路加福音 7
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
百夫長的信心
7 耶穌向眾人講完道後，進了迦百農。 2 當時，有一個百夫長很賞識的奴僕病了，生命垂危。 3 百夫長聽說耶穌的事，就託幾位猶太人的長老去請耶穌來醫治他的奴僕。 4 他們便來懇求耶穌，說：「這位百夫長值得你幫助， 5 因為他愛我們的同胞，為我們建造會堂。」 6 耶穌就跟他們去了。
快抵達時，那百夫長又請幾位朋友去見耶穌，對祂說：「主啊，不用勞駕，我不配讓你親自來我家。 7 我自認不配見你的面，只要你一句話，我的奴僕必定康復。 8 因為我有上司，也有部下。我命令我的部下去，他就去；要他來，他就來。我吩咐奴僕做什麼事，他一定照辦。」
9 耶穌聽了這番話，感到驚奇，轉身對跟從祂的百姓說：「我告訴你們，就是在以色列，我也從未見過有這麼大信心的人。」
10 派去的幾位朋友回到百夫長家裡，發現那奴僕已經痊癒了。
寡婦獨子的起死回生
11 過了不久[a]，耶穌去拿因城，隨行的有門徒和一大群人。 12 耶穌快到城門口時，從城裡走出一隊送殯的人，死者是一個寡婦的獨子，有許多城中的人陪著她。 13 耶穌看見那寡婦，憐憫之心油然而生，就對她說：「不要哭！」 14 隨即上前按住抬屍架，抬的人停了下來。耶穌說：「年輕人，我吩咐你起來！」 15 那死者就坐了起來，並開口說話。耶穌把他交給他母親。
16 在場的人驚懼萬分，把榮耀歸給上帝，說：「我們中間出了一位大先知！」又說：「上帝眷顧了祂的百姓！」 17 有關祂的這消息傳遍了猶太和附近地區。
施洗者約翰的疑問
18 約翰從自己的門徒那裡獲悉這些事後， 19 就叫了兩個門徒來，派他們去問主：「將要來的那位就是你嗎？還是我們要等別人呢？」
20 他們找到耶穌，便問：「施洗者約翰派我們來請教你，『將要來的那位就是你嗎？還是我們要等別人呢？』」
21 那時，耶穌剛治好了許多患各種疾病和被鬼附身的人，又使許多瞎子得見光明。 22 耶穌便回答說：「你們回去把所見所聞告訴約翰，就是瞎子看見，瘸子走路，痲瘋病人得潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮人聽到福音。 23 凡對我沒有失去信心的人有福了！」
耶穌稱讚施洗者約翰
24 約翰的門徒離去後，耶穌對眾人談論約翰，說：「你們從前去曠野要看什麼呢？看隨風搖動的蘆葦嗎？ 25 如果不是，你們到底想看什麼？是看穿綾羅綢緞的人嗎？那些衣著華麗、生活奢侈的人住在王宮裡。 26 你們究竟想看什麼？看先知嗎？是的，我告訴你們，他不只是先知。 27 聖經上說，『看啊，我要差遣我的使者在你前面為你預備道路。』這裡所指的就是約翰。 28 我告訴你們，凡婦人所生的，沒有一個比約翰大，但上帝國中最微不足道的也比他大。」
29 眾百姓和稅吏聽了這番話，都承認上帝是公義的，因為他們接受了約翰的洗禮。 30 但那些法利賽人和律法教師沒有接受約翰的洗禮，拒絕了上帝為他們所定的旨意。
31 主又說：「我用什麼來比擬這個世代的人呢？他們像什麼呢？ 32 他們就如街頭上戲耍的孩童——彼此呼叫，
『我們吹娶親的樂曲，
你們不跳舞；
我們唱送葬的哀歌，
你們不哭泣。』
33 施洗者約翰來了，禁食禁酒，你們就說他被鬼附身了； 34 人子來了，又吃又喝，你們就說，『看啊，祂是個貪吃好酒之徒，與稅吏和罪人爲友！』 35 然而，智慧會在追求智慧的人身上得到驗證。」
罪婦的悔改
36 有一個法利賽人請耶穌到他家裡吃飯，耶穌應邀赴宴。 37 那城裡住著一個女人，生活敗壞。她聽說耶穌在那法利賽人家裡吃飯，就帶了一個盛滿香膏的玉瓶進去。 38 她站在耶穌背後，挨著祂的腳哭，淚水滴濕了祂的腳，就用自己的頭髮擦乾，又連連親祂的腳，並抹上香膏。
39 請耶穌的法利賽人看在眼裡，心想：「如果這人真的是先知，就該知道摸祂的是誰，是個什麼樣的女人，她是個罪人。」
40 耶穌對他說：「西門，我有話跟你說。」
西門答道：「老師，請說。」
41 耶穌說：「有一個債主借給一個人五百個銀幣，又借給另一個人五十個銀幣。 42 二人都沒有能力還債，這位債主就免了他們的債務。你想，哪一位會更愛債主呢？」
43 西門答道：「我相信是那個被免去較多債的人。」
44 耶穌說：「你判斷得對！」隨後轉向那女人，繼續對西門說：「你看見這女人了嗎？我到你家裡來，你沒有拿水給我洗腳，這女人卻用她的眼淚洗我的腳，還親自用頭髮擦乾。 45 你沒有親吻我，但我進來以後，這女人卻不停地吻我的腳。 46 你沒有用油為我抹頭，這女人卻用香膏抹我的腳。 47 所以我告訴你，她眾多的罪都被赦免了，因此她的愛深切；那些獲得赦免少的，他們的愛也少。」
48 耶穌對那女人說：「你的罪都被赦免了。」
49 同席的人彼此議論說：「這人是誰？竟然能赦免人的罪！」
50 耶穌又對那女人說：「你的信心救了你，平安地走吧！」
Footnotes
- 7·11 「過了不久」有古卷作「次日」。
Luke 7
The Voice
In addition to teaching and healing, Jesus also gathers disciples, who are simply students or apprentices. Their classroom is the world—hillsides and beaches, homes and country roads, fields and city streets. Their subject is life—life in the kingdom of God. Jesus has many students, both men and women, but He forms a special inner circle known as “the twelve.” The number “twelve” is highly symbolic because the Jewish people were originally composed of twelve tribes. However, over the centuries, some of the tribes were decimated. By calling together a new twelve, Jesus seems to be dramatizing a new beginning for the people of God. The original twelve tribes found their identity in the law of Moses, but now Jesus is giving a new way of life for His twelve to learn and follow.
