Luke 7
New Matthew Bible
He heals the centurion’s servant, raises up the widow’s son from death to life, and answers the disciples that John the Baptist sent to him. He commends John, and reproves the Jews for their unfaithfulness. He eats with the Pharisee. The woman washes his feet with her tears, and he forgives her her sins.
7 When Jesus had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant was sick and ready to die, whom he made much of. 3 And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him to come and heal his servant. 4 And they came to Jesus and besought him urgently, saying, He is worthy that you should do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.
6 And Jesus went with them. And when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not think myself worthy to come to you. But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I likewise am a man under authority, and have under me soldiers. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
9 When Jesus heard this, he marvelled at him, and turned about and said to the people that followed him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And those who had been sent turned back home again, and found the servant that had been sick, whole.
11 And it happened after that, that he went into a town called Nain. And many of his disciples went with him, and crowds of people. 12 When he came near to the gate of the town, behold, there was a dead man being carried out. He had been the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a large group of townsfolk were with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Weep not. 14 And he went and touched the bier, and those who were bearing it stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, arise! 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus delivered him to his mother.
16 And there came a fear upon them all. And they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is risen among us, and God has visited his people.
17 And this talk of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the regions that lie round about.
18 And the disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 And John called to him two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we look for another?
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, Are you he that was to come, or should we wait for another?
21 And at that same time, Jesus cured many people of their infirmities and diseases, and of evil spirits; and to many who were blind, he gave sight. 22 And Jesus answered and said to John’s disciples, Go your ways and tell John what things you have seen and heard – how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead arise. To the poor, the glad tidings are preached; 23 and happy is he who is not offended by me.
24 When the messengers of John had departed, Jesus began to speak to the people about John. What did you go out into the wilderness to see? Did you go to see a reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send my messenger before your face, to prepare your way before you. 28 For I say to you, among the children of women there is no greater prophet than John. Nevertheless, one who is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.
29 And all the people who heard, and the publicans, justified God, and were baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and scribes rejected the counsel of God against themselves, and were not baptized by him.
31 And the Lord said, To what shall I liken the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say he has the devil. 34 The Son of man has come, and eats and drinks, and you say, Here is a man who is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners. 35 Yet wisdom is justified by her children.
36 And one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down to food. 37 And behold, a woman in that town who was a sinner, as soon as she knew that Jesus sat at food in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of oyntment. 38 And she stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with oyntment.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he spoke within himself, saying, If this man were a prophet, he would surely know who and what manner of woman this is that touches him; for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus responded and said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, say on.
41 There was a certain lender who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them, tell me, will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose the one that was forgiven most.
And he said to him, You have truly judged.
44 And Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil you did not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with oyntment. 47 Therefore I say to you, many sins are forgiven her, for she loved much. But he who is forgiven less, loves less.
48 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven you.
49 And those who sat at food with him began to say within themselves, Who is this, who forgives sins in this way?
50 And he said to the woman, Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
Luke 7
Holman Christian Standard Bible
A Centurion’s Faith
7 When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.(A) 2 A centurion’s slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”(B) 6 Jesus went with them, and when He was not far from[a] 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. 7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.[b](C) 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command.[c] 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 Jesus 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!” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
A Widow’s Son Raised to Life
11 Soon afterward He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. 12 Just 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.(D) A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her(E) and said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then He came up and touched the open coffin,[d] and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”(F)
15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.(G) 16 Then fear[e] came over everyone,(H) and they glorified God,(I) saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,”(J) and “God has visited[f] His people.”(K) 17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
In Praise of John the Baptist
18 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things.(L) So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are You the One(M) who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”
20 When 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?’”
21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases,(N) plagues, and evil spirits,(O) and He granted sight to many blind people.(P) 22 He 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,[g] the deaf hear,(Q) the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.(R) 23 And anyone who is not offended because of Me is blessed.” 24 After 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? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressed[h] and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?(S) Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 27 This is the one it is written about:
28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,[k] 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,[l] because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.(U) 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law(V) had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.(W))
An Unresponsive Generation
31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and 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 didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t weep!
33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,(X) and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’(Y) 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated[m] by all her children.”
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.(Z) 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house.(AA) She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil 38 and 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.(AB)
39 When 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!”(AC)
40 Jesus 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,(AD) and the other 50. 42 Since they could not pay it back,(AE) he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” He told him. 44 Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,(AF) but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss,(AG) but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil,(AH) but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why[n] she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(AI)
49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”(AJ)
50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you.(AK) Go in peace.”(AL)
Footnotes
- Luke 7:6 Lit and He already was not far from
- Luke 7:7 Other mss read and let my servant be cured
- Luke 7:8 Lit under me
- Luke 7:14 Or the bier
- Luke 7:16 Or awe
- Luke 7:16 Or come to help
- Luke 7:22 Lit cleansed
- Luke 7:25 Or who have glorious robes
- Luke 7:27 Lit messenger before Your face
- Luke 7:27 Mal 3:1
- Luke 7:28 Other mss read women is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist
- Luke 7:29 Lit they justified God
- Luke 7:35 Or wisdom is declared right
- Luke 7:47 Her love shows that she has been forgiven
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.