Luke
7
- When Jesus had finished saying all this
in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
- There a centurion's servant, whom his master
valued highly, was sick and about to die.
- The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some
elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
- When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly
with him, "This man deserves to have you do this,
- because he loves our nation and has built
our synagogue."
- So Jesus went with them. He was not far
from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord,
don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
- That is why I did not even consider myself
worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
- For I myself am a man under authority,
with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one,
'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
- When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at
him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I
have not found such great faith even in Israel."
- Then the men who had been sent returned
to the house and found the servant well.
- Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called
Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
- As he approached the town gate, a dead
person was being carried out--the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.
And a large crowd from the town was with her.
- When the Lord saw her, his heart went out
to her and he said, "Don't cry."
- Then he went up and touched the coffin,
and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you,
get up!"
- The dead man sat up and began to talk,
and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
- They were all filled with awe and praised
God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God
has come to help his people."
- This news about Jesus spread throughout
Judea and the surrounding country.
- John's disciples told him about all these
things. Calling two of them,
- he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are
you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
- When the men came to Jesus, they said,
"John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to
come, or should we expect someone else?'"
- At that very time Jesus cured many who
had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were
blind.
- So he replied to the messengers, "Go
back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight,
the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
- Blessed is the man who does not fall away
on account of me."
- After John's messengers left, Jesus began
to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert
to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
- If not, what did you go out to see? A man
dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge
in luxury are in palaces.
- But what did you go out to see? A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- This is the one about whom it is written:
"'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before
you.'
- I tell you, among those born of women there
is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God
is greater than he."
- (All the people, even the tax collectors,
when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged that God's way was right, because
they had been baptized by John.
- But the Pharisees and experts in the law
rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized
by John.)
- "To what, then, can I compare the
people of this generation? What are they like?
- They are like children sitting in the marketplace
and calling out to each other: "'We played the flute for you, and you
did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
- For John the Baptist came neither eating
bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'
- The Son of Man came eating and drinking,
and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors
and "sinners." '
- But wisdom is proved right by all her children."
- Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus
to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at
the table.
- When a woman who had lived a sinful life
in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought
an alabaster jar of perfume,
- and as she stood behind him at his feet
weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with
her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
- When the Pharisee who had invited him saw
this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know
who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
- Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have
something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
- "Two men owed money to a certain moneylender.
One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
- Neither of them had the money to pay him
back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
- Simon replied, "I suppose the one
who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly,"
Jesus said.
- Then he turned toward the woman and said
to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not
give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped
them with her hair.
- You did not give me a kiss, but this woman,
from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
- You did not put oil on my head, but she
has poured perfume on my feet.
- Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have
been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves
little."
- Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins
are forgiven."
- The other guests began to say among themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
- Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith
has saved you; go in peace."
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