Chapter 7

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

1 aWhen He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, bHe went to Capernaum.

2 And a centurion’s slave, 1who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

3 When he heard about Jesus, ahe sent some 1Jewish elders asking Him to come and 2save 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, “1Lord, 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 1say the word, and my 2servant 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, anot 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, 1accompanied by a large crowd.

12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, 1a dead man was being carried out, the 2only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

13 When athe Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “1Do 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 1dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 aFear gripped them all, and they began bglorifying God, saying, “A great cprophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has 1visited His people!”

17 aThis report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

A Deputation from John

18 aThe disciples of John reported to him about all these things.

19 Summoning 1two of his disciples, John sent them to athe Lord, saying, “Are You the 2Expected 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 1Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’ ”

21 At that 1very time He acured many people of diseases and bafflictions 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 ablind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the bpoor have the gospel preached to them.

23 “Blessed is he 1who 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 “1But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft 2clothing? 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,

‘aBehold, I send My messenger 1ahead 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 1least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they 1acknowledged aGod’s justice, bhaving been baptized with cthe baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and the 1alawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by 2John.

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 aeating 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 1drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 2sinners!’

35 “Yet wisdom ais vindicated by all her children.”

36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to 1dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37 aAnd there was a woman in the city who was a 1sinner; 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 aa prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a 1sinner.”

Parable of Two Debtors

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he 1replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred 1adenarii, and the other fifty.

42 “When they awere 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 agave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 “You agave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.

46 “aYou 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, “aYour sins have been forgiven.”

49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say 1to themselves, “aWho is this man who even forgives sins?”

50 And He said to the woman, “aYour faith has saved you; bgo in peace.”