Luke 7
Complete Jewish Bible
7 When Yeshua had finished speaking to the people, he went back to K’far-Nachum. 2 A Roman army officer there had a servant he regarded highly, who was sick to the point of death. 3 Hearing about Yeshua, the officer sent some Jewish elders to him with the request that he come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Yeshua and pleaded earnestly with him, “He really deserves to have you do this, 5 for he loves our people — in fact, he built the synagogue for us!” 6 So Yeshua went with them. He had not gone far from the house, when the officer sent friends who said to him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof — 7 this is why I didn’t presume to approach you myself. Instead, just give a command and let my servant recover. 8 For I too am a man set under authority. I have soldiers under me; and 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.” 9 Yeshua was astonished at him when he heard this; and he turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Isra’el have I found such trust!” 10 When the messengers got back to the officer’s house, they found the servant in good health.
11 The next day Yeshua, accompanied by his talmidim and a large crowd, went to a town called Na‘im. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead man was being carried out for burial. His mother was a widow, this had been her only son, and a sizeable crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he came close and touched the coffin, and the pallbearers halted. He said, “Young man, I say to you: get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Yeshua gave him to his mother.[a] 16 They were all filled with awe and gave glory to God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us,” and, “God has come to help his people.” 17 This report about him spread throughout all Y’hudah and the surrounding countryside.
18 Yochanan’s talmidim informed him of all these things. Then Yochanan called two of his talmidim 19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come? Or should we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to him, they said, “Yochanan the Immerser has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come? Or should we keep looking — for someone else?’” 21 Right then he was healing many people of diseases, pains and evil spirits, and giving sight to many who were blind. 22 So he answered them by saying, “Go, tell Yochanan what you have been seeing and hearing: the blind are seeing again, the lame are walking, people with tzara‘at are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, the Good News is being told to the poor[b] — 23 and how blessed is anyone not offended by me!”
24 When the messengers from Yochanan had gone, Yeshua began speaking to the crowds about Yochanan: “What did you go out into the desert to see? Reeds swaying in the breeze? 25 No? then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? But people who dress beautifully and live in luxury are found in kings’ palaces. 26 Nu, so what did you go out to see? A prophet! Yes, and I tell you he’s much more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom the Tanakh says,
‘See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.’[c]
28 I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he!”
29 All the people who heard him, even the tax-collectors, by undergoing Yochanan’s immersion acknowledged that God was right; 30 but the P’rushim and the Torah-teachers, by not letting themselves be immersed by him, nullified for themselves God’s plan.
31 “Therefore,” said the Lord, “how can I describe the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplaces, calling to one another,
‘We made happy music, but you wouldn’t dance!
We made sad music, but you wouldn’t cry!’
33 For Yochanan has come not eating bread and not drinking wine; and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Aha! A glutton and a drunkard! A friend of tax-collectors and sinners!’ 35 Well, the proof of wisdom is in all the kinds of people it produces.”
36 One of the P’rushim invited Yeshua to eat with him, and he went into the home of the Parush and took his place at the table. 37 A woman who lived in that town, a sinner, who was aware that he was eating in the home of the Parush, brought an alabaster box of very expensive perfume, 38 stood behind Yeshua at his feet and wept until her tears began to wet his feet. Then she wiped his feet with her own hair, kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
39 When the Parush who had invited him saw what was going on, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what sort of woman she is, that she is a sinner.” 40 Yeshua answered, “Shim‘on, I have something to say to you.” “Say it, Rabbi,” he replied. 41 “A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed ten times as much as the other. 42 When they were unable to pay him back, he canceled both their debts. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Shim‘on answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “Your judgment is right,” Yeshua said to him.
44 Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim‘on, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house — you didn’t give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair! 45 You didn’t give me a kiss; but from the time I arrived, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet! 46 You didn’t put oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet! 47 Because of this, I tell you that her sins — which are many! — have been forgiven, because she loved much. But someone who has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 At this, those eating with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this fellow that presumes to forgive sins?” 50 But he said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you; go in peace.”
