1NowG1161 whenG1893 he had endedG4137 allG3956 hisG846 sayingsG4487 inG1519 the hearingG189 of the peopleG2992, he enteredG1525 intoG1519 CapernaumG2584. 2AndG1161 a certainG5100 centurion’sG1543 servantG1401, whoG3739 wasG2258 dearG1784 to himG846, wasG2192 sickG2560, and readyG3195 to dieG5053. 3AndG1161 when he heardG191 ofG4012 JesusG2424, he sentG649 toG4314 himG846 the eldersG4245 of the JewsG2453, beseechingG2065 himG846 thatG3704 he would comeG2064 and healG1295 hisG846 servantG1401. 4AndG1161 when they cameG3854 toG4314 JesusG2424, they besoughtG3870 himG846 earnestlyG4709, sayingG3004, ThatG3754 he wasG2076 worthyG514 for whomG3739 he should doG3930 thisG5124: 5ForG1063 he lovethG25 ourG2257 nationG1484, andG2532 heG846 hath builtG3618 usG2254 a synagogueG4864. 6ThenG1161 JesusG2424 wentG4198 withG4862 themG846. AndG1161 when heG846 wasG568 nowG2235 notG3756 farG3112 fromG575 the houseG3614, the centurionG1543 sentG3992 friendsG5384 toG4314 himG846, sayingG3004 to himG846, LordG2962, troubleG4660 notG3361 thyselfG4660: forG1063 I amG1510 notG3756 worthyG2425 thatG2443 thou shouldest enterG1525 underG5259 myG3450 roofG4721: 7ThereforeG1352 neitherG3761 thought IG515 myselfG1683 worthyG515 to comeG2064 toG4314 theeG4571: butG235 sayG2036 in a wordG3056, andG2532 myG3450 servantG3816 shall be healedG2390. 8ForG1063 IG1473 alsoG2532 amG1510 a manG444 placedG5021 underG5259 authorityG1849, havingG2192 underG5259 meG1683 soldiersG4757, andG2532 I sayG3004 to oneG5129, GoG4198, andG2532 he goethG4198; andG2532 to anotherG243, ComeG2064, andG2532 he comethG2064; andG2532 to myG3450 servantG1401, DoG4160 thisG5124, andG2532 he doethG4160 it. 9WhenG1161 JesusG2424 heardG191 these thingsG5023, he marvelledG2296 at himG846, andG2532 turned himself aboutG4762, and saidG2036 to the peopleG3793 that followedG190 himG846, I sayG3004 to youG5213, I have not foundG2147 so greatG5118 faithG4102, no, notG3761 inG1722 IsraelG2474. 10AndG2532 they that were sentG3992, returningG5290 toG1519 the houseG3624, foundG2147 the servantG1401 wellG5198 that had been sickG770. 11AndG2532 it came to passG1096 G1722 the day afterG1836, that he wentG4198 intoG1519 a cityG4172 calledG2564 NainG3484; andG2532 manyG2425 of hisG846 disciplesG3101 went withG4848 himG846, andG2532 manyG4183 peopleG3793. 12NowG1161 whenG5613 he came nearG1448 to the gateG4439 of the cityG4172, beholdG2532 G2400, there wasG1580 a dead manG2348 carried outG1580, the onlyG3439 sonG5207 of hisG846 motherG3384, andG2532 sheG846 wasG2258 a widowG5503: andG2532 manyG2425 peopleG3793 of the cityG4172 wereG2258 withG4862 herG846. 13AndG2532 when the LordG2962 sawG1492 herG846, he had compassionG4697 onG1909 herG846, andG2532 saidG2036 to herG846, WeepG2799 notG3361. 14AndG2532 he cameG4334 and touchedG680 the bierG4673: andG1161 they that boreG941 him stood stillG2476. AndG2532 he saidG2036, Young manG3495, I sayG3004 to theeG4671, AriseG1453. 15AndG2532 he that was deadG3498 sat upG339, andG2532 beganG756 to speakG2980. AndG2532 he deliveredG1325 himG846 to hisG846 motherG3384. 16AndG1161 there cameG2983 a fearG5401 on allG537: andG2532 they glorifiedG1392 GodG2316, sayingG3004, ThatG3754 a greatG3173 prophetG4396 hath risenG1453 amongG1722 usG2254; andG2532, ThatG3754 GodG2316 hath visitedG1980 hisG846 peopleG2992. 17AndG2532 thisG3778 rumourG3056 ofG4012 himG846 went forthG1831 throughoutG1722 allG3650 JudaeaG2449, andG2532 throughoutG1722 allG3956 the surrounding regionG4066. 