Luke 7 [+/-]Luke 7
[7:1]After he had finished all his sayings in the
hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. [2]Now a
centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of
death, who was highly valued by him. [3]When the centurion
heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews,
asking him to come and heal his servant. [4]And when they
came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He
is worthy to have you do this for him, [5]for he loves our
nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue."
[6]And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do
not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come
under my roof. [7]Therefore I did not presume to come to
you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. [8]For
I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me:
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, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, "I
tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
[10]And when those who had been sent returned to the house,
they found the servant well.
[11]Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and
his disciples and a great crowd went with him. [12]As he
drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had
died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was
with her. [13]And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion
on her and said to her, "Do not weep." [14]Then he came up
and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he
said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." [15]And the dead
man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his
mother. [16]Fear seized them all, and they glorified God,
saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has
visited his people!" [17]And this report about him spread
through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
[18]The disciples of John reported all these things to
him. And John, [19]calling two of his disciples to him,
sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to
come, or shall we look for another?" [20]And when the men
had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us
to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall
we look for another?'" [21]In that hour he healed many
people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on
many who were blind he bestowed sight. [22]And he answered
them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the
blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the
poor have good news preached to them. [23]And blessed is
the one who is not offended by me."
[24]When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out
into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
[25]What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft
clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid
clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. [26]What
then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and
more than a prophet. [27]This is he of whom it is written,
"'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.'
[28]I tell you, among those born of women none is greater
than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God
is greater than he." [29](When all the people heard this,
and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having
been baptized with the baptism of John, [30]but the
Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for
themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
[31]"To what then shall I compare the people of this
generation, and what are they like? [32]They are like
children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one
another,
"'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'
[33]For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and
drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' [34]The
Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look
at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!' [35]Yet wisdom is justified by all
her children."
[36]One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and
he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the
table. [37]And behold, a woman of the city, who was a
sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in
the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of
ointment, [38]and standing behind him at his feet, weeping,
she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them
with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed
them with the ointment. [39]Now when the Pharisee who had
invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were
a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman
this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." [40]And
Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to
say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."
[41]"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42]When they
could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of
them will love him more?" [43]Simon answered, "The one, I
suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he
said to him, "You have judged rightly." [44]Then turning
toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman?
I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but
she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her
hair. [45]You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in
she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46]You did not anoint
my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with
ointment. [47]Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are
many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is
forgiven little, loves little." [48]And he said to her,
"Your sins are forgiven." [49]Then those who were at table
with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who
even forgives sins?" [50]And he said to the woman, "Your
faith has saved you; go in peace." (ESV)
: 36 – 8:1
Associate Pastor Don Veldboom shares his testimony of being called into the mission field to England, with 4 children, and reflects on God’s Word to illustrate that all believers have received the Call to Go!
