7:1 When he finished these teachings to those who heard them, he left for Capernaum.
7:2 Then a slave of a Roman centurion – who honored him – was sick and was near death.
7:3 When he heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and save the life of his slave.
7:4 When they approached Jesus, they earnestly begged him, saying, “He is worthy of your mercy –
7:5 because he loves our people and he built our synagogue.”
7:6 Then Jesus left with them and as he neared the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Master, don’t be further inconvenienced, because I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
7:7 That’s why I didn’t consider myself worthy to approach you. But just say the word and my servant will be healed.
7:8 For I am a man of authority, with soldiers under me. 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.”
7:9 When Jesus heard this, he admired him and turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have not found such faith throughout Israel.”
7:10 When those who had been sent out returned to the house, they found the slave was healed.
7:11 After that, he left for a town called Nain. His disciples were traveling along with him accompanied by a large crowd.
7:12 Then as he neared the city gate, a dead body was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, who was a widow. A large crowd was with her.
7:13 The master saw her and felt compassion for her. He said, “Do not weep.”
7:14 He approached the coffin and the bearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you, rise.”
7:15 The dead body then sat up and began to speak. Jesus returned him to his mother.
7:16 They were all filled with awe and they began to praise God. They said, “A great prophet has appeared among us – and God is looking after His people.”
7:17 Word of Jesus’ activities went out throughout Judea and the surrounding areas.
7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.
7:19 John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Master to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for someone else?”
7:20 When they approached him, they said John the Baptist has dispatched us to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for someone else?”
7:21 At that very time he had just been healing many afflictions and wicked spirits; and he gave sight to many who were blind.
7:22 So he answered them and said, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the humble are preached the gospel.
7:23 And praises to God if he doesn’t take offense at me.”1
7:24 After John’s messengers left, he began to teach the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed swaying with the wind?
7:25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothing? Those who are finely dressed, living in luxury, are found in royal palaces.
7:26 So what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you – and someone who is more than a Prophet.
7:27 This is the one about whom is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger into your presence,2 who will clear the path in front of you.’3
7:28 Because I tell you, of those born from women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist – yet one humbled by the sanctuary of God is greater than he.”
7:29 All those who heard him – along with the publicans – praised God, as they had been immersed by the baptism of John.
7:30 Yet the pharisees and scribes rejected this wisdom of God against themselves, having not been baptized by him.
7:31 Then the Master said, “To whom then should I compare the people of this culture? And to what should I liken them to?
7:32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to each other, saying, ‘We played the flute for you but you didn’t dance; we mourned for you and you haven’t wept.’
7:33 Because John the Baptist appeared neither eating bread nor drinking wine – you say, ‘He had an impure spirit.’
7:34 The Servant of Humanity has appeared eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a gluttonous man and a wino – a friend of publicans and sinners!’
7:35 Yet wisdom is confirmed by all her children.”
7:36 Then one of the pharisees invited him to eat with him. So he went into the pharisee’s house and sat down to supper.
7:37 Then a woman arrived in the city. She was a sinner and she knew that he was sitting to eat at the pharisee’s house. She brought a container of ointment.
7:38 Then she knelt at his feet, began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair on her head, kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
7:39 When the pharisee who hosted him saw this, he thought to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known what kind of woman touched him – because she is a sinner.’
7:40 Then Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He replied, “Master, tell me.”
7:41 “There was a lender who had two borrowers: One who owed five hundred denariis and the other, fifty.
7:42 Then when they had nothing to pay with, he graciously forgave both of them. Tell me then, which of the borrowers will love him the most?”
7:43 Simon answered him, saying, “I supposed the one he forgave the most.” And Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly.”
7:44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you offered me no water for my feet – but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with their hairs of her head.
7:45 You gave me no kiss, but since the moment I arrived this woman has not stopped kissing my feet.
7:46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil – but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.
7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins – which are many – are forgiven, because she loved much: But little is forgiven for one who only loves a little.”
7:48 Then he told her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
7:49 And those sitting at the supper with him started saying among themselves, “Who is this who can also forgive sins?”
7:50 Then he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you – go in peace.”
Footnotes:
1. Verse 7:23. The use of the Greek word μακάριος (makarios) – which according to the lexicon means, “blessed, happy: joined to names of God.” Jesus ends his discussion with the request that John not be offended by him. This could potentially be expanded to others, but because Jesus is speaking specifically to John’s disciples with a message to be returned to John, he would certainly include deference to his teacher – the teacher who baptized him. It is an ancient devotional tradition for a student to request his teacher not be offended by the student.
2. Verse 7:27. The Greek word πρό (pro) means “before” – “in the face of one who is following” according to the lexicon. Jesus is illustrating that John the Baptist was a great teacher who revealed the path of love for God to the people – a prophet. This position is confirmed by the quote from Malachi (below).
3. Verse 7:27. Jesus is paraphrasing a statement made by God to Malachi, a devoted servant and messenger of God:
By quoting this statement in Malachi, Jesus is clarifying that John was such a ‘messenger of the covenant’ – sent to clear the path to God for those who followed John’s teachings. The quote indicates the role of God’s messenger was to bring people back to God.
7:2 Then a slave of a Roman centurion – who honored him – was sick and was near death.