18AndG2532 the disciplesG3101 of JohnG2491 reported toG518 himG846 ofG4012 allG3956 these thingsG5130. 19AndG2532 JohnG2491 callingG4341 twoG1417 G5100 of hisG846 disciplesG3101 sentG3992 them toG4314 JesusG2424, sayingG3004, ArtG1488 thouG4771 he that should comeG2064? orG2228 look we forG4328 anotherG243? 20WhenG1161 the menG435 had comeG3854 toG4314 himG846, they saidG2036, JohnG2491 the BaptistG910 hath sentG649 usG2248 toG4314 theeG4571, sayingG3004, ArtG1488 thouG4771 he that should comeG2064? orG2228 look we forG4328 anotherG243? 21AndG1161 inG1722 that sameG846 hourG5610 he curedG2323 manyG4183 ofG575 their infirmitiesG3554 andG2532 afflictionsG3148, andG2532 of evilG4190 spiritsG4151; andG2532 to manyG4183 that were blindG5185 he gaveG5483 sightG991. 22ThenG2532 JesusG2424 answeringG611 saidG2036 to themG846, GoG4198, and tellG518 JohnG2491 what thingsG3739 ye have seenG1492 andG2532 heardG191 G3754; that the blindG5185 seeG308, the lameG5560 walkG4043, lepersG3015 are cleansedG2511, the deafG2974 hearG191, the deadG3498 are raisedG1453, to the poorG4434 the gospel is preachedG2097. 23AndG2532 blessedG3107 isG2076 he, whoG3739 shallG4624 notG3362 be offendedG4624 because ofG1722 meG1698. 24AndG1161 when the messengersG32 of JohnG2491 had departedG565, he beganG756 to speakG3004 toG4314 the peopleG3793 concerningG4012 JohnG2491, WhatG5101 went ye outG1831 intoG1519 the wildernessG2048 to seeG2300? A reedG2563 shakenG4531 withG5259 the windG417? 25ButG235 whatG5101 went ye outG1831 to seeG1492? A manG444 clothedG294 inG1722 softG3120 raimentG2440? BeholdG2400, they who areG1722 gorgeouslyG1741 apparelledG2441, andG2532 liveG5225 delicatelyG5172, areG1526 inG1722 kings’ courtsG933. 26ButG235 whatG5101 went ye outG1831 to seeG1492? A prophetG4396? YeaG3483, I sayG3004 to youG5213, andG2532 much moreG4055 than a prophetG4396. 27ThisG3778 isG2076 he, concerningG4012 whomG3739 it is writtenG1125, BeholdG2400, IG1473 sendG649 myG3450 messengerG32 beforeG4253 thyG4675 faceG4383, whoG3739 shall prepareG2680 thyG4675 wayG3598 beforeG1715 theeG4675. 28ForG1063 I sayG3004 to youG5213, AmongG1722 those that are bornG1084 of womenG1135 there isG2076 notG3762 a greaterG3187 prophetG4396 thanG3187 JohnG2491 the BaptistG910: butG1161 he that is leastG3398 inG1722 the kingdomG932 of GodG2316 isG2076 greater thanG3187 heG846. 29AndG2532 allG3956 the peopleG2992 that heardG191 him, andG2532 the tax collectorsG5057, justifiedG1344 GodG2316, being baptizedG907 with the baptismG908 of JohnG2491. 30ButG1161 the PhariseesG5330 andG2532 lawyersG3544 rejectedG114 the counselG1012 of GodG2316 againstG1519 themselvesG1438, beingG907 notG3361 baptizedG907 byG5259 himG846. 31AndG1161 the LordG2962 saidG2036, To whatG5101 thenG3767 shall I likenG3666 the menG444 of thisG5026 generationG1074? andG2532 to whatG5101 are theyG1526 likeG3664? 32They areG1526 likeG3664 childrenG3813 sittingG2521 inG1722 the marketplaceG58, andG2532 callingG4377 one to anotherG240, andG2532 sayingG3004, We have pipedG832 to youG5213, andG2532 ye haveG3738 notG3756 dancedG3738; we have mournedG2354 to youG5213, andG2532 ye haveG2799 notG3756 weptG2799. 33ForG1063 JohnG2491 the BaptistG910 cameG2064 neitherG3383 eatingG2068 breadG740 norG3383 drinkingG4095 wineG3631; andG2532 ye sayG3004, He hathG2192 a demonG1140. 