Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Luke » Chapter 7 » Verse 1-50

Luke 7:1-50 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now G1161 when G1893 he had ended G4137 all G3956 his G846 sayings G4487 in G1519 the audience G189 of the people, G2992 he entered G1525 into G1519 Capernaum. G2584

2 And G1161 a certain G5100 centurion's G1543 servant, G1401 who G3739 was G2258 dear G1784 unto him, G846 was G2192 sick, G2560 and ready G3195 to die. G5053

3 And G1161 when he heard G191 of G4012 Jesus, G2424 he sent G649 unto G4314 him G846 the elders G4245 of the Jews, G2453 beseeching G2065 him G846 that G3704 he would come G2064 and heal G1295 his G846 servant. G1401

4 And G1161 when they came G3854 to G4314 Jesus, G2424 they besought G3870 him G846 instantly, G4709 saying, G3004 That G3754 he was G2076 worthy G514 for whom G3739 he should do G3930 this: G5124

5 For G1063 he loveth G25 our G2257 nation, G1484 and G2532 he G846 hath built G3618 us G2254 a synagogue. G4864

6 Then G1161 Jesus G2424 went G4198 with G4862 them. G846 And G1161 when he G846 was G568 now G2235 not G3756 far G3112 from G575 the house, G3614 the centurion G1543 sent G3992 friends G5384 to G4314 him, G846 saying G3004 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 trouble G4660 not G3361 thyself: G4660 for G1063 I am G1510 not G3756 worthy G2425 that G2443 thou shouldest enter G1525 under G5259 my G3450 roof: G4721

7 Wherefore G1352 neither G3761 thought I G515 myself G1683 worthy G515 to come G2064 unto G4314 thee: G4571 but G235 say G2036 in a word, G3056 and G2532 my G3450 servant G3816 shall be healed. G2390

8 For G1063 I G1473 also G2532 am G1510 a man G444 set G5021 under G5259 authority, G1849 having G2192 under G5259 me G1683 soldiers, G4757 and G2532 I say G3004 unto one, G5129 Go, G4198 and G2532 he goeth; G4198 and G2532 to another, G243 Come, G2064 and G2532 he cometh; G2064 and G2532 to my G3450 servant, G1401 Do G4160 this, G5124 and G2532 he doeth G4160 it.

9 When G1161 Jesus G2424 heard G191 these things, G5023 he marvelled G2296 at him, G846 and G2532 turned him about, G4762 and said G2036 unto the people G3793 that followed G190 him, G846 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 I have not found G2147 so great G5118 faith, G4102 no, not G3761 in G1722 Israel. G2474

10 And G2532 they that were sent, G3992 returning G5290 to G1519 the house, G3624 found G2147 the servant G1401 whole G5198 that had been sick. G770

11 And G2532 it came to pass G1096 G1722 the day after, G1836 that he went G4198 into G1519 a city G4172 called G2564 Nain; G3484 and G2532 many G2425 of his G846 disciples G3101 went with G4848 him, G846 and G2532 much G4183 people. G3793

12 Now G1161 when G5613 he came nigh G1448 to the gate G4439 of the city, G4172 behold, G2532 G2400 there was G1580 a dead man G2348 carried out, G1580 the only G3439 son G5207 of his G846 mother, G3384 and G2532 she G846 was G2258 a widow: G5503 and G2532 much G2425 people G3793 of the city G4172 was G2258 with G4862 her. G846

13 And G2532 when the Lord G2962 saw G1492 her, G846 he had compassion G4697 on G1909 her, G846 and G2532 said G2036 unto her, G846 Weep G2799 not. G3361

14 And G2532 he came G4334 and touched G680 the bier: G4673 and G1161 they that bare G941 him stood still. G2476 And G2532 he said, G2036 Young man, G3495 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Arise. G1453

15 And G2532 he that was dead G3498 sat up, G339 and G2532 began G756 to speak. G2980 And G2532 he delivered G1325 him G846 to his G846 mother. G3384