Lukas 7
Neue Genfer Übersetzung
Der Hauptmann von Kafarnaum
7 Das Volk hörte allem zu, was Jesus sagte. Als er seine Rede beendet hatte, ging er nach Kafarnaum. 2 Der Hauptmann ´einer dort stationierten Einheit` hatte einen Diener, den er sehr schätzte; dieser war schwer krank und lag im Sterben. 3 Als der Hauptmann von Jesus hörte, schickte er einige Älteste der jüdischen Gemeinde[a] zu ihm; sie sollten ihn bitten, zu kommen und seinem Diener das Leben zu retten[b]. 4 Die Männer gingen zu Jesus und baten ihn inständig, mit ihnen zu kommen. »Er ist es wert, dass du ihm diese Bitte erfüllst«, sagten sie. 5 »Er liebt unser Volk und hat uns sogar die Synagoge gebaut.«
6 Jesus machte sich mit ihnen auf den Weg. Doch als er nicht mehr weit vom Haus des Hauptmanns entfernt war, schickte dieser ihm einige Freunde entgegen und ließ ihm ausrichten: »Herr, bemühe dich nicht! Ich bin es nicht wert, dass du mein Haus betrittst. 7 Deshalb hielt ich mich auch nicht für würdig, selbst zu dir zu kommen. Sprich nur ein Wort, und mein Diener wird gesund. 8 Ich bin ja selbst dem Befehl eines anderen unterstellt und habe meinerseits Soldaten unter mir. Wenn ich zu einem von ihnen sage: ›Geh!‹, dann geht er, und wenn ich zu einem sage: ›Komm!‹, dann kommt er; und wenn ich zu meinem Diener sage: ›Tu das und das!‹, dann tut er es.«
9 Jesus staunte über den Mann, als er das hörte. Er wandte sich um und sagte zu der Menge, die ihm folgte: »Ich versichere euch: Solch einen Glauben habe ich in ganz Israel nicht gefunden.«
10 Als die Männer, die der Hauptmann geschickt hatte, zu ihm zurückkamen, stellten sie fest, dass der Diener wieder gesund war.
Auferweckung eines Toten in Nain
11 Bald darauf[c] zog Jesus in die Stadt Nain weiter, begleitet von seinen Jüngern und einer großen Menschenmenge. 12 Als er sich dem Stadttor näherte, kam ihm ein Trauerzug entgegen[d]. Der Tote war der einzige Sohn einer Witwe gewesen. Zahlreiche Menschen aus dem Ort begleiteten die Mutter ´zum Grab`. 13 Als der Herr die Frau sah, ergriff ihn tiefes Mitgefühl. »Weine nicht!«, sagte er zu ihr. 14 Er trat näher und berührte die Bahre. Die Träger blieben stehen, und Jesus sagte zu dem Toten: »Junger Mann, ich befehle dir: Steh auf!« 15 Da richtete sich der Tote auf und fing an zu sprechen, und Jesus gab ihn seiner Mutter zurück.
16 Alle waren voller Ehrfurcht; sie priesen Gott und sagten: »Ein großer Prophet ist unter uns aufgetreten. Gott hat sich seines Volkes angenommen!« 17 Die Nachricht von diesem Ereignis[e] verbreitete sich im ganzen jüdischen Land[f]; sogar in allen umliegenden Gebieten sprach man von Jesus.
Ist Jesus der Messias? Die Frage des Johannes und die Antwort Jesu
18 Durch seine Jünger erfuhr auch Johannes von all diesen Dingen. Er rief zwei von ihnen zu sich 19 und gab ihnen den Auftrag, zum Herrn zu gehen und ihn zu fragen: »Bist du der, der kommen soll, oder müssen wir auf einen anderen warten?« 20 Die beiden kamen zu Jesus und sagten: »Johannes der Täufer hat uns zu dir geschickt und lässt dich fragen: ›Bist du der, der kommen soll, oder müssen wir auf einen anderen warten?‹« 21 Dabei wurden sie Zeugen, wie Jesus viele Kranke und Leidende und von bösen Geistern Geplagte heilte[g] und vielen Blinden das Augenlicht schenkte.
