百夫长的信心

耶稣向众人讲完道后,进了迦百农。 当时,有一个百夫长很赏识的奴仆病了,生命垂危。 百夫长听说耶稣的事,就托几位犹太人的长老去请耶稣来医治他的奴仆。 他们便来恳求耶稣,说:“这位百夫长值得你帮助, 因为他爱我们的同胞,为我们建造会堂。” 耶稣就跟他们去了。

快抵达时,那百夫长又请几位朋友去见耶稣,对祂说:“主啊,不用劳驾,我不配让你亲自来我家。 我自认不配见你的面,只要你一句话,我的奴仆必定康复。 因为我有上司,也有部下。我命令我的部下去,他就去;要他来,他就来。我吩咐奴仆做什么事,他一定照办。”

耶稣听了这番话,感到惊奇,转身对跟从祂的百姓说:“我告诉你们,就是在以色列,我也从未见过有这么大信心的人。”

10 派去的几位朋友回到百夫长家里,发现那奴仆已经痊愈了。

寡妇的独子起死回生

11 过了不久[a],耶稣去拿因城,随行的有门徒和一大群人。 12 耶稣快到城门口时,从城里走出一队送殡的人,死者是一个寡妇的独子,有许多城中的人陪着她。 13 耶稣看见那寡妇,怜悯之心油然而生,就对她说:“不要哭!” 14 随即上前按住抬尸架,抬的人停了下来。耶稣说:“年轻人,我吩咐你起来!” 15 那死者就坐了起来,并开口说话。耶稣把他交给他母亲。

16 在场的人惊惧万分,把荣耀归给上帝,说:“我们中间出了一位大先知!”又说:“上帝眷顾了祂的百姓!” 17 有关祂的这消息传遍了犹太和附近地区。

施洗者约翰的疑问

18 约翰从自己的门徒那里获悉这些事后, 19 就叫了两个门徒来,派他们去问主:“将要来的那位就是你吗?还是我们要等别人呢?”

20 他们找到耶稣,便问:“施洗者约翰派我们来请教你,‘将要来的那位就是你吗?还是我们要等别人呢?’”

21 那时,耶稣刚治好了许多患各种疾病和被鬼附身的人,又使许多瞎子得见光明。 22 耶稣便回答说:“你们回去把所见所闻告诉约翰,就是瞎子看见,瘸子走路,麻风病人得洁净,聋子听见,死人复活,穷人听到福音。 23 凡对我没有失去信心的人有福了!”

耶稣称赞施洗者约翰

24 约翰的门徒离去后,耶稣对众人谈论约翰,说:“你们从前去旷野要看什么呢?看随风摇动的芦苇吗? 25 如果不是,你们到底想看什么?是看穿绫罗绸缎的人吗?那些衣着华丽、生活奢侈的人住在王宫里。 26 你们究竟想看什么?看先知吗?是的,我告诉你们,他不只是先知。 27 圣经上说,‘看啊,我要差遣我的使者在你前面为你预备道路。’这里所指的就是约翰。 28 我告诉你们,凡妇人所生的,没有一个比约翰大,但上帝国中最微不足道的也比他大。”

29 众百姓和税吏听了这番话,都承认上帝是公义的,因为他们接受了约翰的洗礼。 30 但那些法利赛人和律法教师没有接受约翰的洗礼,拒绝了上帝为他们所定的旨意。

31 主又说:“我用什么来比拟这个世代的人呢?他们像什么呢? 32 他们就如街头上戏耍的孩童——彼此呼叫,

“‘我们吹娶亲的乐曲,
你们不跳舞;
我们唱送葬的哀歌,
你们不哭泣。’

33 施洗者约翰来了,禁食禁酒,你们就说他被鬼附身了; 34 人子来了,又吃又喝,你们就说,‘看啊,祂是个贪吃好酒之徒,与税吏和罪人为友!’ 35 然而,智慧会在追求智慧的人身上得到验证。”

罪妇的悔改

36 有一个法利赛人请耶稣到他家里吃饭,耶稣应邀赴宴。 37 那城里住着一个女人,生活败坏。她听说耶稣在那法利赛人家里吃饭,就带了一个盛满香膏的玉瓶进去。 38 她站在耶稣背后,挨着祂的脚哭,泪水滴湿了祂的脚,就用自己的头发擦干,又连连亲祂的脚,并抹上香膏。