16 And G1161 there came G2983 a fear G5401 on all: G537 and G2532 they glorified G1392 God, G2316 saying, G3004 That G3754 a great G3173 prophet G4396 is risen up G1453 among G1722 us; G2254 and, G2532 That G3754 God G2316 hath visited G1980 his G846 people. G2992

17 And G2532 this G3778 rumour G3056 of G4012 him G846 went forth G1831 throughout G1722 all G3650 Judaea, G2449 and G2532 throughout G1722 all G3956 the region round about. G4066

18 And G2532 the disciples G3101 of John G2491 shewed G518 him G846 of G4012 all G3956 these things. G5130

19 And G2532 John G2491 calling G4341 unto him two G1417 G5100 of his G846 disciples G3101 sent G3992 them to G4314 Jesus, G2424 saying, G3004 Art G1488 thou G4771 he that should come? G2064 or G2228 look we for G4328 another? G243

20 When G1161 the men G435 were come G3854 unto G4314 him, G846 they said, G2036 John G2491 Baptist G910 hath sent G649 us G2248 unto G4314 thee, G4571 saying, G3004 Art G1488 thou G4771 he that should come? G2064 or G2228 look we for G4328 another? G243

21 And G1161 in G1722 that same G846 hour G5610 he cured G2323 many G4183 of G575 their infirmities G3554 and G2532 plagues, G3148 and G2532 of evil G4190 spirits; G4151 and G2532 unto many G4183 that were blind G5185 he gave G5483 sight. G991

22 Then G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 Go your way, G4198 and tell G518 John G2491 what things G3739 ye have seen G1492 and G2532 heard; G191 how G3754 that the blind G5185 see, G308 the lame G5560 walk, G4043 the lepers G3015 are cleansed, G2511 the deaf G2974 hear, G191 the dead G3498 are raised, G1453 to the poor G4434 the gospel is preached. G2097

23 And G2532 blessed G3107 is G2076 he, whosoever G3739 shall G4624 not G3362 be offended G4624 in G1722 me. G1698

24 And G1161 when the messengers G32 of John G2491 were departed, G565 he began G756 to speak G3004 unto G4314 the people G3793 concerning G4012 John, G2491 What G5101 went ye out G1831 into G1519 the wilderness G2048 for to see? G2300 A reed G2563 shaken G4531 with G5259 the wind? G417

25 But G235 what G5101 went ye out G1831 for to see? G1492 A man G444 clothed G294 in G1722 soft G3120 raiment? G2440 Behold, G2400 they which are G1722 gorgeously G1741 apparelled, G2441 and G2532 live G5225 delicately, G5172 are G1526 in G1722 kings' courts. G933

26 But G235 what G5101 went ye out G1831 for to see? G1492 A prophet? G4396 Yea, G3483 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 and G2532 much more G4055 than a prophet. G4396

27 This G3778 is G2076 he, of G4012 whom G3739 it is written, G1125 Behold, G2400 I G1473 send G649 my G3450 messenger G32 before G4253 thy G4675 face, G4383 which G3739 shall prepare G2680 thy G4675 way G3598 before G1715 thee. G4675

28 For G1063 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 Among G1722 those that are born G1084 of women G1135 there is G2076 not G3762 a greater G3187 prophet G4396 than G3187 John G2491 the Baptist: G910 but G1161 he that is least G3398 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of God G2316 is G2076 greater than G3187 he. G846

29 And G2532 all G3956 the people G2992 that heard G191 him, and G2532 the publicans, G5057 justified G1344 God, G2316 being baptized G907 with the baptism G908 of John. G2491

30 But G1161 the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 lawyers G3544 rejected G114 the counsel G1012 of God G2316 against G1519 themselves, G1438 being G907 not G3361 baptized G907 of G5259 him. G846

31 And G1161 the Lord G2962 said, G2036 Whereunto G5101 then G3767 shall I liken G3666 the men G444 of this G5026 generation? G1074 and G2532 to what G5101 are they G1526 like? G3664

