The Gospel According to Saint Luke
Luke 7
Chapter VII · Vol. IV, pp. 163–166
1 Christ findeth a greater faith in the centurion, a Gentile, than in any of the Jews: 10 healeth his servant, being absent: 11 raiseth to life the widow's son at Nain: 19 answereth John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles: 24 testifieth to the people what opinion he held of John: 30 inveigheth against the Jews, who, with neither the manners of John nor of Jesus, could be won: 36 and showeth, how he is a friend to sinners, not to maintain them in sins, but to forgive them their sins, upon their faith and repentance.
1 NOW when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, ahe entered into Capernaum.
a Mat.8.5-13.
2 And a certain bcenturion's servant, who cwas dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, dhe sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
d Ge.49.10. Is.11.10. Ro.10.15-17.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he eloveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.1
e 1 Ki.5.1. Ga.5.6. 1 Jn.3.14;5.1,2.
1 The additional particulars supplied here by Luke bring out in still stronger colours the character of the centurion. He was a stranger, yet he had shown great interest in the people among whom he was placed; he had displayed also a princely generosity. The Jewish rabbins pressed these facts upon the attention of our Lord so as to induce him to listen to the centurion's request. The centurion himself, however, so far from pleading any merit, takes the position of an humble, helpless, undeserving suppliant. What a lesson does this teach Christians!—P.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends2 to him, saying unto him, Lord, gtrouble not thyself;3 for hI am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: ibut say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man4 set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go,j and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, he kmarvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in lIsrael.
10 Andn they that were sent,5 returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
n Mat.8.13;15.28. Mar.9.23. Jn.4.50,54.
5 They that were sent. Either the elders sent to ask the favour, or the friends sent to prepare the way for the centurion himself. This verse, which makes no mention of the centurion, seems clearly to intimate that he, as an expression of his profound respect, had stayed with the Lord.—C.
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the oonly son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
14 And he came and touched the bier:6 and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, rI say unto thee, Arise.
6 Or, coffin.
r Ps.33.9. Ro.4.17. Jn.6.63;5.21. ch.8.54;9.54,55. Jn.11.43,44. Mat.27.52,53;11.5. 1 Ki.17.10-23. 2 Ki.4.32-37;13.21. Ac.9.40,41;20.9-12. Eze.37.5,9. Ep.5.14.
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16 Ands there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That ta great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath uvisited his people.
17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.7
7 This is one of the three greatest recorded miracles of our Lord; of which it has been observed that he raised one (Jairus' daughter) when just dead—one on the way to burial—and one (Lazarus) who had been buried four days' (Alford). It is worthy of note, as illustrative of the narrative, that a short distance from the ancient gate of Nain, near the road which leads toward Capernaum, by which our Lord approached the village, is the ancient necropolis.—P.
18 Andv the disciples of John showed him of all these things.
v Mat.11.2-15.
19 And John calling unto him xtwo of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou yhe that should come? or look we for another?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits;8 and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
8 This threefold classification into 'infirmities, plagues, and evil spirits,' and that too by a physician, clearly establishes the difference between ordinary maladies and demoniacal possession.—C.
22 Then Jesus answering, said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; zhow that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not abe offended in me.
a Is.8.14,15. Ro.9.32,33. 1 Pe.2.7,8. 1 Co.1.23,24;2.14. ch.2.34. Mat.11.6;13.57. Jn.6.60-66.
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the bwilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?9
A.M. cir. 4035. A.D. cir. 31.
b ch.1.80;3.2.
9 An unstable man? No, Ep.4.14. Tit.1.10. Col.2.4,8. 2 Pe.2.3,17;3.17.
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?1 Behold, cthey which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
1 A complaisant gentleman? No, Ga.1.10. 1 Co.1.26.
c 2 Sa.19.35. Es.1.3,11.
27 This is he, of whom it is written, eBehold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say unto you, gAmong those that are born of women, there is not a greater2 prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is hgreater than he.
g ver.26; ch.1.15-17;3.16. Jn.1.15-27;5.35. Mat.3.2-17;13.17.
2 See note on Mat.11.11.—C.
h Ep.3.8,9;1.9. Col.1.26,27. Ro.16.25,26. 2 Ti.1.1,10. 1 Pe.1.10,12.
29 And iall the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God,3 being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 Butj the Pharisees and 4lawyers 5rejected the counsel of God against themselves,6 being not baptized of him.Cited in WCF 28.5
j ch.10.18. Mat.21.31,32. Jn.12.48. Ac.20.27.
4 But the Pharisees and lawyers—who looked on and were silent, or who even approved, while the common people came out to the baptism of John, have rejected the (wise and merciful) counsel of God in regard to themselves (acknowledging not God's call to repentance, and) not being baptized of him.—C.
5 Or, frustrated.
6 Or, within themselves.
31 And the Lord said, Whereunto7 then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
7 Mat.11.16-19. Re.3.15-17. Is.28.9-13. Je.5.1-5. They rejected every form of instruction.
32 They are like unto children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
34 The Son of man is come leating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 Butn Wisdom is justified of all her children.8
n Pr.8.32-36;17.16. Phi.2.15,16;3.7-14. 1 Co.1.23,24. ver.29. Ro.3.4.