34The SonG5207 of manG444 is comeG2064 eatingG2068 andG2532 drinkingG4095; andG2532 ye sayG3004, BeholdG2400 a gluttonousG5314 manG444, andG2532 a winebibberG3630, a friendG5384 of tax collectorsG5057 andG2532 sinnersG268! 35ButG2532 wisdomG4678 is justifiedG1344 byG575 allG3956 herG846 childrenG5043. 36AndG1161 oneG5100 of the PhariseesG5330 desiredG2065 himG846 thatG2443 he would eatG5315 withG3326 himG846. AndG2532 he wentG1525 intoG1519 the Pharisee’sG5330 houseG3614, and sat down to eatG347. 37AndG2532, beholdG2400, a womanG1135 inG1722 the cityG4172, whoG3748 wasG2258 a sinnerG268, when she knewG1921 thatG3754 Jesus was eatingG345 inG1722 the Pharisee’sG5330 houseG3614, broughtG2865 an alabaster boxG211 of ointmentG3464, 38AndG2532 stoodG2476 atG3844 hisG846 feetG4228 behindG3694 him weepingG2799, and beganG756 to washG1026 hisG846 feetG4228 with tearsG1144, andG2532 wipedG1591 them with the hairsG2359 of herG846 headG2776, andG2532 kissedG2705 hisG846 feetG4228, andG2532 anointedG218 them with the ointmentG3464. 39NowG1161 when the PhariseeG5330 whoG3588 had invitedG2564 himG846 sawG1492 it, he spokeG2036 withinG1722 himselfG1438, sayingG3004, This manG3778, ifG1487 he wereG2258 a prophetG302 G4396, would have knownG1097 whoG5101 andG2532 what mannerG4217 of womanG1135 this is thatG3748 touchethG680 himG846: forG3754 she isG2076 a sinnerG268. 40AndG2532 JesusG2424 answeringG611 saidG2036 toG4314 himG846, SimonG4613, I haveG2192 somewhatG5100 to sayG2036 to theeG4671. AndG1161 he saithG5346, MasterG1320, say itG2036. 41There wasG2258 a certainG5100 creditorG1157 who had twoG1417 debtorsG5533: the oneG1520 owedG3784 five hundredG4001 penceG1220, andG1161 the otherG2087 fiftyG4004. 42AndG1161 when theyG846 hadG2192 nothingG3361 to payG591, he frankly forgaveG5483 them bothG297. Tell meG2036 thereforeG3767, whichG5101 of themG846 will loveG25 himG846 mostG4119? 43SimonG4613 answeredG611 andG1161 saidG2036, I supposeG5274 thatG3754 he, to whomG3739 he forgaveG5483 mostG4119. AndG1161 he saidG2036 to himG846, Thou hastG2919 rightlyG3723 judgedG2919. 44AndG2532 he turnedG4762 toG4314 the womanG1135, and saidG5346 to SimonG4613, Seest thouG991 thisG5026 womanG1135? I enteredG1525 intoG1519 thyG4675 houseG3614, thou gavest meG1325 noG3756 waterG5204 forG1909 myG3450 feetG4228: butG1161 sheG3778 G846 hath washedG1026 myG3450 feetG4228 with tearsG1144, andG2532 wipedG1591 them with the hairsG2359 of herG846 headG2776. 45Thou gavestG1325 meG3427 noG3756 kissG5370: butG1161 this womanG3778 G846 sinceG575 the timeG3739 I came inG1525 hathG1257 notG3756 ceasedG1257 to kissG2705 myG3450 feetG4228. 46MyG3450 headG2776 with oilG1637 thou didstG218 notG3756 anointG218: butG1161 this womanG3778 G846 hath anointedG218 myG3450 feetG4228 with ointmentG3464. 47ThereforeG3739 G5484 I sayG3004 to theeG4671, HerG846 sinsG266, whichG3588 are manyG4183, are forgivenG863; forG3754 she lovedG25 muchG4183: butG1161 to whomG3739 littleG3641 is forgivenG863, the same lovethG25 littleG3641. 48AndG1161 he saidG2036 to herG846, ThyG4675 sinsG266 are forgivenG863. 49AndG2532 they that were eating with himG4873 beganG756 to sayG3004 withinG1722 themselvesG1438, WhoG5101 isG2076 thisG3778 thatG3739 forgivethG863 sinsG266 alsoG2532? 50AndG1161 he saidG2036 toG4314 the womanG1135, ThyG4675 faithG4102 hath savedG4982 theeG4571; goG4198 inG1519 peaceG1515.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 4 CENTURION'S SERVANT HEALED. (
Luke 7:1-
Luke 7:10)