39 请耶稣的法利赛人看在眼里,心想:“如果这人真的是先知,就该知道摸祂的是谁,是个什么样的女人,她是个罪人。”

40 耶稣对他说:“西门,我有话跟你说。”

西门答道:“老师,请说。”

41 耶稣说:“有一个债主借给一个人五百个银币,又借给另一个人五十个银币。 42 二人都没有能力还债,这位债主就免了他们的债务。你想,哪一位会更爱债主呢?”

43 西门答道:“我相信是那个被免去较多债的人。”

44 耶稣说:“你判断得对!”随后转向那女人,继续对西门说:“你看见这女人了吗?我到你家里来,你没有拿水给我洗脚,这女人却用她的眼泪洗我的脚,还亲自用头发擦干。 45 你没有亲吻我,但我进来以后,这女人却不停地吻我的脚。 46 你没有用油为我抹头,这女人却用香膏抹我的脚。 47 所以我告诉你,她众多的罪都被赦免了,因此她的爱深切;那些获得赦免少的,他们的爱也少。”

48 耶稣对那女人说:“你的罪都被赦免了。”

49 同席的人彼此议论说:“这人是谁?竟然能赦免人的罪!”

50 耶稣又对那女人说:“你的信心救了你,平安地走吧!”

Footnotes

  1. 7:11 过了不久”有古卷作“次日”。

Yesu Amponya Mtumishi wa Afisa wa Jeshi

(Mt 8:5-13; Yh 4:43-54)

Yesu alipomaliza kuwaambia watu mambo yote aliyotaka kuwaambia, alikwenda mjini Kapernaumu. Afisa wa jeshi katika mji wa Kapernaumu alikuwa na mtumishi aliyekuwa wa muhimu sana kwake. Mtumishi huyu alikuwa mgonjwa sana karibu ya kufa. Afisa huyu aliposikia kuhusu Yesu, aliwatuma baadhi ya viongozi wa wazee wa Kiyahudi kwa Yesu. Aliwataka wamwombe Yesu aende kumponya mtumishi wake. Wazee walikwenda kwa Yesu, wakamsihi amsaidie afisa. Walisema, “Mtu huyu anastahili msaada wako, Kwa sababu anawapenda watu wetu na ametujengea sinagogi.”

Hivyo Yesu alikwenda nao. Alipoikaribia nyumba ya yule afisa, afisa aliwatuma rafiki zake kumwambia Yesu, “Bwana, huhitaji kufanya kitu chochote maalumu kwa ajili yangu. Sistahili wewe uingie nyumbani mwangu. Ndiyo maana sikuja mimi mwenyewe kwako. Unahitaji kutoa amri tu na mtumishi wangu atapona. Ninajua hii, kwa kuwa ninaelewa mamlaka. Kuna watu wenye mamlaka juu yangu, na nina askari walio chini ya mamlaka yangu. Nikimwambia askari mmoja ‘nenda’, huenda. Na nikimwambia mwingine ‘njoo’, huja. Pia nikimwambia mtumwa wangu ‘fanya hiki’, hunitii.”

Yesu aliposikia hayo alishangaa, akawageukia watu waliokuwa wanamfuata, akawaambia, “Ninawaambia, Sijawahi kuona imani kubwa namna hii hata katika Israeli.”

10 Kundi lililotumwa kwa Yesu waliporudi nyumbani, walimkuta yule mtumishi amepona.

Yesu Amfufua Kijana wa Mama Mjane

11 Siku iliyofuata Yesu na wafuasi wake walikwenda katika mji wa Naini. Kundi kubwa la watu walisafiri pamoja nao. 12 Yesu alipolikaribia lango la mji, aliona watu wamebeba maiti. Alikuwa ni mwana pekee wa mama mjane. Watu wengi kutoka mjini walifuatana na yule mama mjane. 13 Bwana alipomwona yule mama, alimwonea huruma na kumwambia, “Usilie.” 14 Akakaribia, akaligusa jeneza. Wanaume waliokuwa wamebeba jeneza wakasimama. Ndipo Yesu akamwambia kijana aliyekufa, “Kijana, nakuambia, inuka!” 15 Yule kijana, akaketi, akaanza kuongea. Yesu akamrudisha kwa mama yake.

