Luke 7

Passage overview

John 7 unfolds primarily around the scene in which Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Tabernacles, and the various responses that arise from His teaching there. It also includes the deep theme of Jesus’ identity, the controversies surrounding Him, and God’s timing.

1verseAfter he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2verseA certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.

3verseWhen he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.

4verseWhen they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,

5versefor he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”

6verseJesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.

7verseTherefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.

8verseFor I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9verseWhen Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”

10verseThose who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.

11verseSoon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.

12verseNow when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.

13verseWhen the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.”

14verseHe came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

15verseHe who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.

16verseFear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”

17verseThis report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

18verseThe disciples of John told him about all these things.

19verseJohn, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”

20verseWhen the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

21verseIn that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.

22verseJesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

23verseBlessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

24verseWhen John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25verseBut what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts.

26verseBut what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

27verseThis is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

28verse“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”

29verseWhen all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.

30verseBut the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.

31verse“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?

32verseThey are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’

33verseFor John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

34verseThe Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35verseWisdom is justified by all her children.”

36verseOne of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.

37verseBehold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.

38verseStanding behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39verseNow when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”

40verseJesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”

41verse“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42verseWhen they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”

43verseSimon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

44verseTurning to the woman, he 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 wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.

45verseYou gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.

46verseYou didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

47verseTherefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

48verseHe said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49verseThose who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50verseHe said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Structure and Development

  • Verses 1–10: Jesus’ family urges Him to go up to Jerusalem for the festival, but Jesus makes clear that His time has not yet come.
  • Verses 11–24: Jesus begins teaching in the temple after arriving in Jerusalem for the festival in secret. As a result, people are amazed at the authority of Jesus’ teaching and question its source.
  • Verses 25–36: Opinions among the crowd differ over Jesus’ identity and where He came from. Religious leaders try to arrest Jesus, but they do not succeed because it is not yet the right time.
  • Verses 37–39: At the end of the festival, Jesus declares, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink,” and He makes a promise about the Holy Spirit.
  • Verses 40–52: The crowds who hear Jesus’ words offer various opinions about Him (questions about whether He is a prophet, the Messiah, or one from Galilee). The chief priests and Pharisees complain to the guards who failed to arrest Jesus, and they disregard Nicodemus’ intervention.

Overall Meaning and Core Message

This passage repeatedly raises the question, “Who is Jesus?” and highlights contrasts between God’s will and human will, the outside and the inside, tradition and true truth. It also emphasizes an understanding of Jesus’ time (kairos) and the promise of living water (the Holy Spirit) given to those who accept Jesus. Amid debates among those who interpret Jesus’ teaching and existence differently, Jesus walks with God and speaks only the truth, doing only what is right.

Points for Reflection

  • How am I accepting Jesus’ words and actions?
  • In my faith, is my view mixed with human judgment and the standards of the world?
  • I also reflect on whether I need wisdom to discern “God’s time” and wait for it.

Apply to Me

  • I check whether I truly trust in Jesus’ words and follow Him.
  • In a busy everyday life and amid many opinions, I ask whether I am receiving true peace and joy, like living water given by the Holy Spirit.
  • When there are various thoughts and different opinions in my neighborhood and within my faith community, I ask to be able to see through God’s eyes and respond with love.

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