Luke 7

A Believing Army Officer—Matthew 8:5–13

1 When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum.2 There a Roman army officer’s valuable slave was sick and near death.3 The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant’s life.4 They came to Jesus and begged, “He deserves your help.

5 He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense.”
6 Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, don’t bother. I don’t deserve to have you come into my house.7 That’s why I didn’t come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured.

8 As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I can guarantee that I haven’t found faith as great as this in Israel.”10 When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again.

Jesus Brings a Widow’s Son Back to Life

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him.

12 As he came near the entrance to the city, he met a funeral procession. The dead man was a widow’s only child. A large crowd from the city was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. He said to her, “Don’t cry.”14 He went up to the open coffin, took hold of it, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, “Young man, I’m telling you to come back to life!”

15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 Everyone was struck with fear and praised God. They said, “A great prophet has appeared among us,” and “God has taken care of his people.”

17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.

John Sends Two Disciples—Matthew 11:2–6

18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Then John called two of his disciples

19 and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?”
20 The men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?’ ”21 At that time Jesus was curing many people who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits. Also, he was giving back sight to many who were blind.22 Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back, and tell John what you have seen and heard: Blind people see again, lame people are walking, those with skin diseases are made clean,t deaf people hear again, dead people are brought back to life, and poor people hear the Good News.

23 Whoever doesn’t lose his faith in me is indeed blessed.”

Jesus Speaks About John—Matthew 11:7–19

24 When John’s messengers had left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John. “What did you go into the desert to see? Tall grass swaying in the wind?25 Really, what did you go to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces.26 Really, what did you go to see? A prophet? Let me tell you that he is far more than a prophet.

27 John is the one about whom Scripture says,
‘I am sending my messenger ahead of youto prepare the way in front of you.’28 I can guarantee that of all the people ever born, no one is greater than John. Yet, the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.29 “All the people, including tax collectors, heard John. They admitted that God was right by letting John baptize them.

30 But the Pharisees and the experts in Moses’ Teachings rejected God’s plan for them. They refused to be baptized.
31 “How can I describe the people who are living now? What are they like?

32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other,
‘We played music for you,but you didn’t dance.We sang a funeral song,but you didn’t cry.’33 John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘There’s a demon in him!’

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! He’s a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35 “Yet, wisdom is proved right by all its results.”

A Sinful Woman Receives Forgiveness

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and was eating at the table.37 A woman who lived a sinful life in that city found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she took a bottle of perfume

38 and knelt at his feet. She was crying and washed his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them over and over again, and poured the perfume on them.
39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and thought, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know what sort of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner.”40 Jesus spoke up, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”Simon replied, “Teacher, you’re free to speak.”41 So Jesus said, “Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty.

42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”Jesus said to him, “You’re right!”44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “You see this woman, don’t you? I came into your house. You didn’t wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.45 You didn’t give me a kiss. But ever since I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.46 You didn’t put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet.

47 That’s why I’m telling you that her many sins have been forgiven. Her great love proves that. But whoever receives little forgiveness loves very little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

49 The other guests thought, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!”

Luke 7

1 After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death.3 And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant.4 And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him;5 for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue.6 And 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 come under my roof:7 wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be healed.8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.9 And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude 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.11 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude.12 Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, 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 nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers 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 gave him to his mother.16 And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people.17 And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea, and all the region round about.18 And the disciples of John told him of all these things.19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?20 And when the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.22 And he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them.23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.26 But what went ye out 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, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.29 And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.31 Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like?32 They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.33 For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.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 And wisdom is justified of all her children.36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.37 And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,38 and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.39 Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on.41 A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.42 When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?43 Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.44 And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she 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 even forgiveth sins?50 And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.