Luke 7

The Healing of A Centurion’s Son, A Question from John, And A Woman Washes Jesus’ Feet

In this section, Luke recorded the healing of a Roman Centurion’s son, the raising of a widow’s son, answers to the questions of John and others about Jesus’ identity, and the washing of Jesus’ feet by a sinful woman.  Luke continued to portray Jesus as a friend of sinners in these accounts, healing and forgiving the hurting and humble he encountered. 

In his ministry Jesus helps the poor, sinners, tax collectors, women, Samaritans, and Gentiles. Each of these groups was excluded or subordinated in the society to which Jesus spoke, and the Lukan narrator seems to be especially interested in Jesus’ ministry to these people.             - Tannehill

Healing a Roman Centurion's Son (Matthew 8:5-13)

Centurion

Vs. 2 - A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die.

Vs. 3-5 - he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”

This incident shows Jesus extending grace to a Gentile through Jewish intermediaries. It would have helped Luke’s original Gentile readers appreciate that Jesus’ mission included them as well as the Jews.        

The centurion also enjoyed the respect of the Jews in Capernaum so much that he felt free to ask some of the local Jewish leaders to approach Jesus for him. Normally the Jews did not like the Roman soldiers who occupied their towns.               - Thomas Constable

Barclay’s commentary on this account includes an interesting analysis of the complicated relationship between Jews and Romans, especially Roman governing officials.  With this consideration, the healing of this centurion’s son takes on an even deeper meaning. 

I Am Not Worthy

Vs. 6 - Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.”

It seems unusual that the centurion would send for Jesus and then tell Him not to come. Apparently his humility moved him to do so. He felt unworthy that Jesus should enter his house. He understood that Jews customarily avoided entering the homes of Gentiles because they considered them ritually unclean. He may also have wished to spare Jesus the embarrassment of entering a Gentile’s house since many Jews would have criticized Jesus for doing so. He even felt unfit (spiritually, morally, religiously) to meet Jesus outside his house.

However the main point of the centurion’s words was his recognition of Jesus’ authority. He viewed Jesus’ relationship to sickness as similar to his own relationship to his subordinates. He saw both men as operating in a chain of command under the authority of others but also in authority over others. Jesus could bid sickness to come, to go, and to behave, as this soldier ordered his slaves. Jesus only needed to issue an authoritative command, as the centurion gave orders, and the sickness would depart. All they had to do was say the word and things happened. This man not only viewed Jesus as having authority over sickness, but he even believed that Jesus’ spoken word would be sufficient to heal.           - Thomas Constable

So Great A Faith

Vs. 9 - Jesus heard this and was amazed at him 

Commentators note that Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s confidence in His ability to heal by word or touch, from near or from far.  There seemed to be little room for doubt in his state of desperation and despair. 

Vs. 9 - and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.”

Jesus saw that this Roman had more faith than the Jews. He used the incident to warn the Jews that many of them would be left out of God’s kingdom, but Gentiles from countries far and near would, because of their faith, be included.                   - Don Fleming

Matthew included more of Jesus’ explanation:

Matthew 8:10-12 - Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith. I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Raising A Widow’s Son

A Large Crowd

Vs. 11 - Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him.

Luke highlighted the gradual, yet steady increase in the size of Jesus’ following.  By this time, He did not go anywhere anonymously. 

He Had Compassion

Vs. 12-14 - He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don’t weep.”

This account is unique for several reasons.  First, only Luke recorded it.  Second, it is one of the few times that Jesus brought someone back to life.  And third, Jesus rarely moved toward someone who had not first moved toward Him.  Luke tells us only that Jesus knew this woman’s plight and was moved by compassion to intervene. 

It seems that in this case he (Jesus) acted not because of any request, but solely because of the pity he felt for the woman. With her husband and her only son dead, she was faced with hardship and poverty for the rest of her life. Jesus therefore stopped the funeral procession and gave her son back to her.         - Don Fleming

A Great Prophet

Vs. 16-17 - Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

This was the first time Jesus restored to life someone who had died, according to the Gospel records.       - Thomas Constable

Commentators note that this town (Nain) was located near Shunam where God had empowered the prophet Elisha to resurrect another woman’s son (2 Kings 4).  Did these people recognize the similarity in the miracles and acknowledge Jesus as God’s visitation?

John’s Inquiry from Prison (Matthew 11:1-19)

Are You The One?

Vs. 18-19 - Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

It was only natural that these people had questions about who Jesus really was. Was He a prophet? Was He Elijah? Was He another former prophet? Was He "the Prophet" that Moses had predicted (Deuteronomy 18:18)? Was He the Messiah? Was He Immanuel, "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14)? Even John the Baptist began to have questions. On the one hand, Jesus was fulfilling prophecy that indicated He was the Messiah. He was preaching righteousness, healing the sick, casting out demons, even raising the dead. However, He was not fulfilling other Messianic prophecies such as freeing the captives (John was one), judging Israel’s enemies, and restoring the Davidic dynasty to power.          - Thomas Constable

It seems that all eyes were on this Teacher and Healer, analyzing His every action and claim.  Surely He was sent from God, but He just didn't look like the Deliverer they had pictured. He was a local, a craftsman turned teacher with no political ambition.  So it’s not difficult to understand why John would doubt.  If John was actually the “forerunner” to the Messiah, why was he still incarcerated? If Jesus was the Deliverer for Whom all Israel had longed, why wasn’t Jesus delivering him?