16 Kila mtu aliingiwa hofu. Wakaanza kumsifu Mungu na kusema, “Nabii mkuu yuko hapa pamoja nasi!” na “Mungu amekuja kuwasaidia watu wake!”

17 Habari hii kuhusu Yesu ikaenea katika Uyahudi yote, na kila sehemu kuzunguka pale.

Yohana Atuma Watu Kumwuliza Yesu Swali

(Mt 11:2-19)

18 Wafuasi wa Yohana Mbatizaji walimweleza Yohana Mbatizaji kuhusu mambo haya yote. Naye aliwaita wanafunzi wake wawili. 19 Akawatuma waende na kumwuliza Yesu, “Wewe ndiye tuliyesikia anakuja, au tumsubiri mwingine?”

20 Wafuasi wa Yohana walipofika kwa Yesu, wakasema, “Yohana Mbatizaji ametutuma kwako tukuulize: ‘Wewe ndiye yule ajaye, au tumsubiri mwingine?’”

21 Wakati ule ule Yesu alikuwa amewaponya watu wengi madhaifu na magonjwa yao. Aliwaponya waliokuwa na pepo wabaya na kuwafanya wasiyeona wengi kuona. 22 Kisha aliwaambia wanafunzi wa Yohana, “Nendeni mkamweleze Yohana yale mliyoyaona na kuyasikia: wasiyeona wanaona, walemavu wa miguu wanatembea, wenye magonjwa mabaya ya ngozi wanatakasika, wasiyesikia wanasikia. Waliokufa wanafufuliwa na Habari Njema inahubiriwa kwa maskini. 23 Heri wale wasio na mashaka kunikubali mimi.”[a]

24 Baada ya wanafunzi wa Yohana kuondoka, Yesu akaanza kuwaambia watu kuhusu Yohana, “Mlitoka kwenda jangwani kuona nini? Mtu aliyekuwa dhaifu, kama unyasi unaotikiswa na upepo? 25 Mlitegemea kuona nini? Mtu aliyevaa mavazi mazuri? Hakika si hilo. Watu wanaovaa mavazi mazuri na kuishi kwa anasa wako katika majumba ya wafalme. 26 Sasa, mlitoka kwenda kuona nini? Nabii? Ndiyo, Yohana ni nabii. Lakini ninawaambia, Yohana ni zaidi ya nabii. 27 Andiko hili liliandikwa kuhusu Yohana:

‘Sikiliza! Nitamtuma mjumbe mbele yako.
    Yeye ataandaa njia kwa ajili yako.’(A)

28 Ninawaambia, hakuna aliyewahi kuzaliwa aliye mkuu kuliko Yohana. Lakini mwenye umuhimu mdogo, katika ufalme wa Mungu ni mkuu kuliko Yohana.”

29 (Watu waliposikia hili, wote walikubali kuwa mafundisho ya Mungu yalikuwa mazuri. Hata watoza ushuru waliobatizwa na Yohana walikiri. 30 Lakini Mafarisayo na wanasheria walikataa kuukubali mpango wa Mungu kwa ajili yao; hawakumruhusu Yohana awabatize.)

31 “Niseme nini kuhusu watu wa wakati huu? Niwafananishe na nini? Wanafanana na nini? 32 Ni kama watoto waliokaa sokoni. Kundi moja la watoto likawaita watoto wengine na kusema,

‘Tuliwapigia filimbi
    lakini hamkucheza.
Tuliwaimba wimbo wa huzuni,
    lakini hamkulia.’

33 Yohana Mbatizaji alikuja na hakula chakula cha kawaida au kunywa divai. Nanyi mkasema, ‘Ana pepo ndani yake.’ 34 Mwana wa Adamu amekuja anakula na kunywa. Mnasema, ‘Mwangalieni anakula sana na kunywa sana divai. Ni rafiki wa watoza ushuru na watenda dhambi wengine.’ 35 Lakini hekima huoneshwa kuwa sahihi kwa wale wanaoikubali.”

