Luke Chapter 7 — Miracles of Healing and Forgiveness
Jesus heals a centurion's servant, restores life to a widow's son, answers messengers from John the Baptist, and forgives a woman who anoints his feet.
1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.
3When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.
4When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,
5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
6Jesus 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.
7Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8For 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.”
9When 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.”
10Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
11Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born*The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”. son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
15He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.
16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
17This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
18The disciples of John told him about all these things.
19John, 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?”
20When 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?’ ”
21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
22Jesus 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.
23Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
24When 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?
25But 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.
26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
27This is he of whom it is written,
28“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.”
29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
31†TR adds “But the Lord said,”“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
32They 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.’
33For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.
37Behold, 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.
38Standing 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.
39Now 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.”
40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
41“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”
44Turning 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.
45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Luke 7:9
“When 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.””
This verse highlights Jesus’ commendation of a Gentile's faith as being superior to what he found among his own people.
Luke 7:22
“Jesus 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."”
Jesus uses his miraculous works and fulfillment of prophecy as definitive evidence of his identity to John the Baptist.
Luke 7:47
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
This verse establishes a direct relationship between the experience of God's forgiveness and the depth of one's love for Him.
Chapter Summary
Luke 7 records several pivotal encounters in Jesus' ministry that demonstrate his authority and compassion. It begins in Capernaum, where a Roman centurion displays remarkable faith by asking Jesus to heal his servant with only a word; Jesus heals the servant and marvels at the soldier's belief. In the city of Nain, Jesus raises a widow's only son from the dead, leading the crowds to recognize him as a great prophet. The narrative then shifts to John the Baptist, who sends messengers to ask if Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus responds by pointing to his miraculous works as evidence of his identity. The chapter concludes at the home of Simon the Pharisee, where a woman known as a sinner anoints Jesus' feet with tears and oil. Jesus uses the Parable of the Two Debtors to explain that those who are forgiven much show the greatest love, ultimately declaring the woman's sins forgiven because of her faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jesus was impressed because the centurion, a Roman official, recognized that Jesus possessed divine authority to heal from a distance by simply speaking a word, without needing to be physically present.
Upon seeing a funeral procession for a widow's only son, Jesus had compassion on her and commanded the young man to arise, bringing him back to life instantly.
Jesus directed John's messengers to observe his deeds, specifically the healing of the sick and the preaching of the gospel to the poor, which served as signs of the Messiah.
The parable teaches that a person who recognizes the magnitude of their debt or sin and receives forgiveness will respond with a greater degree of love and devotion.
Study Note
The mention of the alabaster jar in verse 37 refers to a vessel typically used for expensive perfumes, signifying the high value and sacrificial nature of the woman's act of devotion.
Related Chapters
Matthew 8
Matthew provides a parallel account of the healing of the centurion's servant and his great faith.
John 11
Another significant instance where Jesus demonstrates his authority over death by raising someone.
Luke 15
Further explores themes of repentance, forgiveness, and God's love for those who are lost.
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