. Lepers are made clean. Deaf people can hear. Dead people are alive again. And poor people are hearing wonderful news." Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 "And how blessed is the person who does not lose faith because of me." And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 Once John's messengers had left, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. "When you went out to the wilderness, what were you looking for? A thin reed blowing around in the breeze?" And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 "What exactly did you go see? A man wearing expensive designer clothes? No -- people who wear fancy outfits and live the high life are in royal palaces." But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 "So what did you truly go to see? A prophet? -- and I am telling you, he is even more than a prophet." But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 "He is the one the Scriptures are talking about: 'Pay attention — I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will clear the way and get everything ready for your arrival.'" This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 "Let me put it this way: out of every person ever born, no one is greater than John the Baptist. And yet even the most ordinary person in God's kingdom is greater than John." For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 The regular people who heard Jesus, including the tax collectors, agreed that God's way was right. They had shown this by being baptized by John. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and legal experts turned down what God wanted for them. They had refused to be baptized by John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31 The Lord continued, "So what comparison fits the people of this generation? What are they like?" And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
32 "They are like kids sitting around in the town square yelling at each other: 'We played happy music but you would not dance! We sang a funeral song but you would not cry!'" They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
33 "John the Baptist appeared not eating bread or drinking wine, and you said, 'Something is wrong with him -- he has a demon.'" For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34 "Then the Son of man came along eating and drinking normally, and you said, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much, and he hangs around with tax collectors and sinners!'" The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 "But true wisdom shows itself through what it accomplishes." But wisdom is justified of all her children.
The Sinful Woman's Anointing and Forgiveness
Study note
At a Pharisee's dinner, a sinful woman washes Jesus' feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, and anoints them with expensive ointment. The Pharisee Simon doubts Jesus' prophetic status for allowing this. Jesus responds with a parable about two debtors, teaching that the one forgiven more loves more. He contrasts Simon's cold hospitality with the woman's extravagant devotion, then declares her sins forgiven and her faith the source of her salvation.
36 A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to have a meal at his home. So Jesus went and took his place at the dinner table. And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 A woman who lived in that town and was known for her sinful life found out Jesus was eating at Simon's house. She appeared carrying an expensive jar of perfumed oil. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 She stood behind Jesus near his feet, crying so hard that her tears fell on his feet. She dried them with her hair, kissed his feet again and again, and rubbed the fragrant oil onto them. And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 When the Pharisee host saw this happening, he thought to himself, "If this man were truly a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She is a known sinner." Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 Jesus spoke up and said, "Simon, there is something I want to tell you." Simon said, "Go ahead, Teacher." And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 "Two people owed money to the same lender. One person owed five hundred silver coins, and the other owed fifty." There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 "Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled both debts. Now here is my question: which one of them do you think will love him more?" And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon thought about it and said, "I guess the one whose bigger debt was canceled." Jesus said, "You got it right." Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 Turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Take a good look at this woman. I walked into your home and you did not even offer me water to wash the dust off my feet. But she has washed my feet with her own tears and dried them with her hair." And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 "You did not greet me with a kiss. But ever since I got here, she has not stopped kissing my feet." Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 "You did not put any oil on my head. But she has poured this beautiful perfume on my feet." My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 "So let me tell you something: her many sins have been forgiven, and her huge outpouring of love proves it. But someone who has only been forgiven a small amount shows only a small amount of love." Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 Then he said directly to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 The other dinner guests started whispering to each other, "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins?" And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 But Jesus told the woman, "Your faith has rescued you. Go now, and be at peace." And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Key Themes
Themes in Luke 7
Faith beyond ethnic boundariesJesus' compassion for the sufferingForgiveness and grateful loveRecognizing Jesus' true identityThe relationship between grace and devotion
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Luke 7:22 Isaiah 35:5-6
Jesus' reply to John the Baptist -- that the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear -- directly echoes Isaiah's description of the messianic age when God comes to save His people.
Luke 7:27 Malachi 3:1
Jesus quotes Malachi's prophecy about God sending a messenger to prepare the way before Him, identifying John the Baptist as this forerunner.
Apply This Today
Living Luke 7
The centurion teaches us that genuine faith trusts Jesus' authority without needing to see or control the outcome. The widow of Nain shows us a God who sees our deepest grief and acts with compassion before we even ask. Most powerfully, the sinful woman demonstrates that understanding how much we have been forgiven produces extravagant love. Simon the Pharisee reminds us that religious propriety without gratitude leaves us cold and judgmental. Which person at that dinner table do we most resemble?
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