22 Er gab den Boten zur Antwort: »Geht zu Johannes und berichtet ihm, was ihr gesehen und gehört habt: Blinde sehen, Lahme gehen, Aussätzige werden geheilt[h], Taube hören, Tote werden auferweckt, und den Armen wird ´Gottes` gute Botschaft verkündet. 23 Und glücklich zu preisen ist, wer nicht an mir Anstoß nimmt.«
Jesus und Johannes der Täufer
24 Als die Boten des Johannes wieder gegangen waren, wandte sich Jesus an die Menge und fing an, zu ihnen über Johannes zu sprechen. »Was wolltet ihr euch eigentlich ansehen, als ihr zu ihm in die Wüste hinausgingt?«, fragte er sie. »Ein Schilfrohr, das sich im Wind hin- und herbewegt? 25 Nein? Was wolltet ihr denn sonst dort draußen sehen? Einen Mann in feiner Kleidung? Ihr wisst doch: Leute, die vornehme Kleider tragen und im Überfluss leben, sind in den Königspalästen zu finden. 26 Was wolltet ihr also sehen, als ihr hinausgingt? Einen Propheten? Ja, ich sage euch: Ihr habt einen Propheten gesehen, und noch mehr als das. 27 Johannes ist der, über den es in der Schrift heißt:
›Ich sende meinen Boten vor dir her;
er wird dir vorangehen und dein Wegbereiter sein.‹[i]
28 Ich sage euch: Unter allen Menschen, die je geboren wurden,[j] gibt es keinen Größeren als Johannes; und doch ist selbst der Geringste im Reich Gottes größer als er.
29 Alle, die Johannes zuhörten – das ganze Volk und sogar die Zolleinnehmer –, gaben Gott ´in seinem Urteil` Recht; sie haben sich von Johannes taufen lassen. 30 Nur die Pharisäer und die Gesetzeslehrer machten den Plan zunichte, den Gott für sie hatte; sie haben sich nicht von Johannes taufen lassen.[k]
31 Mit wem soll ich also die Menschen dieser Generation vergleichen? Welches Bild trifft auf sie zu? 32 Sie sind wie Kinder, die auf dem Marktplatz sitzen und einander zurufen: ›Wir haben euch auf der Flöte ´lustige Lieder` gespielt, und ihr habt nicht getanzt; wir haben Klagelieder angestimmt, und ihr habt nicht geweint.‹ 33 So ist es doch: Johannes der Täufer ist gekommen, hat gefastet[l] und keinen Wein getrunken, und schon habt ihr gesagt: ›Er ist von einem bösen Geist besessen.‹ 34 Der Menschensohn ist gekommen, isst und trinkt ´wie jedermann`, und da sagt ihr: ›Was für ein Schlemmer und Säufer, dieser Freund der Zolleinnehmer und Sünder!‹ 35 Und doch hat die Weisheit Gottes Recht; das zeigt sich an all denen, die sie angenommen haben.[m]«
Der Pharisäer und die Sünderin vor Jesus
36 Ein Pharisäer hatte Jesus zu sich zum Essen eingeladen, und Jesus war gekommen und hatte am Tisch Platz genommen[n]. 37 In jener Stadt lebte eine Frau, die für ihren unmoralischen Lebenswandel bekannt war[o]. Als sie erfuhr, dass Jesus im Haus des Pharisäers zu Gast war, nahm sie ein Alabastergefäß voll Salböl und ging dorthin. 38 Sie trat von hinten an das Fußende des Polsters, auf dem Jesus Platz genommen hatte,[p] und brach in Weinen aus; dabei fielen ihre Tränen auf seine Füße. Da trocknete sie ihm die Füße mit ihrem Haar, küsste sie und salbte sie mit dem Öl.
39 Als der Pharisäer, der Jesus eingeladen hatte, das sah, dachte er: »Wenn dieser Mann wirklich ein Prophet wäre, würde er die Frau kennen, von der er sich da berühren lässt; er wüsste, was für eine sündige Person das ist.«
40 Da wandte sich Jesus zu ihm. »Simon«, sagte er, »ich habe dir etwas zu sagen.« Simon erwiderte: »Meister, bitte sprich!« – 41 »Zwei Männer hatten Schulden bei einem Geldverleiher«, begann Jesus. »Der eine schuldete ihm fünfhundert Denare, der andere fünfzig. 42 Keiner der beiden konnte seine Schulden zurückzahlen. Da erließ er sie ihnen. Was meinst du: Welcher von den beiden wird ihm gegenüber wohl größere Dankbarkeit empfinden[q]?« 43 Simon antwortete: »Ich nehme an, der, dem er die größere Schuld erlassen hat.« – »Richtig[r]«, erwiderte Jesus.