Yesu na Mwanamke Mwenye Dhambi

36 Mmoja wa Mafarisayo alimwalika Yesu kula chakula nyumbani mwake. Yesu akaenda nyumbani kwa yule Farisayo, akaketi[b] katika nafasi yake sehemu ya kulia chakula.

37 Alikuwepo mwanamke mmoja katika mjini ule aliyekuwa na dhambi nyingi. Alipojua kuwa Yesu alikuwa anakula chakula nyumbani kwa Farisayo, alichukua chupa kubwa yenye manukato ya thamani sana. 38 Alisimama karibu na miguu ya Yesu akilia. Kisha alianza kuisafisha miguu ya Yesu kwa machozi yake na akaifuta kwa nywele zake, akaibusu mara nyingi na kuipaka manukato.

39 Farisayo aliyemwalika Yesu alipoona hili, alijisemea moyoni mwake, “Mtu huyu angekuwa nabii, angetambua kuwa mwanamke huyu anayemgusa ni mwenye dhambi.”

40 Katika kujibu kile Farisayo alichokuwa akifikiri, Yesu akasema, “Simoni nina kitu cha kukwambia.”

Simoni akajibu, “Nieleze, Mwalimu.”

41 Yesu akasema, “Kulikuwa watu wawili. Wote wawili walikuwa wanadaiwa na mkopeshaji mmoja. Mmoja alidaiwa sarafu mia tano za fedha, na wa pili sarafu hamsini za fedha. 42 Watu wale hawakuwa na fedha, hivyo hawakuweza kulipa madeni yao. Lakini mkopeshaji aliwasamehe wote wawili. Kati ya wote wawili ni yupi atakayempenda mkopeshaji zaidi?”

43 Simoni akajibu, “Nafikiri ni yule aliyekuwa anadaiwa fedha nyingi.”

Yesu akamwambia, “Umejibu sawa.” 44 Kisha akamgeukia yule mwanamke na kumwambia Simoni, “Unamwona mwanamke huyu? Nilipoingia nyumbani mwako hukunipa maji ili ninawe miguu yangu. Lakini mwanamke huyu ameniosha miguu yangu kwa machozi yake na kuikausha kwa nywele zake. 45 Wewe hukunisalimu kwa busu, lakini amekuwa akinibusu miguu yangu tangu nilipoingia. 46 Hukuniheshimu kwa mafuta kwa ajili ya kichwa changu, lakini yeye amenipaka miguu yangu manukato yanayonukia vizuri. 47 Ninakwambia kuwa dhambi zake zilizo nyingi zimesamehewa. Hii ni wazi, kwa sababu ameonesha upendo mkubwa. Watu wanaosamehewa kidogo hupenda kidogo.”

48 Kisha akamwambia mwanamke, “Dhambi zako zimesamehewa.”

49 Watu waliokaa naye sehemu ya chakula wakaanza kusema mioyoni mwao, “Mtu huyu anadhani yeye ni nani? Anawezaje kusamehe dhambi?”

50 Yesu akamwambia mwanamke, “Kwa sababu uliamini, umeokolewa kutoka katika dhambi zako. Nenda kwa amani.”

Footnotes

  1. 7:23 Heri … kunikubali mimi Au “Baraka kuu ni kwa wale wasio na mashaka kunikubali.”
  2. 7:36 akaketi Waliketi kwa kujilaza kidogo kuelekea katika meza ya chakula katika mzunguko, miguu yao ikiwa imenyooka kwa nyuma.

The Faith of the Centurion(A)

When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son(D)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was 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(E) saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”(F) 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe(G) and praised God.(H) “A great prophet(I) has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”(J) 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.(K)

Jesus and John the Baptist(L)

18 John’s(M) disciples(N) told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses(O) and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(P) 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet?(Q) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[b](R)

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God(S) is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.(T) 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law(U) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,(V) and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(W) 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman(X)(Y)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,(Z) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,(AA) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss,(AB) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,(AC) but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(AD)

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;(AE) go in peace.”(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:22 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Luke 7:27 Mal. 3:1
  3. Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).