LUKAS 7

Die genesing van die offisier se slaaf

(Matt. 8:5-13; vgl. Joh. 4:43-54)

1 Nadat Jesus die gehoor klaar toegespreek het, het Hy na Kapernaum toe gegaan.

2 'n Offisier daar het 'n slaaf gehad wat vir hom baie werd was, en die slaaf was siek en het op sterwe gelê. 3 Die offisier het van Jesus gehoor, en stuur toe 'n paar familiehoofde van die Jode na Hom toe om te vra dat Hy moet kom om sy slaaf gesond te maak. 4 Toe hulle by Jesus kom, het hulle ernstig by Hom daarop aangedring en gesê: “Hy is dit werd dat U dit vir hom doen, 5 want hy het ons volk lief en het op eie koste die sinagoge vir ons gebou.”

6 Jesus het toe saam met hulle gegaan. Toe Hy nie meer ver van die huis af was nie, stuur die offisier 'n paar van sy vriende om vir Hom te sê: “Here, moenie moeite doen nie, want ek is nie werd dat U onder my dak inkom nie. 7 Daarom het ek my ook nie waardig geag om self na U toe te gaan nie. Sê maar net 'n woord, en my slaaf is gesond. 8 Ek is self 'n man wat onder gesag gestel is en ek het soldate onder my. Vir een sê ek: ‘Gaan daarheen!’ en hy gaan; en vir 'n ander: ‘Kom!’ en hy kom. Vir my slaaf sê ek: ‘Doen dit!’ en hy doen dit.”

9 Jesus was verwonderd toe Hy dit hoor. Hy draai toe om na die mense wat agter Hom aangekom het en sê: “Ek sê vir julle: In Israel het Ek nie so 'n groot geloof teëgekom nie.”

10 En toe die mense wat gestuur was, weer by die huis kom, kry hulle die slaaf daar heeltemal gesond.

Die opwekking van 'n weduwee se seun by Nain

11 Kort daarna het Jesus na 'n dorp met die naam Nain gegaan, 12 en sy dissipels en 'n hele menigte mense is saam met Hom. Toe Hy naby die ingang van die dorp kom, word daar juis 'n dooie uitgedra om begrawe te word. Hy was die enigste seun van sy ma, en sy was 'n weduwee. Byna die hele dorp se mense was saam met haar. 13 Toe die Here haar sien, het Hy haar innig jammer gekry en vir haar gesê: “Moenie huil nie!”

14 Hy gaan toe nader en vat aan die baar. Die draers gaan staan toe, en Hy sê: “Jongman, Ek sê vir jou, staan op!”

15 Die dooie het regop gaan sit en begin praat. En Jesus het hom aan sy ma teruggegee.

16 Almal is met ontsag vervul en het God geprys deur te sê: “'n Groot profeet het onder ons opgestaan,” en “God het na sy volk omgesien.” 17 Die berig oor wat Hy gedoen het, het deur die hele Joodse land en die omliggende gebied versprei.

Jesus en die vraag van Johannes die Doper

(Matt. 11:2-19)

18 Die volgelinge van Johannes het hom van al hierdie dinge vertel. Hy laat toe twee van sy volgelinge roep 19 en stuur hulle na die Here toe om te vra: “Is U die Een wat sou kom, of moet ons 'n ander een verwag?”

20 Toe die manne by Hom kom, sê hulle: “Johannes die Doper het ons na U toe gestuur om te vra: Is U die Een wat sou kom, of moet ons 'n ander een verwag?”

21 Op daardie oomblik het Jesus juis baie mense gesond gemaak van siektes en kwale en bose geeste, en baie blindes het Hy laat sien. 22 Sy antwoord aan die boodskappers was: “Gaan vertel vir Johannes wat julle gesien en gehoor het: blindes sien, lammes loop, melaatses word gereinig, dowes hoor, dooies word opgewek, aan armes word die evangelie verkondig. 23 En gelukkig is die man wat nie aan My begin twyfel nie.”