32 They are G1526 like G3664 unto children G3813 sitting G2521 in G1722 the marketplace, G58 and G2532 calling G4377 one to another, G240 and G2532 saying, G3004 We have piped G832 unto you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G3738 not G3756 danced; G3738 we have mourned G2354 to you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G2799 not G3756 wept. G2799

33 For G1063 John G2491 the Baptist G910 came G2064 neither G3383 eating G2068 bread G740 nor G3383 drinking G4095 wine; G3631 and G2532 ye say, G3004 He hath G2192 a devil. G1140

34 The Son G5207 of man G444 is come G2064 eating G2068 and G2532 drinking; G4095 and G2532 ye say, G3004 Behold G2400 a gluttonous G5314 man, G444 and G2532 a winebibber, G3630 a friend G5384 of publicans G5057 and G2532 sinners! G268

35 But G2532 wisdom G4678 is justified G1344 of G575 all G3956 her G846 children. G5043

36 And G1161 one G5100 of the Pharisees G5330 desired G2065 him G846 that G2443 he would eat G5315 with G3326 him. G846 And G2532 he went G1525 into G1519 the Pharisee's G5330 house, G3614 and sat down to meat. G347

37 And, G2532 behold, G2400 a woman G1135 in G1722 the city, G4172 which G3748 was G2258 a sinner, G268 when she knew G1921 that G3754 Jesus sat at meat G345 in G1722 the Pharisee's G5330 house, G3614 brought G2865 an alabaster box G211 of ointment, G3464

38 And G2532 stood G2476 at G3844 his G846 feet G4228 behind G3694 him weeping, G2799 and began G756 to wash G1026 his G846 feet G4228 with tears, G1144 and G2532 did wipe G1591 them with the hairs G2359 of her G846 head, G2776 and G2532 kissed G2705 his G846 feet, G4228 and G2532 anointed G218 them with the ointment. G3464

39 Now G1161 when the Pharisee G5330 which G3588 had bidden G2564 him G846 saw G1492 it, he spake G2036 within G1722 himself, G1438 saying, G3004 This man, G3778 if G1487 he were G2258 a prophet, G4396 G302 would have known G1097 who G5101 and G2532 what manner G4217 of woman G1135 this is that G3748 toucheth G680 him: G846 for G3754 she is G2076 a sinner. G268

40 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Simon, G4613 I have G2192 somewhat G5100 to say G2036 unto thee. G4671 And G1161 he saith, G5346 Master, G1320 say on. G2036

41 There was G2258 a certain G5100 creditor G1157 which had two G1417 debtors: G5533 the one G1520 owed G3784 five hundred G4001 pence, G1220 and G1161 the other G2087 fifty. G4004

42 And G1161 when they G846 had G2192 nothing G3361 to pay, G591 he frankly forgave G5483 them both. G297 Tell me G2036 therefore, G3767 which G5101 of them G846 will love G25 him G846 most? G4119

43 Simon G4613 answered G611 and G1161 said, G2036 I suppose G5274 that G3754 he, to whom G3739 he forgave G5483 most. G4119 And G1161 he said G2036 unto him, G846 Thou hast G2919 rightly G3723 judged. G2919

44 And G2532 he turned G4762 to G4314 the woman, G1135 and said G5346 unto Simon, G4613 Seest thou G991 this G5026 woman? G1135 I entered G1525 into G1519 thine G4675 house, G3614 thou gavest me G1325 no G3756 water G5204 for G1909 my G3450 feet: G4228 but G1161 she G3778 G846 hath washed G1026 my G3450 feet G4228 with tears, G1144 and G2532 wiped G1591 them with the hairs G2359 of her G846 head. G2776

45 Thou gavest G1325 me G3427 no G3756 kiss: G5370 but G1161 this woman G3778 G846 since G575 the time G3739 I came in G1525 hath G1257 not G3756 ceased G1257 to kiss G2705 my G3450 feet. G4228

46 My G3450 head G2776 with oil G1637 thou didst G218 not G3756 anoint: G218 but G1161 this woman G3778 G846 hath anointed G218 my G3450 feet G4228 with ointment. G3464

