Luke 7

A Roman Commander Has Faith

1 Jesus finished saying all those things to the people. Then he entered Capernaum.
2 There the servant of a Roman commander was sick and about to die. His master thought highly of him.3 The commander heard about Jesus. So he sent some elders of the Jews to him. He told them to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant.
4 They came to Jesus and begged him, "This man deserves to have you do this.5 He loves our nation and has built our synagogue."6 So Jesus went with them.
When Jesus came near the house, the Roman commander sent friends to him. He told them to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself. I am not good enough to have you come into my house.7 That is why I did not even think I was fit to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.8 I myself am a man who is under authority. And I have soldiers who obey my orders. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned to the crowd that was following him. He said, "I tell you, even in Israel I have not found anyone whose faith is so strong."
10 Then the men who had been sent to Jesus returned to the house. They found that the servant was healed.

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son From the Dead

11 Some time later, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went along with him.12 He approached the town gate. Just then, a dead person was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother. She was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. So he said, "Don't cry."
14 Then he went up and touched the coffin. Those carrying it stood still.
Jesus said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"
15 The dead man sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 The people were all filled with wonder and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."17 This news about Jesus spread all through Judea and the whole country.

Jesus and John the Baptist

18 John's disciples told him about all these things. So he chose two of them.19 He sent them to the Lord. They were to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who was supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?"
20 The men came to Jesus. They said, "John the Baptist sent us to ask you, 'Are you the one who was supposed to come? Or should we look for someone else?' "
21 At that very time Jesus healed many people. They had illnesses, sicknesses and evil spirits. He also gave sight to many who were blind.22 So Jesus replied to the messengers, "Go back to John. Tell him what you have seen and heard. Blind people receive sight. Disabled people walk. Those who have skin diseases are healed. Deaf people hear. Those who are dead are raised to life. And the good news is preached to those who are poor.23 Blessed are those who do not give up their faith because of me."
24 So John's messengers left. Then Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. He said, "What did you go out into the desert to see? Tall grass waving in the wind?25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No. Those who wear fine clothes and have many expensive things are in palaces.26 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
27 "He is the one written about in Scripture. It says,
" 'I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way for you.' (Malachi 3:1)28 I tell you, no one more important than John has ever been born. But the least important person in God's kingdom is more important than he is."
29 All the people who heard Jesus' words agreed that God's way was right. Even the tax collectors agreed. These people had all been baptized by John.30 But the Pharisees and the authorities on the law did not accept God's purpose for themselves. They had not been baptized by John.
31 "What can I compare today's people to?" Jesus asked. "What are they like?32 They are like children sitting in the market place and calling out to each other. They say,
" 'We played a flute for you.
But you didn't dance.
We sang a funeral song.
But you didn't cry.'
33 "That is how it has been with John the Baptist. When he came to you, he didn't eat bread or drink wine. And you say, 'He has a demon.'34 But when the Son of Man came, he ate and drank as you do. And you say, 'This fellow is always eating and drinking far too much. He's a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." '35 All who follow wisdom prove that wisdom is right."

A Sinful Woman Pours Perfume on Jesus

36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee's house. He took his place at the table.
37 There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she came with a special sealed jar of perfume.38 She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. She began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!"
40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41 "Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins.42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who owed the most money."
"You are right," Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.45 You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in.46 You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet.47 So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has loved a lot. But the one who has been forgiven little loves only a little."
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 The other guests began to talk about this among themselves. They said, "Who is this 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.