Introduction

Luke chapter 7 presents a series of powerful demonstrations of Jesus’ authority, compassion, and identity as the promised Messiah. The chapter opens with the healing of a Roman centurion’s servant, an event notable because the centurion, a Gentile, displays remarkable faith in Jesus’ authority, even without requiring His physical presence. Jesus commends this faith as exceeding anything He had found in Israel, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s kingdom.

Next, Jesus raises the son of a widow from Nain from the dead, an act of profound compassion that reveals His power over death itself. This miracle causes great awe among the crowds and spreads Jesus’ reputation as a great prophet sent by God.

The chapter then shifts to John the Baptist, who, from prison, sends messengers to ask Jesus whether He is truly the Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to His works, healings, and the preaching of good news to the poor, as evidence fulfilling messianic prophecy. Jesus also affirms John’s greatness as a prophet while highlighting the differing responses of the religious leaders and common people to both John and Himself.

The chapter closes with a moving account of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with tears and expensive ointment in the house of Simon the Pharisee. This event becomes an occasion for Jesus to teach about forgiveness, contrasting the woman’s deep gratitude and love with Simon’s lack of hospitality and self righteous judgment. Jesus declares that her sins are forgiven because of her faith, illustrating that love and repentance flow from an awareness of God’s grace.

Chapter 7 (BBE)

1 After he had come to the end of all his words to the people who were giving ear to him, he went into Capernaum.

2 And a certain captain had a servant who was dear to him, who was ill and near to death.

3 And when he had news of Jesus, he sent to him rulers of the synagogue, requesting that he would come and make his servant well.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they made a request to him, saying, He is a man worthy of this;

5 For he is a lover of our nation, and has himself put up a Synagogue for us.

6 And Jesus went with them. But while he was still on his way, not far from the house, the captain sent friends to him, saying, Lord, do not give yourself this trouble: for I am not good enough for you to come into my house:

7 I am not worthy for you to come in and see me: but only say the word, and my servant will be well.

8 For I myself am a man of authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

9 And when Jesus had these words, he was full of wonder at him, and turning to the mass of people coming after him, he said, I say to you, Not even in Israel have I seen such great faith.

10 And those who had been sent, going back to the house, saw that the servant was well.

11 And it came about, after a little time, that he went to a town named Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great number of people.

12 And when he came near the door of the town, a dead man was being taken out, the only son of his mother, who was a widow: and a number of people from the town were with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had pity on her, and said to her, Do not be sad.

14 And he came near, and put his hand on the bier, and those who were carrying it came to a stop, and he said, Young man, I say to you, Get up.

15 And the dead man got up, and words came from his mouth, and he was given back to his mother.

16 And fear came on all, and they gave glory to God, saying, A great prophet is among us: and, God has given thought to his people.

17 And this account of him went through all Judaea and the neighbouring country.

18 And the disciples of John gave him an account of all these things.

19 And John sent for two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, Are you he who is coming, or are we to be waiting for another?

20 And when the men came to him, they said, John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, Are you he who is coming, or are we to be waiting for another?

21 In that hour he made numbers of people free from diseases and evil spirits, and to others who were blind he gave back the use of their eyes.

22 And he said to them in answer, Go, and give word to John of the things which you have seen and which have come to your ears; the blind now see, those who had no power in their legs are walking, lepers are made clean, those who were deaf now hear, the dead come to life again, the poor have the good news given to them.

23 And a blessing will be on him who has no doubts about me.

24 And when the men who were sent by John had gone away, he said to the people about John, What did you go out into the waste land to see? a tall stem shaking in the wind?

25 What did you go out to see? a man dressed in soft clothing? See, those who are dressed in fair clothing, and live delicately, are in kings’ houses.

26 But what did you go out to see? a prophet? Yes, I say to you, more than a prophet.

27 This is he of whom it is said, See, I send my servant before your face, who will make ready your way before you.

28 I say to you, Among all the sons of women there is not a greater than John: but one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29 And all the people, and the tax-farmers, when they had knowledge of it, gave glory to God, having been given baptism by John.

30 But the Pharisees and the doctors of the law put on one side for themselves the purpose of God, not having submitted to baptism from him.

31 To what, then, are the men of this generation to be compared? and what is like them?

32 They are like children who are seated in the market-place, crying out one to another and saying, We made music for you, and you did not dance; we gave cries of sorrow, and you did not have sorrow.

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, He has a demon.

34 The Son of man has come feasting, and you say, See, this man is a lover of food and wine, a friend of tax-farmers and sinners.

35 And wisdom is judged true by all her children.

36 And one of the Pharisees made a request that he would come to a meal with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his seat at the table.

37 And there was a woman in the town who was a sinner; and when she had knowledge that he was a guest in the Pharisee’s house, she took a bottle of perfume,

38 And went in and took her place at the back of him, at his feet, weeping, and washing his feet with her tears, drying them with the hairs of her head, and putting kisses on them, and rubbing them with the perfume.

39 Now when the Pharisee in whose house he was saw this, he said to himself, This man, if he was a prophet, would have knowledge of who this woman is, and what is her sort, that she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus in answer said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Say on, Lord.

41 And Jesus said, A certain man had two debtors: one owed him five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 When they had no money to make payment, he made a free gift to them both. Which of them, do you say, will have the greater love for him?

43 Simon in answer said, The one, I take it, who had the larger amount taken off. And he said to him, You are right.

44 And turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you did not give me water for my feet: but she has been washing my feet with her tears, and drying them with her hair.

45 You did not give me a kiss: but she, from the time when I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet.

46 You did not put oil on my head: but she has put perfume on my feet.

47 And so I say to you, Her sins, which are great in number, have been forgiven, because of her great love: but he who has small need of forgiveness gives little love.

48 And he said to her, Your sins have forgiveness.

49 And those who were seated at table with him said to themselves, Who is this who even gives forgiveness of sins?

50 And he said to her, Your faith has made you well; go in peace.

Important Verses

• Luke 7:9 Jesus commends the centurion’s faith as greater than any He had found in Israel, showing that true faith is not limited by ethnicity or religious background.
• Luke 7:14-15 The raising of the widow’s son at Nain demonstrates Jesus’ authority over death, foreshadowing His own resurrection power and compassion for the suffering.
• Luke 7:22-23 Jesus’ answer to John’s disciples confirms His messianic identity through the fulfillment of prophecy, particularly echoing Isaiah’s promises of restoration.
• Luke 7:47 “Her sins, which are great in number, have been forgiven, because of her great love.” This verse reveals that genuine love and devotion flow from an experience of forgiveness and grace.
• Luke 7:50 “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Jesus affirms that salvation and restoration come through faith, not through religious status or works.