Luke 7
1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
After Jesus finished saying this to the people, he went [with his disciples] to Capernaum [town].
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and ready to die.
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.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent to him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
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.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him earnestly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
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],
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
because he loves us [Jewish] people, and he [paid the money to] build a synagogue for us.”
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
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].
7 Therefore neither thought I myself worthy to come to thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
I did not feel worthy to come to you, [either]. But [please] command [that] my servant [be healed], and he will become well!
8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
[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].”
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned himself about, and said to the people that followed him, I say to you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
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!”
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well that had been sick.
When those men returned to the officer’s house, they found that the slave was well.
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 many people.
Soon after that, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd [of other people] went with him.
12 Now when he came near 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 many people of the city were with her.
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.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Weep not.
When the Lord saw her, he pitied her. He said to her, “Do not cry!”
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bore him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to thee, Arise.
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!”
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
The man sat up and began to talk! Jesus returned him to his mother [to care for her].
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet hath risen among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
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!”
17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the surrounding region.
[Then they] reported what Jesus [had done] throughout all of Judea [district] and other nearby areas.
18 And the disciples of John reported to him of all these things.
The disciples of John [the Baptizer went to the prison where John was and] told him about those things.
19 And John calling two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
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]?”
20 When the men had come to him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us to thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
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?”
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and afflictions, and of evil spirits; and to many that were blind he gave sight.
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.
22 Then Jesus answering said to them, Go, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; that the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
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.
23 And blessed is he, who shall not be offended because of me.
[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].”
24 And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
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].
25 But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they who are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
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]!
26 But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.
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.
27 This is he, concerning whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
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.’
28 For I say to 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.
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].”
29 And all the people that heard him, and the tax collectors, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
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].
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized by him.
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.
31 And the Lord said, To what then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
[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]
32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
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!’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.
[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!’
34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!
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!’
35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.
But those who are [truly God’s] children [PRS] realize that [what John and I do is truly] wise.”
36 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 eat.
[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].
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
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.
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
[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.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he spoke 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.
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]”
40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he saith, Master, say it.
Jesus said to him, “Simon, there is something I want to tell you [(sg)].” He replied, “Teacher, what is it?”
41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
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.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
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?”
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said to him, Thou hast rightly judged.
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.”
44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy 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.
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!
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
You did not [follow our custom of greeting by] kissing me, but since I came in, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet!
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
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.
47 Therefore I say to thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
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].”
48 And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Then he said to the woman, “You have been forgiven {[I have] forgiven [you]} [for] your sins.”
49 And they that were eating with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
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?”
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
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!”