47 Wherefore G3739 G5484 I say G3004 unto thee, G4671 Her G846 sins, G266 which G3588 are many, G4183 are forgiven; G863 for G3754 she loved G25 much: G4183 but G1161 to whom G3739 little G3641 is forgiven, G863 the same loveth G25 little. G3641

48 And G1161 he said G2036 unto her, G846 Thy G4675 sins G266 are forgiven. G863

49 And G2532 they that sat at meat with him G4873 began G756 to say G3004 within G1722 themselves, G1438 Who G5101 is G2076 this G3778 that G3739 forgiveth G863 sins G266 also? G2532

50 And G1161 he said G2036 to G4314 the woman, G1135 Thy G4675 faith G4102 hath saved G4982 thee; G4571 go G4198 in G1519 peace. G1515

Commentary on Luke 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 7

Lu 7:1-10. Centurion's Servant Healed.

(See on Mt 8:5-13.)

4. he was worthy—a testimony most precious, coming from those who probably were strangers to the principle from which he acted (Ec 7:1).

5. loved our nation—Having found that "salvation was of the Jews," he loved them for it.

built, &c.—His love took this practical and appropriate form.

Lu 7:11-17. Widow of Nain's Son Raised to Life. (In Luke only).

11. Nain—a small village not elsewhere mentioned in Scripture, and only this once probably visited by our Lord; it lay a little to the south of Mount Tabor, about twelve miles from Capernaum.

12. carried out—"was being carried out." Dead bodies, being ceremonially unclean, were not allowed to be buried within the cities (though the kings of David's house were buried m the city of David), and the funeral was usually on the same day as the death.

only son, &c.—affecting particulars, told with delightful simplicity.

13. the Lord—"This sublime appellation is more usual with Luke and John than Matthew; Mark holds the mean" [Bengel].

saw her, he had compassion, &c.—What consolation to thousands of the bereaved has this single verse carried from age to age!

14, 15. What mingled majesty and grace shines in this scene! The Resurrection and the Life in human flesh, with a word of command, bringing back life to the dead body; Incarnate Compassion summoning its absolute power to dry a widow's tears!

16. visited his people—more than bringing back the days of Elijah and Elisha (1Ki 17:17-24; 2Ki 4:32-37; and see Mt 15:31).

Lu 7:18-35. The Baptist's Message the Reply, and Consequent Discourse.

(See on Mt 11:2-14.)

29, 30. And all the people that heard—"on hearing (this)." These are the observations of the Evangelist, not of our Lord.

and the publicans—a striking clause.

justified God, being baptized, &c.—rather, "having been baptized." The meaning is, They acknowledged the divine wisdom of such a preparatory ministry as John's, in leading them to Him who now spake to them (see Lu 1:16, 17); whereas the Pharisees and lawyers, true to themselves in refusing the baptism of John, set at naught also the merciful design of God in the Saviour Himself, to their own destruction.

31-35. the Lord said, &c.—As cross, capricious children, invited by their playmates to join them in their amusements, will play with them neither at weddings nor funerals (juvenile imitations of the joyous and mournful scenes of life), so that generation rejected both John and his Master: the one because he was too unsocial—more like a demoniac than a rational man; the other, because He was too much the reverse, given to animal indulgences, and consorting with the lowest classes of society. But the children of Wisdom recognize and honor her, whether in the austere garb of the Baptist or in the more attractive style of his Master, whether in the Law or in the Gospel, whether in rags or in royalty, for "the full soul loatheth an honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet" (Pr 27:7).

Lu 7:36-50. Christ's Feet Washed with Tears.

37, 38. a sinner—one who had led a profligate life. Note.—There is no ground whatever for the popular notion that this woman was Mary Magdalene, nor do we know what her name was. (See on Lu 8:2.)

an alabaster box of ointment—a perfume vessel, in some cases very costly (Joh 12:5). "The ointment has here a peculiar interest, as the offering by a penitent of what had been an accessory in her unhallowed work of sin" [Alford].

