Luke
Chapter
7
Luke
7:1-10
1 Now
when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered
into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him,
was sick, and ready to die.
3 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 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly,
saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth
our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 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 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto
thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 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 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 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the
servant whole that had been sick.
When Jesus concluded teaching the people, He went to
Capernaum.
Somewhere along the way Christ encountered a Centurion whose
servant was close to death.
When the Roman officer heard that Jesus was close by, he
asked some of the Jewish leaders to appeal to Jesus so that He may come and
heal his servant.
Apparently the Gentile Roman Centurion was well known and
respected among the Jews of the area, because they went to Jesus
asking that He help the Centurion.
The Jewish leaders told Jesus how the Roman soldier had
helped the Jewish community and deserved Jesus’ help.
The Roman Centurion had actually built the local Synagogue.
Jesus went with the Jewish leaders to the Centurion’s home,
but as they approached the Centurion’s home, he sent some of his friends to
tell Jesus not to bother coming to his home.
The reason was that he did not consider himself worthy
enough to have Jesus come there.
He said, “I am not worthy that You
should enter under my roof!”
However, he had a plan saying, “Say the word, and my servant
shall be healed,
because I too am a man set under authority, having under soldiers under me. I
tell one, ‘Go!’ And, he goes! And to another I say, ‘Come!’ And, he comes! And
to my servant, ‘Do this!’ And he does it.”
When Jesus heard that He was astonished and told those
around Him, “I have not found faith like this in Israel!”
The Centurion’s envoys returned to his house, and found that
his servant was healed.
Luke
7:11-18
11 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 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 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and
said unto her, Weep not.
14 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 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he
delivered him to his mother.
16 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 And this rumour of him went
forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the
region round about.
18 And the disciples of John shewed
him of all these things.
Not long after that Jesus and His followers came to the
walled community of Nain.
As they arrived at the city gate, a funeral was in progress.
The dead man was being taken for burial by his mother who happened to be a
widow. A large group of local citizens accompanied her.
When the Lord saw her, He was filled with compassion, and
told her, “Don't cry.”
Jesus then touched the bier (Gr. soros- σορός), and said, “Young man, I say to
you, Arise!”
At Christ’s command, the deceased man sat up and began to
talk!
Jesus delivered (Gr. didōmi-δίδωμι) him back to his mother.
Those who saw this were filled with fear (Gr. phobos-joboV)
and praised God saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” And, “God has
visited his people!”
The news about what Jesus did moved swiftly throughout the
surrounding area.
Luke
7:19-35
19 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 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 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 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 blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 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 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 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet?
Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it is
written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy
way before thee.
28 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 And all the people that heard him,
and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God
against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I
liken the men of this generation? and to what are they
like?
32 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 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He
hath a devil.
34 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 wisdom is justified of all her
children.
Disciples of John the Baptist told him what was happening,
so he sent two of his group to Jesus in order to ask, “Are You He that should
come? Or should we look for another?”
At the time they asked Christ, He had already healed many people,
and so He told them, “Go tell John what things you
all have seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. Tell him that the gospel is
preached to the poor! And, tell him blessed
is he who shall not be offended
(Gr. skandalizō-σκανδαλίζω) in me.”
After John's envoys had left, Jesus began to speak about him
to those who followed Him asking, “What did you all go
out into the wilderness to see? Did you go out to see a simple reed blowing in
the wind?
“Did you all go a well dressed man
who lives in the king’s court? Or, did you all go out to see a Prophet?
“You saw more than a Prophet!
“You saw He of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before
thy face, who shall prepare your way.’”
Furthermore Jesus told them, “Among
those 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 John.”
Luke tells us that the entire crowd heard what Jesus told
them!
Biblical hearing demands a positive response! And so, even the publicans (tax collectors)
were baptized! They were re-baptized even if they had already been baptized by
John. In that in their hearing of Christ
Jesus they were justified by God!
However others, Pharisees, Lawyers, and the so-called upper
crust of the religious society refused to hear Christ, the counsel of God and
accept the true baptism!
They were already good in their own sight, and as many do
today, could not be bothered with repentance from sin!
So, Jesus continued, “To what shall
I compare those of this generation?
“They are like children sitting in
the marketplace, calling one to another, and saying, ‘We have played music for
you, but none of you have danced! We have mourned for you, and none of you have
wept!’
“John the Baptist came to you
neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you all said that he was demon
possessed. The Son of man is come eating and
drinking; and you all say, ‘Behold a gluttonous
man, a common drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But, wisdom justifies all those who are her children.”
Without Christ we will never reach spiritual maturity!
Wisdom is not the domain of children!
Luke 7:36-50
36 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 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 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 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 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith,
Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which
had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay,
he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him
most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom
he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast
rightly judged.
44 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 Thou gavest
me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my
feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not
anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 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 And he said unto her, Thy sins are
forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within
themselves, Who is this that forgiveth
sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy
faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
At that a Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him, so Jesus
went to the Pharisees house and ate a meal with him.
A certain woman who lived in that community heard that Jesus
was at the Pharisee’s home and brought an expensive alabaster box of myrrh (Gr.
myron-μύρον), a burial perfume, with her to the meal.
In those days, during a meal, those eating reclined beside
the short-legged table. As she stood behind Jesus, by his feet, she was crying
and her tears fell on Jesus’ feet.
The woman dried His feet with her hair, kissed them, and
poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet. That signified His soon coming death for the
sins of the world!
1 John 2:2
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world.
When
the host Pharisee saw this, he thought, “If Jesus was truly a prophet, He would
have known what kind of woman is touching Him! She is a sinner.”
There
is no need for the righteous to repent! But then again, there are no righteous
our side of Christ, so all need to repent!
Matt 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth,
I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call
the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
Christ came to call sinners to
repent! Since all are sinners, he came to call all to Himself!
Think about that Pharisee, a gross
sinner, not knowing that he is a gross sinner thinking evil thoughts about a
sinner who knows she is a sinner. Over
the centuries, things have not changed much!
But, Jesus, knowing what the
Pharisee was thinking spoke up and said to him, “Simon,
I have something to tell you.”
The Pharisee, whose name was Simon,
and not knowing what Jesus was about to say, said, “Of course Teacher (Gr. didaskalos-διδάσκαλος)!
So, Jesus began, “There was a banker (Gr. daneistēs-δανειστής) who lent money to two men. One man
owed him five hundred denarii (Gr. dēnarion-δηνάριον), and the other owed him fifty.
“When
neither of the men could repay the loan him, the banker graciously forgave both
debts!
“Which of
the two, will love him more?”
The Pharisee responded, “I suppose the
one who was forgiven more.”
Jesus then told him”You
are correct!”
Following that exchange, Jesus
turned to the woman, but spoke to Simon the Pharisee saying, “Do you see this woman?
“When I came
to your home, you gave me no water to wash my feet! However, she has washed my
feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! You did not welcome me with a
kiss of greeting, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I arrived. You
did not give Me oil to anoint My head (Gr. aleiphō-ἀλείφω), but she has anointed even My feet
with myrrh. Therefore I tell you, her many sins are forgiven! Those who have
been forgiven a little show little love.”
Then Jesus told the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Those reclining at the table thought,
“Who does he think He is? Does He think
that He may forgive sins?”
Jesus did not respond to their
thoughts, but instead told the woman, “Your faith has
saved you; go in peace.”
Salvation is spiritual healing! When
you are healed spiritually, you walk in God’s peace!