Perhaps he himself had misunderstood the ministry of the Messiah. Perhaps he thought that if Jesus were really the Messiah, He would perform works connected with a political deliverance of Israel – or at least the deliverance of John, who was in prison.                - David Guzik 

Shut up in prison, John the Baptist received only irregular and possibly inaccurate reports of Jesus’ ministry. These reports must have caused him to wonder whether Jesus really was the Messiah he foretold.                   - Don Fleming

Go Report to John

Vs. 22-23 - He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news

Commentators note that Jesus quoted several Messianic prophecies in His answer to John, but He did not quote any one in its entirety.  Notably absent in His response was any mention of political upheaval.

Isaiah 35:4-6 - “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; he will save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Isaiah 61:1 - The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. 

Vs. 23 - and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.

Jesus knew that the focus of His ministry was offensive to the expectation of the Jewish people, who longed for political deliverance from Roman domination. But there was a blessing for those who were not offended because of the Messiah who came against the expectation of the people.         - David Guzik

Many were disappointed that Jesus did not bring the political victories they expected of the Messiah, but Jesus promised a special blessing to those who understood his ministry and did not lose heart.              - Don Fleming

More Than A Prophet

Vs. 26-27 - What then 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: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.

Around the time of John’s birth, both the angel Gabriel and John’s father, Zechariah, had predicted that this young wilderness prophet would fulfill Malachi’s message about a forerunner to the Messiah.  Here Jesus reinforced John’s role as the prophesied “messenger.” 

Malachi 3:1 - See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me.

The Least in The Kingdom

Vs. 28 - I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Since John's proclamation had been made, Jesus had come; eternity had invaded time; heaven had invaded earth; God had arrived in Jesus; life could never be the same again. Therefore, all who come after him and who receive him are of necessity granted a greater blessing than all who went before.           - William Barclay

Rejected The Plan of God

Vs. 30 - But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.

By rejecting John’s baptism, the Pharisees failed to see that John and Jesus are the agents of God's saving purposes.                  -  Thomas Schreiner 

This Generation

Vs. 31-32 - To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

Like fickle children who refuse to be appeased, the religious leaders refused to receive the ministries of either John or Jesus.  The Son of God Himself could not satisfy the mistaken expectations of Israel.  

John and Jesus were both living parables. John taught the importance of repentance, and Jesus offered joy and blessing. However the Jewish religious leaders missed the points of both their messages because John and Jesus did not "dance to their tunes."                 - Thomas Constable

A Woman Washes Jesus’ Feet 

A Pharisee’s House

Vs. 36 - Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Commentators speculate on Simon’s motive for inviting Jesus to a meal.  Some religious leaders followed Jesus.  Others aggressively opposed Him.  Perhaps Simon fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum.  Maybe he was cautiously curious and wanted to witness this popular Teacher for himself. 

A Woman Who Was A Sinner

Vs. 37 - And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. 

Social custom allowed needy people to visit such meals and to partake of some of the leftovers. [Note: Liefeld, p. 903.] Moreover it was not unusual for people to drop in when a rabbi was visiting. [Note: Martin, p. 224.] 

Luke gallantly omitted describing why the woman was a sinner, though the commentators love to guess. Some have assumed that the woman was Mary Magdalene, but this is pure speculation. The point was that she was a member of the social class called sinners that the Pharisees regarded as treating the law loosely.                  - Thomas Constable

Vs. 37-38 - She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.

The liquid perfume was in an expensive alabaster vial. Jewish women frequently wore such vials suspended from a cord around their necks. [Note: Morris, pp. 146-47.]              - Thomas Constable

In all probability, the woman intended to anoint Jesus’ head with her perfume. But, because Jesus, like the other participants, reclined with His head toward the table, the closest the woman could get to Jesus was His feet.          - Pate

This must have been a startling scene for those in attendance as a woman, whose sketchy past was known to many, began an intimate, and perhaps awkward, display of affection for Jesus.  It’s not difficult to imagine that others around the table may have wondered how to respond. 

If He Were A Prophet

Vs. 39 - When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”

Observing the activity, Simon concludes that Jesus cannot be a prophet because a prophet would know what kind of woman this was. Moreover, a prophet would prevent a sinner from touching him because touching a sinful person would make one ritually unclean.           - Thomas Schreiner

She Loved Much

Vs. 47-48 - Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 

Because he knew exactly what Simon had said “to himself,” Jesus addressed his grievance, per usual, with an illustration.  This woman’s dramatic expression of worship was born of her deep gratitude for forgiveness.  She had come to understand the enormity of her debt and the amazingness of grace.  

In this story, we find illustrated the great work that God does in the hearts of all people who follow Him as their affection is arrested by His unmerited favor. 

Every human is 500 denarii in debt. The point of the parable is that we tend to feel only 50 denarii in debt.    - from Deeper by Dane. C Ortlund 

The one thing which shuts a man off from God is self-sufficiency.              - William Barclay

Vs. 48 - Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus was not now imparting forgiveness to her for the first time but was commenting on her forgiven condition. This is clear because throughout the story Jesus consistently regarded the woman as a forgiven person. Her acts of love sprang from her sense of gratitude for having received forgiveness.        - Thomas Constable

Jesus’ parable of the two debtors and His comments to Simon and the woman teach a number of lessons: (a) Salvation is the result of God’s gracious work received by faith. (b) God graciously forgives the debt of sin that no one can repay. (c) Peace with God is possible because of the forgiveness of sins. (d) The more one understands forgiveness, the more love he will have for Christ. (e) Humble service stems from a heart of gratitude for God’s grace.                 - Bailey

Who Is This Man?

Vs. 49 - Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

Those who heard Jesus’ words of pardon were forced to decide whether He was Lord or liar. His offer of forgiveness was a clear claim of deity. 

Of the works done in this chapter, this was the greatest. Healed sickness (as in the centurion’s servant), or restored life (as in the widow’s son) are not permanent works of healing, because those bodies would one day die again. Sins that are forgiven are forgiven forever.               - David Guzik