Luke 7
1 After Jesus finished saying this to the people, he went [with his disciples] to Capernaum [town].
Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2 There was a Roman army officer there who had a slave whom he thought highly of. This slave was so sick that he was about to die.
And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he [summoned] some Jewish elders. He told them to go to Jesus and ask him to come and heal his slave.
And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 When they came to where Jesus was, they earnestly asked Jesus [to return with them]. They said, “This officer deserves that you [(sg)] do this [for him],
And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 because he loves us [Jewish] people, and he [paid the money to] build a synagogue for us.”
For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 So Jesus went with them. When he was near the [officer’s] house, the officer [decided that it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his house. So he] summoned some friends. He [told them to] go to Jesus and tell him this: “Lord/Sir, do not bother to come. [Because I am a non-Jew], I am not worthy for you [(sg)], [a Jew], to come into my house [MTY] [and associate with me].
Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 I did not feel worthy to come to you, [either]. But [please] command [that] my servant [be healed], and he will become well!
Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 [I believe this] because, as for me, there are people who have authority over me [and I obey them]. I also have soldiers under my [authority]. When I say to one of them, ‘Go!’ he goes. When I say to another ‘Come!’ he comes. When I say to my slave, ‘Do this!’ he does it. [And I believe that you speak with a similar kind of authority].”
For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When [the officer’s friends arrived and] told that to Jesus, he marveled at what [the officer had said]. Then he turned and said to the crowd that was going with him, “I tell you, I have never before found anyone who trusted [in me like this non-Jewish man does]. No one from Israel, [where I would expect people to believe in me], has trusted in me like he has!”
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled 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 Israel.
10 When those men returned to the officer’s house, they found that the slave was well.
And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
11 Soon after that, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd [of other people] went with him.
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 As they approached the town gate, the corpse of a young man who had just died was being carried out [on a stretcher] {[people] were carrying out [on a stretcher] the corpse of a young man who had just died}. His mother was a widow, and he was her only son. A large group of people from the town were accompanying them.
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, he pitied her. He said to her, “Do not cry!”
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 Then, [ignoring the Jewish laws about not coming near a corpse], he came close and touched the stretcher [on which the body was lying]. So the men carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 The man sat up and began to talk! Jesus returned him to his mother [to care for her].
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16 Then everyone [there] was amazed/awestruck. They praised God, saying, “A great prophet has come among us!” They also said, “God has come to help his people!”
And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
17 [Then they] reported what Jesus [had done] throughout all of Judea [district] and other nearby areas.
And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judæa, and throughout all the region round about.
18 The disciples of John [the Baptizer went to the prison where John was and] told him about those things.
And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
19 So [one day] John summoned two [of his disciples] and [told them] to go to the Lord and ask him: “Are you [the Messiah who the prophets prophesied would come], or is it someone else that we should expect [to come]?”
And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 When those two men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you [(sg)] this: Are you [the Messiah that] we are expecting [God] to send, or shall we [(exc)] expect someone else?”
When the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 At that very time Jesus was healing many people of their diseases and [other] sicknesses, he was [casting out] evil spirits, and he was causing many blind people to be able to see.
And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 So he answered those two men, “Go back and report to John what you have seen [me doing] and what you have heard [me telling people. I am enabling] blind people to see. [I am enabling] lame people to walk. [I am] healing people who have leprosy. [I am enabling] deaf people to hear. [I am causing] dead people to become alive again, [and I am] telling [God’s] good message to poor people.
Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how 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 [Also tell John that God] is pleased with those who do not stop believing in me [because what I do is not what they expect the Messiah to do].”
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 When the men whom John had sent left, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said to them, “[Think about] what sort of person you went to see in the desolate area [when you went there to see John] [RHQ]. [You did not go there to listen to a man who constantly changed the nature of his message] [MET], [like] a reed that is blown back and forth by the wind [RHQ].
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 Then what kind of man did you go there to see [RHQ]? Was he [RHQ] a man who wore expensive clothes? No! [You know very well that] people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are in kings’ palaces, [not in the desolate areas]!
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
26 Then what [kind of person] did you go to see? [Did you] [RHQ] [go there to see John because he was] a prophet? Yes! But I will tell you that [John is] more [important] than an [ordinary] prophet.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27 He is the one about whom [these words] that God said to the Messiah have been written {[the prophet Malachi] wrote [these words]} [in the Scriptures]: ‘Listen! I am going to send my messenger ahead of you [(sg)] [SYN]. He will prepare [people] for your coming.’
