Luke 7

Healing the Centurion’s Slave

7:1 After Jesus1 had finished teaching all this to the people,2 he entered Capernaum.3 7:2 A centurion4 there5 had a slave6 who was highly regarded,7 but who was sick and at the point of death. 7:3 When the centurion8 heard9 about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders10 to him, asking him to come11 and heal his slave. 7:4 When12 they came13 to Jesus, they urged14 him earnestly,15 “He is worthy16 to have you do this for him, 7:5 because he loves our nation,17 and even18 built our synagogue.”19 7:6 So20 Jesus went with them. When21 he was not far from the house, the centurion22 sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself,23 for I am not worthy24 to have you come under my roof. 7:7 That is why25 I did not presume26 to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed.27 7:8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me.28 I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes,29 and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”30 7:9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed31 at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!”32 7:10 So33 when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave34 well.

Raising a Widow’s Son

7:11 Soon35 afterward36 Jesus37 went to a town38 called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 7:12 As he approached the town gate, a man39 who had died was being carried out,40 the only son of his mother (who41 was a widow42), and a large crowd from the town43 was with her. 7:13 When44 the Lord saw her, he had compassion45 for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”46 7:14 Then47 he came up48 and touched49 the bier,50 and those who carried it stood still. He51 said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 7:15 So52 the dead man53 sat up and began to speak, and Jesus54 gave him back55 to his mother. 7:16 Fear56 seized them all, and they began to glorify57 God, saying, “A great prophet58 has appeared59 among us!” and “God has come to help60 his people!” 7:17 This61 report62 about Jesus63 circulated64 throughout65 Judea and all the surrounding country.

Jesus and John the Baptist

7:18 John’s66 disciples informed him about all these things. So67 John called68 two of his disciples 7:19 and sent them to Jesus69 to ask,70 “Are you the one who is to come,71 or should we look for another?” 7:20 When72 the men came to Jesus,73 they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask,74 ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”75 7:21 At that very time76 Jesus77 cured many people of diseases, sicknesses,78 and evil spirits, and granted79 sight to many who were blind. 7:22 So80 he answered them,81 “Go tell82 John what you have seen and heard:83 The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the84 deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 7:23 Blessed is anyone85 who takes no offense at me.”

7:24 When86 John’s messengers had gone, Jesus87 began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness88 to see? A reed shaken by the wind?89 7:25 What90 did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy91 clothes?92 Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury93 are in kings’ courts!94 7:26 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more95 than a prophet. 7:27 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,96 who will prepare your way before you.’97 7:28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater98 than John.99 Yet the one who is least100 in the kingdom of God101 is greater than he is.” 7:29 (Now102 all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors,103 acknowledged104 God’s justice, because they had been baptized105 with John’s baptism. 7:30 However, the Pharisees106 and the experts in religious law107 rejected God’s purpose108 for themselves, because they had not been baptized109 by John.110)111

7:31 “To what then should I compare the people112 of this generation, and what are they like? 7:32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another,113

‘We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance;114

we wailed in mourning,115 yet you did not weep.’

7:33 For John the Baptist has come116 eating no bread and drinking no wine,117 and you say, ‘He has a demon!’118 7:34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him,119 a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’120 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated121 by all her children.”122

Jesus’ Anointing

7:36 Now one of the Pharisees123 asked Jesus124 to have dinner with him, so125 he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table.126 7:37 Then127 when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus128 was dining129 at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar130 of perfumed oil.131 7:38 As132 she stood133 behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She134 wiped them with her hair,135 kissed136 them,137 and anointed138 them with the perfumed oil. 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this,139 he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,140 he would know who and what kind of woman141 this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 7:40 So142 Jesus answered him,143 “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied,144 “Say it, Teacher.” 7:41 “A certain creditor145 had two debtors; one owed him146 five hundred silver coins,147 and the other fifty. 7:42 When they could not pay, he canceled148 the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 7:43 Simon answered,149 “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”150 Jesus151 said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 7:44 Then,152 turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet,153 but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 7:45 You gave me no kiss of greeting,154 but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 7:46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet155 with perfumed oil. 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much;156 but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 7:48 Then157 Jesus158 said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”159 7:49 But160 those who were at the table161 with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 7:50 He162 said to the woman, “Your faith163 has saved you;164 go in peace.”

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