K² V¹ 1-10. The Centurion's Servant healed.
V² 11-17. The Widow's Son raised.
V¹ W 1,2. The Servant dying.
X¹ p¹ 3. Centurion hears and sends.
q 4,5. The Elders praise.
X² p² 6-. Centurion comes.
q² -6-8. His own dispraise.
X³ p³ 9-. The Lord hears the Centurion.
q³ -9. The Lord's praise.
W 10. The Servant healed.
27 A.D.
Luke 7)
1 Now when he had completed all His sayings into the hearing of the people, He entered into Capernaum. (= village of consolation)
2 And a certain centurion's (namely the same that the Lord had blessed before [Matt. 8:5-13]; i.e. before the calling of the 12, Matt. 10:1,&c. This 2nd healing of the centurion's bondman took place after the calling of the 12 [6:13-16]. Note the different words and incidents) bondman, who was esteemed (or honored) to him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard about Jesus (Gr. Iesous is the same as Heb. form Yahshua, and means Salvation of Yahaveh, or Yahaveh the Savior), he sent away to him some of the elders of the Jews, asking Him that He would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him urgently, saying, That he is worthy for whom He should do this:
5 "For he loves our nation, and he himself has built for us the synagogue." (The Lord knew all the synagogues in Capernaum; so that this must have been some special synagogue, probably a new one, built since the event of Matt. 8:5-13)
6 Then Jesus was going in fellowship with them. And when He was now not far from the house (in the former case, the Lord did not go; being prevented by the centurion), the centurion sent friends (the envoy, being accompanied by an escort) to Him, saying to Him, (He himself was present, and was the speaker)
Lord (Gr. Kurios, means owner. The Person of the Lord is the subject in this 2nd period of His ministry), trouble not Yourself (the 2nd and similar address shows a greater depth of humility, prob. grown since the former healing, of which the synagogue may have been a votive token): for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come to You: but say with a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also, a man, am appointed under (or, obedient) authority, having under myself soldiers, and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him (the only other instance of the Lord's marveling is at their unbelief [Mark 6:6]), and turned him about, and said to the people that followed Him, "I say to you,
I have not found so great faith, no, not even in Israel."
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant in good health (a medical word) that had been sick.
V² Y r 11-. The Lord. Entering into Nain.
s -11. The people with the Lord.
Z t 12-. The dead man.
u -12. His mother.
A v 13-. Compassion. To the mother. The Lord
w -13. Words. " "
A v 14-. Acts. To her son. "
w -14. Words. " "
Z t 15-. The dead man.
u -15. The mother.
Y s 16. The people with the Lord.
r 17. The Lord. His praise going out from Nain.
(Verses 11-17 peculiar to Luke. Selected because it is connected with the Lord's Person as God - raiser of the dead: and as Man - full of compassion.)
11 And (note the many "ands", emphasizing every detail) it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; (= beauty. Now Nein. The ruins are on the slope of Little Hermon, west of Endor)
and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people.
12 Now when He came near to the gate of the city (all funeral were outside), behold (to call attention to the two great crowds meeting), 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 And when the Lord (this Divine title more frequent in Luke than in any other Gospel) saw her, He had compassion on her, (see v. 11 the reason for the selection of this miracle, here)
and said to her, "Weep not."
14 And He came up and touched (without defilement. Another remarkable fact, emphasized by the "and") the bier (probably of wicker-work): and they that bare him stood still. (Another remarkable particular)
And He said, "Young man, I say to you, Arise."
15 And the corpse sat up (Gr. anakathizō, a medical word. Cp Col. 4:14), and began to speak.
And He delivered him to his mother.
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet (see 9:8,19) is risen up among us; and, That God has visited His people. (Cp. 1:68. John 3:2)
17 And this report of Him went forth throughout all Judaea, and in all the region round about.
18 And the disciples of John brought word of all these things. (This became the occasion of John's 2nd mission. If the Lord could raise the dead, why was he languishing in prison?)
J B¹ 18-23. John's 2nd Mission concerning the Lord. B² 24-35. The Lord's testimony concerning John.
B¹ x 18. Disciples of John. Report to him.
y 19. John. Question sent to the Lord.
x 20. Disciples of John. Report to the Lord.
y 21-23. John. Answer sent to John.
19 And John calling to him a certain (the mission in Matt. 11:1,&c., was earlier than this. See Matt. 11:2. No number named there) two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the coming [Messiah]? or do we look for another?"
20 When the men were come to Him, they said, "John Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You He that should come? or do we look for another?"
21 And in that hour He healed many from their diseases (chronic) and scourges (acute. Medical terms), and of evil spirits; and to many that were blind He gave sight.
22 Then answering said to them, "Go your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard (the evidence was not that they were miracles, but that the miracles were these that had been prophesied. See Isa. 29:18; 35:4-6; 60:1-3. Had the Lord work miracles far more extraordinary they would have been no evidence at all as to His claims); how that the blind are seeing again, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead people are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Lit. the poor are being evangelized)
23 And happy is he, whosoever shall find not anything to stumble at in me."
B² C a 25-28. Commendation of John. People.
b 29. Effect on the People. "
C b 30. Effect on the Pharisees. Pharisees.
a 31-35. Crimination of Pharisees. "
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak to the people concerning John, "What have you gone out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?