38. at his feet behind him—the posture at meals being a reclining one, with the feet out behind.

began to wash, &c.—to "water with a shower." The tears, which were quite involuntary, poured down in a flood upon His naked feet, as she bent down to kiss them; and deeming them rather fouled than washed by this, she hastened to wipe them off with the only towel she had, the long tresses of her own hair, "with which slaves were wont to wash their masters' feet" [Stier].

kissed—The word signifies "to kiss fondly, to caress," or to "kiss again and again," which Lu 7:45 shows is meant here. What prompted this? Much love, springing from a sense of much forgiveness. So says He who knew her heart (Lu 7:47). Where she had met with Christ before, or what words of His had brought life to her dead heart and a sense of divine pardon to her guilty soul, we know not. But probably she was of the crowd of "publicans and sinners" whom Incarnate Compassion drew so often around Him, and heard from His lips some of those words such as never man spake, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour," &c. No personal interview had up to this time taken place between them; but she could keep her feelings no longer to herself, and having found her way to Him (and entered along with him, Lu 7:45), they burst forth in this surpassing yet most artless style, as if her whole soul would go out to Him.

39. the Pharisee—who had formed no definite opinion of our Lord, and invited Him apparently to obtain materials for a judgment.

spake within himself, &c.—"Ha! I have Him now; He plainly knows nothing of the person He allows to touch Him; and so, He can be no prophet." Not so fast, Simon; thou hast not seen through thy Guest yet, but He hath seen through thee.

40-43. Like Nathan with David, our Lord conceals His home thrust under the veil of a parable, and makes His host himself pronounce upon the case. The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of the one was ten times that of the other (in the proportion of "five hundred" to "fifty"); but both being equally insolvent, both are with equal frankness forgiven; and Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her Divine Benefactor with the deepest gratitude. Does our Lord then admit that Simon was a forgiving man? Let us see.

44-47. I entered … no water—a compliment to guests. Was this "much love?" Was it any?

45. no kiss—of salutation. How much love was here? Any at all?

46. with oil … not anoint—even common olive oil in contrast with the woman's "ointment" or aromatic balsam. What evidence was thus afforded of any feeling which forgiveness prompts? Our Lord speaks this with delicate politeness, as if hurt at these inattentions of His host, which though not invariably shown to guests, were the customary marks of studied respect and regard. The inference is plain—only one of the debtors was really forgiven, though in the first instance, to give room for the play of withheld feelings, the forgiveness of both is supposed in the parable.

47. Her sins which are many—"Those many sins of hers," our Lord, who admitted how much more she owed than the Pharisee, now proclaims in naked terms the forgiveness of her guilt.

for—not because, as if love were the cause of forgiveness, but "inasmuch as," or "in proof of which." The latter clause of the verse, and the whole structure of the parable, plainly show this to be the meaning.

little forgiven … loveth little—delicately ironical intimation of no love and no forgiveness in the present case.

48. said unto her, &c.—an unsought assurance, usually springing up unexpected in the midst of active duty and warm affections, while often it flies from those who mope and are paralyzed for want of it.

49, 50. they that sat … Who is this, &c.—No wonder they were startled to hear One who was reclining at the same couch, and partaking of the same hospitalities with themselves, assume the awful prerogative of "even forgiving sins." But so far from receding from this claim, or softening it down, our Lord only repeats it, with two precious additions: one, announcing what was the one secret of the "forgiveness" she had experienced, and which carried "salvation" in its bosom; the other, a glorious dismissal of her in that "peace" which she had already felt, but is now assured she has His full warrant to enjoy! This wonderful scene teaches two very weighty truths: (1) Though there be degrees of guilt, insolvency, or inability to wipe out the dishonor done to God, is common to all sinners. (2) As Christ is the Great Creditor to whom all debt, whether great or small, contracted by sinners is owing, so to Him belongs the prerogative of forgiving it. This latter truth is brought out in the structure and application of the present parable as it is nowhere else. Either then Jesus was a blaspheming deceiver, or He is God manifest in the flesh.