Luke 7

A Centurion’s Faith

7When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. ^y2A centurion’s slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. ³When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, ⁵because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” ^z6Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from ^athe 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. ⁷That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured. ^bc8For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. ^dI 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.”

⁹Jesus 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!” ¹⁰When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

A Widow’s Son Raised to Life

¹¹Soon afterward He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. ¹²Just 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. ^eA large crowd from the city was also with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her ^fand said, “Don’t cry.” ¹⁴Then He came up and touched the open coffin, ^gand the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” ^h

¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. ⁱ¹⁶Then fear ^jcame over everyone, ^kand they glorified God, ^lsaying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” ^mand “God has visited ⁿHis people.” ^o17This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

In Praise of John the Baptist

¹⁸Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. ^pSo John summoned two of his disciples ¹⁹and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are You the One ^qwho is to come, or should we look for someone else?”

²⁰When 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 look for someone else?’ ”

²¹At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, ^rplagues, and evil spirits, ^sand He granted sight to many blind people. ^t22He replied to them, “Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, ^uthe deaf hear, ^vthe dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. ^w23And anyone who is not ^•offended because of Me is blessed.” ²⁴After 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? ²⁵What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed ^xand live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶What then did you go out to see? A prophet? ^yYes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. ²⁷This is the one it is written about:

Look, I am sending My messenger

ahead of You; ^z

he will prepare Your way before You. ^ab

²⁸I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, ^cbut 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, ^dbecause they had been baptized with John’s baptism. ^e30But since the Pharisees and experts in the law ^fhad not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves. ^g)

An Unresponsive Generation

³¹“To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? ³²They 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!

³³For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, ^hand you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³⁴The ^•Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ⁱ³⁵Yet wisdom is vindicated ^jby all her children.”

Much Forgiveness, Much Love

³⁶Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ^k37And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. ^lShe brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil ³⁸and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. ^m

³⁹When 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!” ⁿ

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

“Teacher,” he said, “say it.”

⁴¹“A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 ^•denarii, ^oand the other 50. ⁴²Since they could not pay it back, ^phe graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”

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

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

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

⁵⁰And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. ^wGo in peace.” ^x