7 Jesus shared all these sayings with the crowd that day on the plain. When He was finished, He went into the town of Capernaum. 2 There, a Centurion had a slave he loved dearly. The slave was sick—about to die— 3 so when the Centurion heard about Jesus, he contacted some Jewish elders. He sent them to ask Jesus to come and heal his dear slave. 4 With great emotion and respect, the elders presented their request to Jesus.
Jewish Elders: This man is worthy of Your help. It’s true that he’s a Centurion, 5 but he loves our nation. In fact, he paid for our synagogue to be built.
6 So Jesus accompanied them. When they approached the Centurion’s home, the Centurion sent out some friends to bring a message to Jesus.
Message of the Centurion: Lord, don’t go to the trouble of coming inside. I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7 That’s why I sent others with my request. Just say the word, and that will be enough to heal my servant. 8 I understand how authority works, being under authority myself and having soldiers under my authority. I command to one, “Go,” and he goes. I say to another, “Come,” and he comes. I say to my slave, “Do this,” and he obeys me.
9 Jesus was deeply impressed when He heard this. He turned to the crowd that followed Him.
John, it seems, is having second thoughts. Is Jesus really the One we have expected? Is He the Anointed One? But who can blame John for these doubts? After all, John is in prison, unjustly held by a corrupt, immoral ruler. Ultimately the desert prophet will have his head severed from his body when the drunken, lusty king makes a silly promise in front of dinner guests. So who can blame John for seeking assurance from the Lord? Jesus, realizing fully the kinds of expectations others have, gently reminds John and his disciples of the Scriptures: “the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead live, and the poor receive the good news.” Luke doesn’t say how John responds to the report as he nears his own end. What is clear is that Jesus has the utmost respect for His colleague and cousin. He doesn’t reject him for his doubts but tries to send him reassurance.
Jesus: Listen, everyone. This outsider, this Roman, has more faith than I have found even among our own Jewish people.
10 The friends of the Centurion returned home, and they found the slave was completely healed.
11 It wasn’t long after this when Jesus entered a city called Nain. Again all of His disciples accompanied Him, along with a huge crowd. 12 He was coming near the gate of the city as a corpse was being carried out. This man was the only child and support of his widowed mother, and she was accompanied by a large funeral crowd.
13 As soon as the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her.
Jesus: Don’t weep.
14 Then He came to the stretcher, and those carrying it stood still.
Jesus: Young man, listen! Get up!
15 The dead man immediately sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother, 16 and everyone was both shocked and jubilant. They praised God.
Funeral Crowd: A tremendous prophet has arisen in our midst! God has visited His people!