24 Nadat die boodskappers van Johannes vertrek het, het Jesus met die mense oor Johannes begin praat en gesê: “Waarna het julle in die woestyn gaan kyk? Na 'n riet wat deur die wind heen en weer gewaai word? 25 Nee? Maar wat het julle dan uitgegaan om te sien? 'n Man met deftige klere aan? Nee, kyk, dié wat swierige klere dra en in weelde lewe, kry 'n mens in koninklike paleise. 26 Maar wat het julle dan uitgegaan om te sien? 'n Profeet? Ja, Ek verseker julle, nog meer as 'n profeet. 27 Dit is hy van wie daar geskrywe staan: “ ‘Kyk, Ek stuur my boodskapper voor jou uit; hy sal die pad vir jou regmaak.’t

28 “Ek sê vir julle: Onder die mense op aarde is niemand gebore wat groter as Johannes is nie, en tog is die geringste in die koninkryk van God groter as hy.” 29 Al die mense, ook die tollenaars, het na hom geluister en was aan die wil van God gehoorsaam. Hulle het hulle met die doop van Johannes laat doop. 30 Net die Fariseërs en die wetgeleerdes het die bedoeling van God verwerp en hulle nie deur Johannes laat doop nie.

31 Verder het Jesus gesê: “Waarmee sal Ek die mense van hierdie geslag vergelyk? Soos wie is hulle? 32 Hulle is net soos kinders wat op die markplein sit en vir mekaar roep: “Ons het vir julle op die fluit gespeel, en julle het nie gedans nie! Ons het 'n treurlied gesing, en julle het nie gehuil nie!

33 “Johannes die Doper het gekom en nie brood geëet of wyn gedrink nie, en julle sê: ‘Hy is van die duiwel besete.’ 34 Die Seun van die mens het gekom, geëet en gedrink, en julle sê: ‘Kyk daar, 'n vraat en 'n wynsuiper, 'n vriend van tollenaars en sondaars.’ 35 Maar God tree met wysheid op, en sy werke bewys dit.”

Jesus by Simon, die Fariseër

37 'n Sekere vrou in die dorp, wat 'n sondige lewe gelei het, het gehoor dat Hy in die Fariseër se huis aan tafel was. Sy bring toe 'n albaste flessie met reukolie 38 en gaan staan agter Jesus by sy voete en huil, sodat haar trane op sy voete begin drup het. Daarna het sy sy voete met haar hare afgedroog, hulle gesoen en met die reukolie gesalf.

39 Toe die Fariseër wat Hom genooi het, dit sien, sê hy by homself: “Hy, as hy 'n profeet was, sou tog geweet het wie en watter soort vrou dit is wat aan hom raak, dat sy 'n sondares is.”

40 Maar Jesus spreek hom aan en sê: “Simon, Ek het iets om vir jou te sê.” “Meneer, sê dit maar!” antwoord hy.

41 Jesus sê toe: “Twee mense was in die skuld by 'n geldskieter. Die een het vyf honderd rand geskuld en die ander een vyftig. 42 Omdat hulle niks gehad het om mee te betaal nie, het hy die skuld vir albei kwytgeskeld. Wie van hulle sal hom die meeste liefde bewys?”

43 Simon antwoord: “Ek veronderstel dié een vir wie hy die meeste kwytgeskeld het.” “Jou antwoord is heeltemal reg,” sê Jesus,

44 en Hy draai na die vrou toe om en sê verder vir Simon: “Sien jy hierdie vrou? Ek het in jou huis gekom — en jy, water vir my voete het jy My nie gegee nie, maar sy, met haar trane het sy my voete natgemaak en met haar hare het sy dit afgedroog. 45 'n Soen het jy My nie gegee nie, maar sy het vandat sy hier ingekom het, nie opgehou om my voete te soen nie. 46 My kop het jy nie eens met olie gesalf nie; sy het my voete met reukolie gesalf. 47 Ek sê vir jou, omdat haar sondes wat baie is, vergewe is, daarom bewys sy baie liefde. Maar hy vir wie min vergewe is, bewys min liefde.”

