1 When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2 There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, 5 for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10 And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health. 11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region. 18 Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things. 19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” 24 After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. 31 “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” 36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!” 40 But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. 41 “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?” 43 “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Simon
A Pharisee who invited Jesus to eat and whom Jesus addressed as Simon when a sinful woman anointed His feet.
Cited in the guide: Luke 7:40
Cross references (49)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 8:5–13; Luke 7:1–10; Matthew 7:28–29
- 2 Genesis 24:27; John 4:46–47; 2 Kings 5:2–3; Job 31:5; Genesis 39:4–6
- 3 Matthew 8:5; John 4:47; Luke 9:38; Philemon 10; Luke 8:41
- 4 Luke 7:6–7; Matthew 10:37–38; Matthew 10:11; Revelation 3:4; Matthew 10:13
- 5 2 Chronicles 2:11–12; 1 Chronicles 29:3–9; 1 Kings 5:1; 1 John 5:1–3; 1 John 3:18–19
- 6 Mark 5:24; Luke 8:49; James 4:6; Matthew 3:11; Genesis 32:10
- 7 Psalm 107:20; Psalm 33:9; Luke 4:36; Mark 1:27; Luke 5:13
- 8 Acts 22:25–26; Acts 23:17; Colossians 3:22; Acts 10:7–8; 1 Timothy 6:1–2
- 9 Matthew 15:28; Romans 3:1–3; Matthew 8:10; Matthew 9:33; Romans 9:4–5
- 10 Matthew 8:13; John 4:50–53; Matthew 15:28; Mark 9:23
- 12 Luke 8:42; Luke 8:52; 2 Samuel 14:7; Genesis 22:12; Acts 9:39
- 13 Psalm 103:13; Isaiah 63:9; Lamentations 3:32–33; Hebrews 4:15; Psalm 86:15
- 14 John 5:25; John 11:43–44; Acts 9:40–41; John 11:25; Luke 8:54–55
- 15 2 Kings 13:21; 2 Kings 4:32–37; 1 Kings 17:23–24
- 16 Matthew 9:8; Jeremiah 33:9; Luke 1:68; Luke 7:39; Luke 2:20
- 17 Luke 7:14; Matthew 9:31; Matthew 9:26; Mark 1:28; Matthew 4:24
- 18 John 3:26; Matthew 11:2–19
- 19 Isaiah 9:6–7; John 4:25; Isaiah 11:1; Malachi 4:2; Genesis 3:15
- 20 Luke 7:19
- 21 Mark 3:10; 1 Kings 8:37; Mark 5:29; Psalm 90:7–9; Matthew 4:23
- 22 Isaiah 35:5–6; Isaiah 61:1–3; Luke 4:18; Isaiah 29:18–19; James 2:5
- 23 1 Peter 2:7–8; Matthew 11:6; Isaiah 8:14–15; Romans 9:32–33; Matthew 13:57–58
- 24 Ephesians 4:14; Luke 1:80; John 1:23; Luke 3:2; 2 Peter 3:17
- 25 2 Kings 1:8; Esther 1:11; Isaiah 59:17; Matthew 6:29; Esther 1:3
- 26 Luke 1:76; Luke 20:6; John 5:35; Matthew 11:9–14; Luke 16:16
- 27 Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:76; Mark 1:2; Matthew 11:10; Malachi 4:5–6
- 28 Hebrews 11:39–40; Matthew 11:11; Matthew 13:16–17; Colossians 1:25–27; Ephesians 3:8–9
- 29 Luke 3:12; Luke 7:35; Psalm 51:4; Matthew 21:31–32; Revelation 16:5
- 30 Luke 13:34; Matthew 22:35; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Jeremiah 8:8; Acts 20:27
- 31 Matthew 11:16–19; Lamentations 2:13; Mark 4:30
- 32 Matthew 11:16–19; Proverbs 17:16; Jeremiah 5:3–5; Isaiah 28:9–13; Zechariah 8:5
- 33 Luke 1:15; Mark 1:6; Matthew 3:4; John 8:52; Acts 2:13
- 34 Luke 15:2; Luke 7:36; Luke 19:7; Matthew 9:11; Luke 14:1
- 35 Proverbs 8:32–36; Matthew 11:19; 1 Corinthians 2:14–15; Hosea 14:9; Proverbs 17:16
- 36 Mark 14:3–9; Matthew 26:5–6; Luke 14:1; John 11:2–16; Luke 11:37
- 37 Mark 14:3–9; Matthew 26:6–13; Matthew 21:31; Luke 7:37–39; Luke 5:30
- 38 Psalm 126:5–6; Psalm 51:17; Genesis 18:4; Luke 7:44–46; Ecclesiastes 9:8
- 39 Luke 7:16; Luke 15:2; Isaiah 65:5; Proverbs 23:7; Mark 7:21
- 40 John 13:13; John 3:2; Luke 5:22; Matthew 7:22; Luke 18:18
- 41 Luke 7:47; Matthew 18:28; Matthew 6:12; Romans 5:20; Romans 3:23
- 42 Ephesians 1:7; Micah 7:18–20; Matthew 18:25–26; Ephesians 4:32; Romans 5:6
- 43 Psalm 116:16–18; Luke 10:38; 1 Corinthians 15:9–10; Mark 12:34; 1 Timothy 1:13–16
- 44 1 Timothy 5:10; Genesis 18:4; Judges 19:21; Genesis 19:2; Genesis 43:24
- 45 Romans 16:16; 2 Samuel 15:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 2 Samuel 19:39; Genesis 33:4
- 46 Psalm 23:5; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Matthew 6:17; Ruth 3:3; 2 Samuel 14:2
- 47 1 John 4:19; 1 John 3:18; Romans 5:20; Galatians 5:6; Isaiah 1:18
- 48 Matthew 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20
- 49 Luke 5:20–21; Mark 2:7; Matthew 9:3
- 50 Mark 5:34; Luke 8:48; Luke 18:42; Matthew 9:22; Mark 10:52
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The miracles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ make indeed an impression on all who hear of, and believe them; but on different men in different ways.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
They maintain that he is the centurion mentioned in the Gospel, who addressed the Saviour in these words: "For I also am one having soldiers and servants under my authority; and whatsoever I command they do." They further hold that he will continue administering the affairs of the world as long as that is fitting and needful, and specially that …
For this Master of humility both by word and example, sat down even in the house of a certain proud Pharisee, by name Simon; and though He sat down in his house, there was no place in this heart, "where the Son of Man could lay His Head."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
But see by another thing also how Luke hath proclaimed his faith, saying that his servant "was ready to die." Nevertheless, not even this cast him into despondency, neither did it cause him to give up: but even so he trusted that he should prevail.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Her name, too, was indicated by the Saviour, when He said, "Yet wisdom is justified by her children." This, too, was done by Paul in these words, "But we speak wisdom among them that are perfect." They declare also that Paul has referred to the conjunctions within the Pleroma, showing them forth by means of one; for, when writing of …