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 I tell you that from among all the people who have ever lived, [God considers that] no one is greater than John. However, [God considers] everyone who has let God rule their [lives] [MET] to be greater than [John], [even if they are] insignificant [people].”
For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 When they heard [what Jesus said] (OR, [what John preached]), all the people, including tax collectors, [whom many people despised], agreed that God’s way was right. By being baptized by John {By [letting] John baptize them}, [they had agreed that what God required people to do in order to be saved was right].
And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and the men who taught the [Jewish] laws were not baptized by John {did not [let] John baptize them} because they rejected what God wanted them to do.
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
31 [Then Jesus also said], “[Many of] you people have heard what [John and I] have taught. (I will illustrate what you are like./Do you know what [many of] you people who have heard what [John and I] have taught are like?) [RHQ]
And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
32 You are like children who are [playing games] in an open area. [Some of them] are calling to [the others], saying, ‘We [(exc)] played happy music for you on the flute, but you did not dance! Then we sang sad funeral songs for you, but you did not cry!’
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, 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.
33 [Similarly, you people are dissatisfied with both John the Baptizer and me]! When John came and [preached to you], he did not eat [ordinary] food [SYN] or drink wine, [like most people do]. But you [rejected him], saying, ‘A demon is controlling him!’
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34 In [contrast], [I], the one who came from heaven, eat [the same food] and drink [wine as others do]. But you [reject me], saying, ‘Look! [This man] eats too much food and drinks too much wine, and he associates with tax collectors and [other] sinners!’
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 But those who are [truly God’s] children [PRS] realize that [what John and I do is truly] wise.”
But wisdom is justified of all her children.
36 [One day] one of the Pharisees [named Simon] invited Jesus to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to the man’s house and reclined [to eat].
And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37 There was a woman in that city [who many people knew had been] a prostitute [EUP]. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house. So she went there, taking a stone jar that contained perfume.
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 [As the people there were reclining to eat], the woman stood behind [Jesus, at his] feet. As she was crying [because she was sorry for her sins, her tears fell on Jesus’ feet]. Then she wiped his feet with her hair, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the perfume.
And stood at his feet behind 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.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited [Jesus] saw that, he thought, “[Prophets know about other people’s lives], [so] if Jesus were a prophet, he would have known who this woman is who is touching him, and what kind of a person she is. He would have known that she is a prostitute! [EUP]”
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, there is something I want to tell you [(sg)].” He replied, “Teacher, what is it?”
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 Jesus replied, “Two people owed some money to a man who [earned money by] lending [it to others]. One owed him 500 silver coins, and the other owed him 50 silver coins.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 Neither of them was able to pay back [what he owed], so the man [very kindly] said that they did not have to pay back anything. So, which of those two men will love that man more?”
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon replied, “I think that the one who owed the most money and did not have to pay it back [will love him more].” Jesus said to him, “That is correct.”
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 Then he turned toward the woman, and said to Simon, “(Think about [what] this woman [has done]!/Do you [(sg)] see [what] this woman [has done]?) [RHQ] When I entered your house, you [did not follow our custom of welcoming guests by] giving me any water [to wash] my feet, but this woman has wet my feet with her tears and then wiped them with her hair!
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 You did not [follow our custom of greeting by] kissing me, but since I came in, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet!
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 You did not [follow our custom of welcoming guests by] anointing my head with [olive] oil, but she has anointed my feet with fragrant perfume.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 So I will tell you that even though this woman has sinned very much, she has been forgiven {[I] have forgiven her}. [By what she has done she has shown that] she loves [me] very much. But a person who has [sinned] just a little bit, but whom [I] have forgiven, will love [me just a little bit].”
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 Then he said to the woman, “You have been forgiven {[I have] forgiven [you]} [for] your sins.”
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 Then those who were eating with him said among themselves, “(This man must [think that he is God]!/Who does this man [think that he] is [RHQ]), saying that he can forgive [people for] their sins?”
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Because you have trusted [PRS] [in me, God] has saved you [from the guilt of your sins]. May [God] give you inner peace as you go!”
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
