Luke 7 explained: Outsiders Who Recognize Jesus

A Roman officer's trust (vv. 1-10)

A centurion, a Roman officer over about a hundred soldiers, was not Jewish, yet local Jewish leaders spoke up for him because he had paid for their synagogue. He trusts that Jesus can heal with a word from a distance, just as his own orders are obeyed, and Jesus says he has not found such faith even in Israel.

A widow's only son (vv. 11-17)

A widow who lost her only son had likely lost her main means of support, and Jesus, moved by her grief, touches the funeral stretcher and raises the young man. The crowd's response recalls the ancient prophets Elijah and Elisha, who each restored a mother's dead son.

John asks who Jesus is (vv. 18-23)

John the Baptist, by now in prison, sends followers to ask if Jesus is the one God promised to send, and scholars differ on whether John himself was doubting. Jesus points to what he is doing, which echoes the prophet Isaiah's pictures of the healing and good news God's rescue would bring.

Jesus speaks about John (vv. 24-35)

Jesus calls John the messenger foretold to prepare God's way and the greatest person ever born, yet says the least person in the kingdom of God, meaning God's rule, is greater than he; what that contrast means exactly is debated. People rejected both John's strict fasting and Jesus' open meals with outcasts, like sulky children who will join neither a happy game nor a sad one.

A woman at the dinner (vv. 36-39)

Guests at formal meals reclined with their feet behind them, so a woman known in town as a sinner could weep over Jesus' feet, wipe them with her hair and pour perfume on them. Luke never names her or says what her sins were, and Simon the Pharisee takes Jesus' acceptance of her touch as proof he is no real prophet.

Two debtors and forgiveness (vv. 40-50)

Jesus tells of two cancelled debts, about five hundred days' wages and fifty, then notes that Simon skipped the usual welcome of foot water, a kiss and oil, while the woman gave far more. He declares her forgiven, and the other guests are startled, since forgiving sins was seen as belonging to God alone.

Key verse: Luke 7:47

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on verse 47, some reading the woman's love as the result of a forgiveness she had already received and others seeing her love and faith as part of what brought her forgiveness.

Something to think about

Why might people who know they have messed up sometimes respond to kindness more fully than people who feel they have little to make up for?