8 See note on Mat.11.19, &c.—C.
36 Ando one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. pAnd he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a 9woman1 in the city, which was a sinner,2 when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an qalabaster-box of ointment,
9 Perhaps Mary Magdalene, ver.34; ch.5.32;8.2;24.10. 1 Ti.1.15.
1 Whether this woman, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the sister of Lazarus, be the same, or three distinct persons, has been matter of serious question, both among ancient and modern expositors. See Mat.26.6. Mar.14.3. Jn.12.3. It seems plain, however, that this woman was a resident in Nain, well known by character to the Pharisee (ver.39), and so a different person from Mary of Magdala, a city on the other side of Jordan; and all that is recorded of Mary the sister of Lazarus seems clearly to distinguish her from both these Marys.—C.
2 In what sense this woman was a sinner does not appear; but our Lord acknowledges (ver.47) that 'her sins were many.' Nor will this admission aid in the discovery of her peculiar character; for who can deny that his 'sins are many!' The general conclusion that she was an adulteress or harlot seems harsh, because it is unnecessary, and utterly unsupported by any intimation either from the uncharitable Simon or our righteous Lord.—C.
38 And rstood at his feet behind3 him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
* Our Lord, according to the ancient Jewish custom, reclined on his left elbow, on a couch, his naked feet (the sandals having been taken off on entering the house) extended from the table, so that the woman could have free access to them—Note, The freedom of access afforded to such a person at such a time, and to such a place, will easily be understood by those who have examined the general freedom of entry still enjoyed in several eastern countries, and which furnishes upon this occasion a beautiful example of the still greater freedom with which the very chief of sinners are permitted and invited to draw nigh to Jesus.—C.
3 See note * in first column.
r Zec.12.10. 2 Co.7.11. 1 Ti.5.10. Ge.18.4;19.2. Ju.19.21. 1 Sa.25.41.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, sThis man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that ttoucheth him; for she is a usinner.
s ch.15.2;23.2. Jn.7.52;9.24. Mat.16.14.
u ver.37. Ge.13.13. 1 Co.6.9,10. Ga.5.19-21.
40 Andv Jesus, answering, said unto him, Simon,4 I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, xMaster, say on.
41 There5 was a certain creditor which had two ydebtors: the one owed zfive hundred apence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they bhad nothing to pay, he franklyc forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he dto whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
d ver.47. Ps.116.16-18. 1 Co.15.9. 2 Co.5.14. Phi.3.7-9, with 1 Ti.1.13-16.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou egavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no gkiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, iHer sins, which are many,6 are forgiven; for7 she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
i ver.37,39,43. 1 Ti.1.13-16. 1 Co.6.9-11. Ep.1.7. Ex.34.6,7. Mi.7.18,19. 1 Ti.1.15.
6 Our Lord does not mean that her love was the moving or meritorious cause of her forgiveness; but that her great love was an evidence of her deep sense of her manifold sins, and gratitude for the grace of forgiveness. As much as to say, Unless she had already been forgiven much, it were impossible she could love so much.—C.
7 Or, therefore, Ps.103.1-3;116.12-19. 2 Co.5.14. Ps.119.32. ver.43.
Notes
Ver. 11. Nain was a city of Galilee, a few miles south of Mount Tabor. It still exists as a small village, exclusively inhabited by Turks. O! that the Lord would again say to the dead (to Israel), the son of the widow (Zion), Young man (Israel young and vigorous in faith), Arise! O! that he would deliver him again to (Jerusalem) his mother! Surely then would he again 'begin to speak,' and, like Paul, he that persecuted Christ in his members, would preach him in every city!—Note, Infidels have spoken of this case as a mere restoration from a lethargy. This assertion represents these objectors as better judges, at the end of many hundred years, than a tender mother and all the young man's personal friends, a few days after his death. They judged him dead. Our Lord found him as carried to his grave, closely covered with a cloth, as the manner of the Jews required—he touched the bier—commanded him to arise—he obeyed, rose up, and began to speak.—All present were astonished, and ascribed the work to God. Infidels now may gainsay—for having rejected 'Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe though one rise from the dead.' C.
Reflections.—Masters ought to take tender care of their faithful servants: and such indeed will in general insure their attention and regard in the time of distress or affliction. It is a great advantage to interest the fervent prayers of Christ's favourites in our behalf. And great is the influence, and distinguished the humility and honour, of a strong faith. Unanswerably has Jesus demonstrated his divine and mediatorial characters in healing all manner of diseases, raising the dead, and forgiving sins, with infinite efficacy and authority. Tender is his regard to Gentile believers, and his compassion to the afflicted and destitute: and gracious, full, and plenteous his mercy to all sorts of sinners, however guilty and miserable. What exalting thoughts ought we then to have of him, and what abasing thoughts of ourselves before him! With great earnestness ought we to call on him in every distress, and to imitate him in always doing good. Spiritually to know who and what he is, cannot but create love to him, and remove every prejudice against him: and he is ever ready to instruct and satisfy humble inquirers. Nor should we ever doubt of his excellency because we suffer for his sake, and others contemn and oppose him.—The meek will he teach his way, that they may be witnesses for God and religion, when proud and self-righteous men shall be left to reject his admonitions to their own destruction. Resolute cavillers will always find a handle in the different tempers and manners of ministers. Hatred of Christ's Word will lead them to quarrel either with the deliverer or the delivery of it.—O what a change God's almighty grace makes on the heart and life of the most atrocious sinners! And the more abundantly the grace of the gospel is believed and applied, the more abundant love to God, repentance, and deep humility will be manifested in our whole temper and conduct. Alas! that any should ever quarrel with the wisdom of God's mercy towards sinners, or with their uncommon affection towards him while impressed with a sense of his mercy!