25 But what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? (see Matt. 11:8. a contrast to "camel's hair") Behold, they which are existing gorgeously appareled, and live luxuriously (the Herods were noted for this [Acts 12:21. Mark 6:21), are in kings' courts.
26 But what went you out for to see? A prophet? (one who spoke for God. Not necessarily beforehand. Cp. Ex. 4:16; 7:1) Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet.
27 This is he, of whom it stands written (quoted from Mal. 3:), 'Behold, I send My messenger in the presence of Your face, which shall prepare Your way in the presence of You.'
28 For I say to you, Among those that are brought into the world of women there is no one a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least (see Matt 11:11. John only proclaimed it. But had the nation the accepted the Lord, it would have been realized) in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29 And all the people that heard him, and the tax-collectors, justified God (A Hebraism = declared God to be just, by submitting to John's baptism), being baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers set aside (or annulled, by the interpretation they put on it) the counsel of God as to themselves, being not baptized by him.
31 And the Lord said, "Where unto then shall I liken the men of this generation? (see Matt. 11:16) and to what are they like?
32 They are like unto little children sitting in a marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, 'We piped to you (i.e. played at being at a wedding), and you danced not; we mourned to you (i.e. we played at being at a funeral), and you wept not.' (Cp. 6:1)
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine (idiom for living in general); and you say, 'He has a demon.' (Later they say the sons of the Lord. John 7:20; 10:20)
34 The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and you say, 'Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine imbiber, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!'
35 And yet wisdom (see Matt. 11:19) is justified of all her children. (i.e. those produced by her)
(Verses 36-50 peculiar to Luke. Not to be identified with Simon [Mark 14:3]. All the circumstances are different. Simon was one of the commonest names. There are 9 mentioned in the N.T., and 2 among the 12)
36 And one of the Pharisees (believer and good student of the Torah) asked Him that He would eat in company with him. And He went into the Pharisee's house, and reclined [at table].
J D F¹ 36. The Pharisee.
G¹ 37,38. The Woman.
F² 39. The Pharisee.
E H c 40-. Proposal.
d -40. Assent.
J 41,42. Parable.
H c 43-. Supposition.
d -43. Confirmation.
D F³ 44-46. The Pharisee.
G³ 47,48. The Woman.
F4 49. The Pharisee.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city (not to be identified with Mary Magdalene: it is a libel on her to do so, and quite arbitrary. Cp. Matt. 21:32), who was a sinner (i.e. ref. to a class), having got to know that He sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, (For anointing, very expensive. See Matt. 26:7. Mark 14:3.)
38 And stood beside His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears (love pouring out), and was wiping them with the hairs of her head, and was ardently kissing His feet (cp. Acts 20:37), and anointed them with the ointment. (For His traveling ministry)
39 Now when the Pharisee which had invited Him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would have got to know who and what manner of woman this is that touches Him: for she is a sinner." (He didn't know Christ came for sinners. He, Simon, was the bigger sinner. Self-righteous hypocrites. They think they are so good that its going to get them into heaven. You can see hoe "religion" can get some strange ideas. Still happens to this day. Christianity is not a religion, it is a reality!)
40 And Jesus answering (i.e his [Simon] secret doubt) said to him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say to you." (You have been condemning Me!)
And he said, "Teacher, say it."
41 "There were two debtors to a certain money-lender: the one owed five hundred pence (about $80), and a different one fifty. ($8)
42 And not having anything to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon answered and said, "I take it (Gr. hupolambanō a medical term, to check a disease) that he, to whom he forgave most."
And He said to him, "Thou have rightly judged."
44 And he turned to the woman, and said to Simon, "Do you mark this woman? (the Lord calls Simon's attention to her works, but He calls the woman's attention [v.47] to His own grace towards her) I entered into your house, you gave Me no water upon My feet (It was customary. cp. Gen. 18:4; 19:2. Judg. 19:21. 1 Tim. 5:10): but she has washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (Veil of Christ)
45 You gave Me no kiss (a brotherly kiss on the check): but she from the time when I came in has not been intermittent (a medical word only found here) to kiss My feet.
46 My head with oil you did not anoint (He was Messiah, the Anointed One): but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment.
47 For which case I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; that she loved much (this could be seen; and was the sign, not the cause or consequence. Does love forgive sins? She didn't ask for forgiveness. Love is the strongest force in the world. Love demands loyalty): but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
48 And He said to her (note the change), "Thy sins are forgiven."
49 And they that sat at meal with Him began to say within themselves (noting the uprising of the thoughts. They are learning), "Who is This That forgives sins also?" (This incident chosen because it sets forth the Lord's Person as God. The subject of this 2nd Period of His ministry.)
50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Personnel relationship with this woman and Jesus Christ)