17 News of Jesus spread across the whole province of Judea and beyond to the surrounding regions. 18 When these reports reached John’s disciples, they brought news to John himself, who was known for his preaching and ritual cleansing.[a] 19 John sent two of his disciples to ask the Lord, “Are You the Promised One, or shall we keep looking for someone else?”
20 They came to Jesus and asked their question exactly as directed by John the Baptist.
21 Before He answered John’s messengers, Jesus cured many from various diseases, health conditions, and evil spirits. He even caused many blind people to regain their sight.
Jesus (to John’s disciples): 22 Go and tell John what you’ve witnessed with your own eyes and ears: the blind are seeing again, the lame are walking again, the lepers are clean again, the deaf hear again, the dead live again, and good news is preached to the poor.[b] 23 Whoever is not offended by Me is blessed indeed.
24 When John’s messengers left, Jesus talked to the crowds about John.
Jesus: When you went out into the wilderness to see John, what were you expecting? A reed shaking in the wind? 25 What were you looking for? A man in expensive clothing? Look, if you were looking for fancy clothes and luxurious living, you went to the wrong place—you should have gone to the kings’ courts, not to the wilderness! 26 What were you seeking? A prophet? Ah yes, that’s what John is, and even more than a prophet. 27 The prophet Malachi was talking about John when he wrote,
I will send My messenger before You,
to clear Your path in front of You.[c]
28 Listen, there is no human being greater than this man, John the Baptist. Yet even the least significant person in the coming kingdom of God is greater than John.
29 The common people and tax collectors heard God’s own wisdom in Jesus’ assessment of John because they had been ritually cleansed through baptism by John. 30 But the Pharisees and religious scholars hardened their hearts and turned their backs on God’s purposes for them because they had refused John’s baptism.[d]
Jesus: 31 The people of this generation—what are they like? To what can they be compared? 32 I’ll tell you: they’re like spoiled kids sitting in the marketplace playing games, calling out,
We played the pipes for you,
but you didn’t dance to our tune!
We cried like mourners,
but you didn’t cry with us!
33 You can’t win with this generation. John the Baptist comes along, fasting and abstaining from wine, and you say, “This guy is demon-possessed!” 34 The Son of Man comes along, feasting and drinking wine, and you say, “This guy is a glutton and a drunk, a friend of scoundrels and tax collectors!” 35 Well, wisdom’s true children know wisdom when they hear it.
36-40 Once a Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to be a guest for a meal.
Picture this:
Just as Jesus enters the man’s home and takes His place at the table, a woman from the city—notorious as a woman of ill repute—follows Him in. She has heard that Jesus will be at the Pharisee’s home, so she comes in and approaches Him, carrying an alabaster flask of perfumed oil. Then she begins to cry, she kneels down so her tears fall on Jesus’ feet, and she starts wiping His feet with her own hair. Then she actually kisses His feet, and she pours the perfumed oil on them.
Simon (thinking): Now I know this guy is a fraud. If He were a real prophet, He would have known this woman is a sinner and He would never let her get near Him, much less touch Him . . . or kiss Him!
Jesus (knowing what the Pharisee is thinking): Simon, I want to tell you a story.
Simon: Tell me, Teacher.
Jesus: 41 Two men owed a certain lender a lot of money. One owed 100 weeks’ wages, and the other owed 10 weeks’ wages. 42 Both men defaulted on their loans, but the lender forgave them both. Here’s a question for you: which man will love the lender more?
Simon: 43 Well, I guess it would be the one who was forgiven more.
Jesus: Good answer.
44-46 Now Jesus turns around so He’s facing the woman, although He’s still speaking to Simon.
Jesus: Do you see this woman here? It’s kind of funny. I entered your home, and you didn’t provide a basin of water so I could wash the road dust from My feet. You didn’t give Me a customary kiss of greeting and welcome. You didn’t offer Me the common courtesy of providing oil to brighten My face. But this woman has wet My feet with her own tears and washed them with her own hair. She hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. And she has applied perfumed oil to My feet. 47 This woman has been forgiven much, and she is showing much love. But the person who has shown little love shows how little forgiveness he has received.
48 (to the woman) Your sins are forgiven.
Simon and Friends (muttering among themselves): 49 Who does this guy think He is? He has the audacity to claim the authority to forgive sins?
Jesus (to the woman): 50 Your faith has liberated you. Go in peace.
Footnotes
- 7:18 Literally, immersing, to show repentance
- 7:22 Isaiah 29:18; 35:5–6
- 7:27 Malachi 3:1
- 7:30 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
Luke 7
King James Version
7 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then 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 enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people 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 that had been sick.
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, 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 and touched the bier: and they that bare him 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 delivered him to his mother.
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 But what went ye out for 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, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
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 But wisdom is justified of all her children.
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman 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 forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.