he was worthy--a testimony most precious, coming from those who probably were strangers to the principle from which he acted (
Eccl 7:1).
5 loved our nation--Having found that "salvation was of the Jews," he loved them for it.
built, &c.--His love took this practical and appropriate form.
11 WIDOW OF NAIN'S SON RAISED TO LIFE. (In Luke only). (
Luke 7:11-
Luke 7:17)
Nain--a small village not elsewhere mentioned in Scripture, and only this once probably visited by our Lord; it lay a little to the south of Mount Tabor, about twelve miles from Capernaum.
12 carried out--"was being carried out." Dead bodies, being ceremonially unclean, were not allowed to be buried within the cities (though the kings of David's house were buried m the city of David), and the funeral was usually on the same day as the death.
only son, &c.--affecting particulars, told with delightful simplicity.
13 the Lord--"This sublime appellation is more usual with Luke and John than Matthew; Mark holds the mean" [BENGEL].
saw her, he had compassion, &c.--What consolation to thousands of the bereaved has this single verse carried from age to age!
14 What mingled majesty and grace shines in this scene! The Resurrection and the Life in human flesh, with a word of command, bringing back life to the dead body; Incarnate Compassion summoning its absolute power to dry a widow's tears!
16 visited his people--more than bringing back the days of Elijah and Elisha (
1Kgs 17:17-24;
2Kgs 4:32-37; and see
Matt 15:31).
29 THE BAPTIST'S MESSAGE THE REPLY, AND CONSEQUENT DISCOURSE. (Luke 7:18-35)
And all the people that heard--"on hearing (this)." These are the observations of the Evangelist, not of our Lord.
and the publicans--a striking clause.
justified God, being baptized, &c.--rather, "having been baptized." The meaning is, They acknowledged the divine wisdom of such a preparatory ministry as John's, in leading them to Him who now spake to them (see
Luke 1:16-
Luke 1:17); whereas the Pharisees and lawyers, true to themselves in refusing the baptism of John, set at naught also the merciful design of God in the Saviour Himself, to their own destruction.
31 the Lord said, &c.--As cross, capricious children, invited by their playmates to join them in their amusements, will play with them neither at weddings nor funerals (juvenile imitations of the joyous and mournful scenes of life), so that generation rejected both John and his Master: the one because he was too unsocial--more like a demoniac than a rational man; the other, because He was too much the reverse, given to animal indulgences, and consorting with the lowest classes of society. But the children of Wisdom recognize and honor her, whether in the austere garb of the Baptist or in the more attractive style of his Master, whether in the Law or in the Gospel, whether in rags or in royalty, for "the full soul loatheth an honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet" (
Pro 27:7).
37 CHRIST'S FEET WASHED WITH TEARS. (
Luke 7:36-
Luke 7:50)
a sinner--one who had led a profligate life. Note.--There is no ground whatever for the popular notion that this woman was Mary Magdalene, nor do we know what her name was. (See on
Luke 8:2.)
an alabaster box of ointment--a perfume vessel, in some cases very costly (
John 12:5). "The ointment has here a peculiar interest, as the offering by a penitent of what had been an accessory in her unhallowed work of sin" [ALFORD].
