Luke 7
7
Jesus Heals a Soldier’s Servant
1When Jesus finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2There was an army officer who had a servant who was very important to him. The servant was so sick he was nearly dead. 3When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. 4The men went to Jesus and begged him, saying, “This officer is worthy of your help. 5He loves our people, and he built us a synagogue.”
6So Jesus went with the men. He was getting near the officer’s house when the officer sent friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, because I am not worthy to have you come into my house. 7That is why I did not come to you myself. But you only need to command it, and my servant will be healed. 8I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes. I tell another soldier, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant does it.”
9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, this is the greatest faith I have found anywhere, even in Israel.”
10Those who had been sent to Jesus went back to the house where they found the servant in good health.
Jesus Brings a Man Back to Life
11Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his followers and a large crowd traveled with him. 12When he came near the town gate, he saw a funeral. A mother, who was a widow, had lost her only son. A large crowd from the town was with the mother while her son was being carried out. 13When the Lord saw her, he felt very sorry for her and said, “Don’t cry.” 14He went up and touched the coffin, and the people who were carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” 15And the son sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16All the people were amazed and began praising God, saying, “A great prophet has come to us! God has come to help his people.”
17This news about Jesus spread through all Judea and into all the places around there.
John Asks a Question
18John’s followers told him about all these things. He called for two of his followers 19and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?”
20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you with this question: ‘Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?’ ”
21At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to many blind people. 22Then Jesus answered John’s followers, “Go tell John what you saw and heard here. The blind can see, the crippled can walk, and people with skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. 23Those who do not stumble in their faith because of me are blessed!”
24When John’s followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed blown by the wind? 25What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, people who have fine clothes and much wealth live in kings’ palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. 27This was written about him:
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare the way for you.’#Malachi 3:1
28I tell you, John is greater than any other person ever born, but even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.”
29(When the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good, because they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts on the law refused to accept God’s plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)
31Then Jesus said, “What shall I say about the people of this time? What are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying,
‘We played music for you, but you did not dance;
we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.’
33John the Baptist came and did not eat bread or drink wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon in him.’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35But wisdom is proved to be right by what it does.”
A Woman Washes Jesus’ Feet
36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, so Jesus went into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37A sinful woman in the town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38and stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying. She began to wash his feet with her tears, and she dried them with her hair, kissing them many times and rubbing them with the perfume. 39When the Pharisee who asked Jesus to come to his house saw this, he thought to himself, “If Jesus were a prophet, he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner!”
40Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
Simon said, “Teacher, tell me.”
41Jesus said, “Two people owed money to the same banker. One owed five hundred coins and the other owed fifty. 42They had no money to pay what they owed, but the banker told both of them they did not have to pay him. Which person will love the banker more?”
43Simon, the Pharisee, answered, “I think it would be the one who owed him the most money.”
Jesus said to Simon, “You are right.” 44Then Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss of greeting, but she has been kissing my feet since I came in. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet. 47I tell you that her many sins are forgiven, so she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little.”
48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49The people sitting at the table began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50Jesus said to the woman, “Because you believed, you are saved from your sins. Go in peace.”
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Luke 7: NCV
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version, Copyright © 2005 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Luke 7
7
A Centurion’s Faith
1When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. # Mt 8:5-13 2A centurion’s slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, 5because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” # Ac 10:22 6Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from # Lit and He already was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, “Lord, don’t trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured. # Other mss read and let my servant be cured # Ps 107:20; Mt 8:16 8For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. # Lit under me I say to this one, ‘Go! ’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come! ’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this! ’ and he does it.”
9Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel! ” 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
A Widow’s Son Raised to Life
11Soon afterward He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. 12Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. # Jdg 11:34; Lk 8:42; 9:38; Heb 11:17 A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her # Mt 20:34 and said, “Don’t cry.” 14Then He came up and touched the open coffin, # Or the bier and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up! ” # Mt 11:5; Mk 5:41; Lk 7:22; 8:54; Jn 11:43; Ac 9:40
15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. # 1Kg 17:23; 2Kg 4:36 16Then fear # Or awe came over everyone, # Lk 5:26 and they glorified God, # Mt 5:16; Lk 2:20; 13:13; 23:47; Ac 4:21; 11:18 saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” # Dt 18:15; Mt 21:11; Lk 7:39; Jn 7:40 and “God has visited # Or come to help His people.” # Lk 1:68 17This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
In Praise of John the Baptist
18Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. # Mt 11:2-19 So John summoned two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are You the One # Jn 4:25; 6:14; 11:27; Rm 5:14; Heb 10:37 who is to come, or should we look for someone else? ”
20When the men reached Him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask You, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else? ’ ”
21At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, # Mt 4:23 plagues, and evil spirits, # Mk 1:34 and He granted sight to many blind people. # Mt 9:30; 12:22; Mk 8:25; Lk 18:42; Jn 9:7 22He replied to them, “Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, # Lit cleansed the deaf hear, # Is 29:18; 35:5-6 the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. # Is 61:1; Lk 4:18 23And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed.” 24After John’s messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed # Or who have glorious robes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26What then did you go out to see? A prophet? # Mt 14:5; Lk 1:76; 20:6 Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 27This is the one it is written about:
Look, I am sending My messenger
ahead of You; # Lit messenger before Your face
he will prepare Your way before You. # Mal 3:1; Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 1:17 # Mal 3:1
28I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, # Other mss read women is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29(And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness, # Lit they justified God because they had been baptized with John’s baptism. # Mt 21:32; Lk 3:12; Ac 18:25; 19:3 30But since the Pharisees and experts in the law # Mt 22:35; Lk 10:25; 11:45-46,52; 14:3 had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves. # Mt 21:25,32; 23:13; Mk 7:9)
An Unresponsive Generation
31“To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:
We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t weep!
33For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, # Lk 1:15 and you say, ‘He has a demon! ’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ # Mt 9:10-11; Lk 15:2; 19:7 35Yet wisdom is vindicated # Or wisdom is declared right by all her children.”
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. # Lk 11:37; 14:1 37And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. # Mt 26:6-13; Mk 14:3-9; Jn 12:1-8 She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil 38and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. # Jn 11:2
39When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him — she’s a sinner! ” # Lk 7:16; Jn 4:19
40Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher,” he said, “say it.”
41“A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, # Mt 18:28; Mk 6:37 and the other 50. 42Since they could not pay it back, # Mt 18:25 he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more? ”
43Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” He told him. 44Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, # Gn 18:4; 19:2; 43:24; Jdg 19:21; 1Tm 5:10 but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave Me no kiss, # 2Sm 15:5; 19:39; 20:9 but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. 46You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, # 2Sm 12:20; Ps 23:5; Ec 9:8; Dn 10:3 but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why # Her love shows that she has been forgiven she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” # Mt 9:2; Mk 2:5; Lk 5:20; Jms 5:15; 1Jn 2:12
49Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins? ” # Lk 5:21
50And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. # Mt 9:22; Mk 10:52; Lk 17:19; 18:42 Go in peace.” # 1Sm 1:17; Mk 5:34; Lk 8:48
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