7:3 When he heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and save the life of his slave.
7:4 When they approached Jesus, they earnestly begged him, saying, “He is worthy of your mercy –
7:5 because he loves our people and he built our synagogue.”
7:6 Then Jesus left with them and as he neared the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Master, don’t be further inconvenienced, because I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
7:7 That’s why I didn’t consider myself worthy to approach you. But just say the word and my servant will be healed.
7:8 For I am a man of authority, with soldiers under me. 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.”
7:9 When Jesus heard this, he admired him and turned and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have not found such faith throughout Israel.”
7:10 When those who had been sent out returned to the house, they found the slave was healed.
7:11 After that, he left for a town called Nain. His disciples were traveling along with him accompanied by a large crowd.
7:12 Then as he neared the city gate, a dead body was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, who was a widow. A large crowd was with her.
7:13 The master saw her and felt compassion for her. He said, “Do not weep.”
7:14 He approached the coffin and the bearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you, rise.”
7:15 The dead body then sat up and began to speak. Jesus returned him to his mother.
7:16 They were all filled with awe and they began to praise God. They said, “A great prophet has appeared among us – and God is looking after His people.”
7:17 Word of Jesus’ activities went out throughout Judea and the surrounding areas.
7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things.
7:19 John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Master to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for someone else?”
7:20 When they approached him, they said John the Baptist has dispatched us to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or should we look for someone else?”
7:21 At that very time he had just been healing many afflictions and wicked spirits; and he gave sight to many who were blind.
7:22 So he answered them and said, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the humble are preached the gospel.
7:23 And praises to God if he doesn’t take offense at me.”1
7:24 After John’s messengers left, he began to teach the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed swaying with the wind?
7:25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothing? Those who are finely dressed, living in luxury, are found in royal palaces.
7:26 So what did you go out to see? A Prophet? Yes, I tell you – and someone who is more than a Prophet.
7:27 This is the one about whom is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger into your presence,2 who will clear the path in front of you.’3
7:28 Because I tell you, of those born from women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist – yet one humbled by the sanctuary of God is greater than he.”
7:29 All those who heard him – along with the publicans – praised God, as they had been immersed by the baptism of John.
7:30 Yet the pharisees and scribes rejected this wisdom of God against themselves, having not been baptized by him.
7:31 Then the Master said, “To whom then should I compare the people of this culture? And to what should I liken them to?
7:32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to each other, saying, ‘We played the flute for you but you didn’t dance; we mourned for you and you haven’t wept.’
7:33 Because John the Baptist appeared neither eating bread nor drinking wine – you say, ‘He had an impure spirit.’
7:34 The Servant of Humanity has appeared eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a gluttonous man and a wino – a friend of publicans and sinners!’
7:35 Yet wisdom is confirmed by all her children.”
7:36 Then one of the pharisees invited him to eat with him. So he went into the pharisee’s house and sat down to supper.
7:37 Then a woman arrived in the city. She was a sinner and she knew that he was sitting to eat at the pharisee’s house. She brought a container of ointment.
7:38 Then she knelt at his feet, began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair on her head, kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
7:39 When the pharisee who hosted him saw this, he thought to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known what kind of woman touched him – because she is a sinner.’
7:40 Then Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He replied, “Master, tell me.”
7:41 “There was a lender who had two borrowers: One who owed five hundred denariis and the other, fifty.
7:42 Then when they had nothing to pay with, he graciously forgave both of them. Tell me then, which of the borrowers will love him the most?”
7:43 Simon answered him, saying, “I supposed the one he forgave the most.” And Jesus replied, “You have answered correctly.”
7:44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you offered me no water for my feet – but she has washed my feet with tears and wiped them with their hairs of her head.
7:45 You gave me no kiss, but since the moment I arrived this woman has not stopped kissing my feet.
7:46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil – but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.
7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins – which are many – are forgiven, because she loved much: But little is forgiven for one who only loves a little.”
7:48 Then he told her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
7:49 And those sitting at the supper with him started saying among themselves, “Who is this who can also forgive sins?”
7:50 Then he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you – go in peace.”
Footnotes:
1. Verse 7:23. The use of the Greek word μακάριος (makarios) – which according to the lexicon means, “blessed, happy: joined to names of God.” Jesus ends his discussion with the request that John not be offended by him. This could potentially be expanded to others, but because Jesus is speaking specifically to John’s disciples with a message to be returned to John, he would certainly include deference to his teacher – the teacher who baptized him. It is an ancient devotional tradition for a student to request his teacher not be offended by the student.
2. Verse 7:27. The Greek word πρό (pro) means “before” – “in the face of one who is following” according to the lexicon. Jesus is illustrating that John the Baptist was a great teacher who revealed the path of love for God to the people – a prophet. This position is confirmed by the quote from Malachi (below).
3. Verse 7:27. Jesus is paraphrasing a statement made by God to Malachi, a devoted servant and messenger of God:
"I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 3:1 NIV)
By quoting this statement in Malachi, Jesus is clarifying that John was such a ‘messenger of the covenant’ – sent to clear the path to God for those who followed John’s teachings. The quote indicates the role of God’s messenger was to bring people back to God.