38 at his feet behind him--the posture at meals being a reclining one, with the feet out behind.
began to wash, &c.--to "water with a shower." The tears, which were quite involuntary, poured down in a flood upon His naked feet, as she bent down to kiss them; and deeming them rather fouled than washed by this, she hastened to wipe them off with the only towel she had, the long tresses of her own hair, "with which slaves were wont to wash their masters' feet" [STIER].
kissed--The word signifies "to kiss fondly, to caress," or to "kiss again and again," which
Luke 7:45 shows is meant here. What prompted this? Much love, springing from a sense of much forgiveness. So says He who knew her heart (
Luke 7:47). Where she had met with Christ before, or what words of His had brought life to her dead heart and a sense of divine pardon to her guilty soul, we know not. But probably she was of the crowd of "publicans and sinners" whom Incarnate Compassion drew so often around Him, and heard from His lips some of those words such as never man spake, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour," &c. No personal interview had up to this time taken place between them; but she could keep her feelings no longer to herself, and having found her way to Him (and entered along with him,
Luke 7:45), they burst forth in this surpassing yet most artless style, as if her whole soul would go out to Him.
39 the Pharisee--who had formed no definite opinion of our Lord, and invited Him apparently to obtain materials for a judgment.
spake within himself, &c.--"Ha! I have Him now; He plainly knows nothing of the person He allows to touch Him; and so, He can be no prophet." Not so fast, Simon; thou hast not seen through thy Guest yet, but He hath seen through thee.
40 Like Nathan with David, our Lord conceals His home thrust under the veil of a parable, and makes His host himself pronounce upon the case. The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of the one was ten times that of the other (in the proportion of "five hundred" to "fifty"); but both being equally insolvent, both are with equal frankness forgiven; and Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her Divine Benefactor with the deepest gratitude. Does our Lord then admit that Simon was a forgiving man? Let us see.
44 I entered . . . no water--a compliment to guests. Was this "much love?" Was it any?
45 no kiss--of salutation. How much love was here? Any at all?
46 with oil . . . not anoint--even common olive oil in contrast with the woman's "ointment" or aromatic balsam. What evidence was thus afforded of any feeling which forgiveness prompts? Our Lord speaks this with delicate politeness, as if hurt at these inattentions of His host, which though not invariably shown to guests, were the customary marks of studied respect and regard. The inference is plain--only one of the debtors was really forgiven, though in the first instance, to give room for the play of withheld feelings, the forgiveness of both is supposed in the parable.
47 Her sins which are many--"Those many sins of hers," our Lord, who admitted how much more she owed than the Pharisee, now proclaims in naked terms the forgiveness of her guilt.
for--not because, as if love were the cause of forgiveness, but "inasmuch as," or "in proof of which." The latter clause of the verse, and the whole structure of the parable, plainly show this to be the meaning.
little forgiven . . . loveth little--delicately ironical intimation of no love and no forgiveness in the present case.
48 said unto her, &c.--an unsought assurance, usually springing up unexpected in the midst of active duty and warm affections, while often it flies from those who mope and are paralyzed for want of it.
49 they that sat . . . Who is this, &c.--No wonder they were startled to hear One who was reclining at the same couch, and partaking of the same hospitalities with themselves, assume the awful prerogative of "even forgiving sins." But so far from receding from this claim, or softening it down, our Lord only repeats it, with two precious additions: one, announcing what was the one secret of the "forgiveness" she had experienced, and which carried "salvation" in its bosom; the other, a glorious dismissal of her in that "peace" which she had already felt, but is now assured she has His full warrant to enjoy! This wonderful scene teaches two very weighty truths: (1) Though there be degrees of guilt, insolvency, or inability to wipe out the dishonor done to God, is common to all sinners. (2) As Christ is the Great Creditor to whom all debt, whether great or small, contracted by sinners is owing, so to Him belongs the prerogative of forgiving it. This latter truth is brought out in the structure and application of the present parable as it is nowhere else. Either then Jesus was a blaspheming deceiver, or He is God manifest in the flesh.