44 Dann wies er auf die Frau[s] und sagte zu Simon: »Siehst du diese Frau? Ich bin in dein Haus gekommen, und du hast mir kein Wasser für meine Füße gereicht; sie aber hat meine Füße mit ihren Tränen benetzt und mit ihrem Haar getrocknet. 45 Du hast mir keinen Kuss zur Begrüßung gegeben; sie aber hat, seit ich hier bin, nicht aufgehört, meine Füße zu küssen. 46 Du hast meinen Kopf nicht einmal mit gewöhnlichem Öl[t] gesalbt, sie aber hat meine Füße mit kostbarem Salböl gesalbt. 47 Ich kann dir sagen, woher das kommt. Ihre vielen Sünden sind ihr vergeben worden, darum hat sie mir viel Liebe erwiesen.[u] Wem aber wenig vergeben wird, der liebt auch wenig.« 48 Und zu der Frau sagte Jesus: »Deine Sünden sind dir vergeben.«
49 Die anderen Gäste fragten sich[v]: »Wer ist dieser Mann, der sogar Sünden vergibt?« 50 Jesus aber sagte zu der Frau: »Dein Glaube hat dich gerettet. Geh in Frieden!«
Footnotes
- Lukas 7:3 W der Juden.
- Lukas 7:3 Od und seinen Diener zu heilen.
- Lukas 7:11 AL(1) Am nächsten Tag.
- Lukas 7:12 W wurde ein Toter herausgetragen.
- Lukas 7:17 Od Diese Ansicht über Jesus.
- Lukas 7:17 Od in ganz Judäa.
- Lukas 7:21 W
In jener Stunde heilte er viele von Krankheiten und Leiden und bösen Geistern. - Lukas 7:22 W werden rein gemacht.
- Lukas 7:27 Maleachi 3,1.
- Lukas 7:28 W Unter den von Frauen Geborenen.
- Lukas 7:30 Andere sehen in den Versen 29 und 30 nicht einen Teil der Rede Jesu, sondern einen Einschub des Berichterstatters und übersetzen:
Alle, die Jesus zuhörten …, gaben Gott darin Recht; sie hatten sich ja alle von Johannes taufen lassen. … sie hatten sich ja auch nicht von Johannes taufen lassen. - Lukas 7:33 W hat kein Brot gegessen.
- Lukas 7:35 W Und doch ist die Weisheit gerechtfertigt (worden) durch alle ihre Kinder.
- Lukas 7:36 W und hatte sich zu Tisch gelegt.
- Lukas 7:37 W die eine Sünderin war.
- Lukas 7:38 W Sie trat von hinten an seine Füße heran.
- Lukas 7:42 W wird ihn mehr lieben.
- Lukas 7:43 W Du hast richtig geurteilt.
- Lukas 7:44 W Dann wandte er sich zu der Frau.
- Lukas 7:46 W mit Olivenöl.
- Lukas 7:47 W
Darum sage ich dir: Ihre vielen Sünden sind ihr vergeben worden, denn sie hat viel geliebt. – denn gibt hier nicht an, warum der Frau vergeben wurde, sondern woran man erkennen kann, dass ihr vergeben wurde. - Lukas 7:49 Od fragten einander.
Luke 7
New Catholic Bible
From the Beatitudes to the Parables[a]
Chapter 7
Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant.[b] 1 After Jesus had finished speaking to the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion who dwelt there had a servant whom he regarded highly and who was ill and near death. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him if he would come and heal his servant.
4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “He deserves this favor from you, 5 for he loves our people, and he was the one who built our synagogue for us.”
6 Jesus went with them. When he drew near the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is the reason why I did not presume to approach you personally. But say the word and let my servant be healed. 8 For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers who are subject to me. I say to one: ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another: ‘Come here,’ and he comes, and to my servant: ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these words, he was amazed, and, turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, in no one throughout Israel have I found faith as great as this.” 10 When the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant completely healthy.
11 Jesus Raises the Son of a Widow.[c] Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his widowed mother. A large group of people from the town accompanied her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he was filled with compassion, and he said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 After this, he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers halted. Then he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16 Fear seized all who were present, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 The news of what he had done spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.