48 En Jesus sê vir haar: “Jou sondes is vergewe.”

49 Toe begin dié wat saam aan tafel was, onder mekaar sê: “Wie is hierdie man dat hy selfs sondes vergewe?”

50 Maar Jesus sê vir die vrou: “Jou geloof het jou gered. Gaan in vrede.”

Luke 7

1  AFTER JESUS had finished all that He had to say in the hearing of the people [on the mountain], He entered Capernaum.2  Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.3  And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well.4  And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this for him,5  For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].6  And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof;7  Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed.8  For I also am a man [daily] subject to authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it.9  Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this].10  And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again.11  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great throng accompanied Him.12  [Just] as He drew near the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large gathering from the town was accompanying her.13  And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep.14  And He went forward and touched the funeral bier, and the pallbearers stood still. And He said, Young man, I say to you, arise [from death]!15  And the man [who was] dead sat up and began to speak. And [Jesus] gave him [back] to his mother.16  Profound and reverent fear seized them all, and they began to recognize God and praise and give thanks, saying, A great Prophet has appeared among us! And God has visited His people [in order to help and care for and provide for them]!17  And this report concerning [Jesus] spread through the whole of Judea and all the country round about. [I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:32-37.]18  And John’s disciples brought him [who was now in prison] word of all these things.19  And John summoned to him a certain two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, Are You He Who is to come, or shall we [continue to] look for another?20  So the men came to Jesus and said, John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, Are You the One Who is to come, or shall we [continue to] look for another?21  In that very hour Jesus was healing many [people] of sicknesses and distressing bodily plagues and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave [a free, gracious, joy-giving gift of] sight.22  So He replied to them, Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news (the Gospel) preached to them. 23  And blessed (happy--with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, apart from outward conditions--and to be envied) is he who takes no offense in Me and who is not hurt or resentful or annoyed or repelled or made to stumble [whatever may occur].24  And the messengers of John having departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: What did you go out into the desert to gaze on? A reed shaken and swayed by the wind?25  Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed up in soft garments? Behold, those who wear fine apparel and live in luxury are in the courts or palaces of kings.26  What then did you go out to see? A prophet (a forthteller)? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.27  This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall make ready Your way before You. 28  I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; but he that is inferior [to the other citizens] in the kingdom of God is greater [in incomparable privilege] than he.29  And all the people who heard Him, even the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God [in calling them to repentance and in pronouncing future wrath on the impenitent], being baptized with the baptism of John.30  But the Pharisees and the lawyers [of the Mosaic Law] annulled and rejected and brought to nothing God’s purpose concerning themselves, by [refusing and] not being baptized by him [John].31  So to what shall I compare the men of this generation? And what are they like?32  They are like little children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying, We piped to you [playing wedding], and you did not dance; we sang dirges and wailed [playing funeral], and you did not weep.33  For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon.34  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a Man Who is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and notorious sinners.35  Yet wisdom is vindicated (shown to be true and divine) by all her children [by their life, character, and deeds].36  One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.37  And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume).38  And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with [her] tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet [affectionately] and anointed them with the ointment (perfume).39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him--for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin).40  And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it.41  A certain lender of money [at interest] had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42  When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?43  Simon answered, The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more. And Jesus said to him, You have decided correctly.44  Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45  You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased [intermittently] to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly.46  You did not anoint My head with [cheap, ordinary] oil, but she has anointed My feet with [costly, rare] perfume.47  Therefore I tell you, her sins, many [as they are], are forgiven her--because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little.48  And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven!49  Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, Who is this Who even forgives sins?50  But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].