Luke 7:1–8:56

A CENTURION’S FAITH

7 When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.d 2 A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. 4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”e

6 Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.A,f 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

A WIDOW’S SON RAISED TO LIFE

11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow.g A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on herh and said, “Don’t weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”i

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.j 16 Then fearA came over everyone,k and they glorified God,l saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,”m and “God has visitedB his people.”n 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

IN PRAISE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

18 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things.o So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the onep who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”

21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases,q afflictions, and evil spirits,r and he granted sight to many blind people.s 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy* are cleansed, the deaf hear,t the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,u 23 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?v Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

See, I am sending my messenger

ahead of you;

he will prepare your way before you.D,w

28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,E but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.a 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the lawb had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.c)

AN UNRESPONSIVE GENERATION

31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

We played the flute for you,

but you didn’t dance;

we sang a lament,

but you didn’t weep!

33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,d and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’e 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

MUCH FORGIVENESS, MUCH LOVE

36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.f 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house.g She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.h

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”i

40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

He said, “Say it, teacher.”

41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii,A,j and the other fifty. 42 Since they could not pay it back,k he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”

“You have judged correctly,” he told him. 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet,l but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss,m but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil,n but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”o

49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”p

50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you.q Go in peace.”r

MANY WOMEN SUPPORT CHRIST’S WORK

8 Afterward he was traveling from one town and village to another,s preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God.t The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses:u Mary, called Magdalene (seven demons had come outv of her); 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who were supporting them from their possessions.

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable,w 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.”x As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”y

WHY JESUS USED PARABLES

9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”z 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for youaa to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that

Looking they may not see,

and hearing they may not understand.A,ab

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER EXPLAINED

11 “This is the meaning of the parable:a The seed is the word of God.b 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing.c 14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life,d and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring,e produce fruit.

USING YOUR LIGHT

16 “No one, after lighting a lamp,f covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light.g 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light.h 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him;i and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

TRUE RELATIONSHIPS

19 Then his mother and brothersj came to him,k but they could not meet with him because of the crowd. 20 He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

21 But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.”l

WIND AND WAVES OBEY JESUS

22 One day he and his disciples got into a boat,m and he told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.”n So they set out, 23 and as they were sailing he fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. 24 They came and woke him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!”

Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. So they ceased, and there was a calm.o 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, “Who then is this?p He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him!”

DEMONS DRIVEN OUT BY JESUS

26 Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,B,q which is opposite Galilee. 27 When he got out on land, a demon-possessed man from the town met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes and did not stay in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, …