18 Jesus Answers the Baptist’s Question.[d] When the disciples of John brought him reports about all these things, 19 John designated two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 20 When they came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ ”
21 At that time, Jesus had just cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and had restored the sight of many who were blind. 22 And he gave them this reply: “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 23 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
24 Jesus Praises John the Baptist.[e]When John’s messengers had departed, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What did you go out to see? Someone robed in fine clothing? Those who are robed in gorgeous clothing and live luxuriously are to be found in royal palaces. 26 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
28 “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John, and yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people who heard him, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the saving justice of God, for they had received John’s baptism. 30 However, the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who had refused his baptism rejected God’s plan for them.)
31 Indecisive Children.“Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:
‘We played the flute for you,
but you would not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you refused to mourn.’
33 “For John the Baptist has come, eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say: ‘He is possessed.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say: ‘Look at him! He is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 Yet wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
36 Jesus Pardons a Sinful Woman.[f] One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dine with him. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house, he took his place at table. 37 A woman of that town, who was leading a sinful life, learned that Jesus was a dinner guest in the Pharisee’s house. Carrying with her an alabaster jar of ointment,[g] 38 she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were really a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus then said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “What is it, Teacher?”
41 “There were two men who were in debt to a certain creditor. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other owed fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay him, he canceled both debts. Now which one of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I would imagine that it would be the one who was forgiven the larger amount.” Jesus replied, “You have judged rightly.”
44 Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your home, and you provided no water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she has not ceased to kiss my feet from the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you: her many sins have been forgiven her because she has shown great love. But the one who has been forgiven little has little love.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Those who were at table began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Footnotes
- Luke 7:1 The first 17 verses in this section recount two miracles of Christ, which highlight his mission both to the Jews and to the Gentiles. The next 33 verses then have to do with Jesus and the Baptist. The first Christian generations no doubt encountered groups who were followers of John the Baptist. Hence, it was most necessary to comprehend well the destiny of this prophet. Several times Luke sketches a parallel between John and Jesus (see Lk 1:5-56; 3:1-20; 9:7-9). Each time the Baptist impresses us by his courage, and each time Christ’s mission seems so different from his. Between these two destinies there is a kind of rupture, the difference of the two Testaments.
- Luke 7:1 Every miracle testifies to Christ’s power to save people. But this miracle is reported above all to teach the cost of faith in Jesus and to astound us with the faith of a pagan. Luke describes the deep religious attitude of this man. At that time, it was only at great cost that a Roman official would invite a Jew or show consideration for the one God worshiped by a conquered people. This miracle, granted to a pagan who trusted solely in the power of Jesus, discreetly announces the call of non-Jews to salvation (see Acts 10:34-35).
- Luke 7:11 Luke is the only one who reports this incident, which takes place in a village in the area of Nazareth. God manifests himself once again as he did in the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha (see 1 Ki 17:17-24; 2 Ki 4:18-37).
- Luke 7:18 Jesus answers John by telling him of the signs which he, Jesus, is performing: those foreseen by the Prophets (Ps 72:2, 12-13; Isa 61:1-2). He is not the liberator of a nation but someone who takes the side of the wretched and marginalized of this world (see Lk 4:16-19).
- Luke 7:24 John the Baptist, messenger of the Savior, surpasses the Prophets because he precedes and announces the coming of the Lord (Lk 1:17, 76; Mal 3:1), but Jesus alone inaugurates this new time of the kingdom. The austere preaching of John moved the people and the tax collectors, those who were despised, whereas the officials of the religion rejected him in the same way they disdained the call to joy addressed to them by Jesus. This shows the narrow-mindedness of those who believe themselves wise in the face of the unexpected accomplished by God. But the true believers welcome the plan of the Lord who saves, i.e., his “wisdom.”
- Luke 7:36 The other three evangelists place this incident just before the Passion. Luke, however, keeps it here to show that his primary concern is with the mercy and forgiveness of God. He is the only evangelist to hand down the memory of good relations between Jesus and the Pharisees who invite him to dine (see also Lk 11:37; 14:1): these men, too, are children of Israel and will be given the instruction that they really need.
- Luke 7:37 The woman is certainly not Mary Magdalene (see Lk 8:2) nor Mary the sister of Lazarus (Lk 10:39; Jn 11:5). The immense popularity of Mary Magdalene was due to a confusion, which occurred as far back as Christian antiquity, between the sinful woman who is forgiven here and the real Mary Magdalene, who was one of the main figures on Calvary and at the tomb.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Geneva Bible Society
