Luke 7
Open in the reader1When He-Who-Is-Saves had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Village-of-Nahum.
2There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.
3When the centurion heard about He-Who-Is-Saves, he sent some child of Praised-Ones elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.
4They came to He-Who-Is-Saves and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,
5for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
6So He-Who-Is-Saves went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.
7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
9When He-Who-Is-Saves heard this, He-Who-Is-Saves marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He-Who-Is-Saves said, “I tell you, not even in He-Strives-with-God have I found such great faith.”
10And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
11Soon afterward, He-Who-Is-Saves went to a town called Pleasant. His apprentices went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
12As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
14Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”
15And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then He-Who-Is-Saves gave him back to his mother.
16A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
17And the news about He-Who-Is-Saves spread throughout Land-of-the-Praised and all the surrounding region.
18Then John’s apprentices informed him about all these things.
20When the men came to He-Who-Is-Saves, they said, “He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’”
21At that very hour He-Who-Is-Saves healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
22So He replied, “Go back and report to He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
23Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
24After He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor’s messengers had left, He-Who-Is-Saves began to speak to the crowds about He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
25Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.
26What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
27This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor.
30But the Separated-Ones and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor.
31“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?
32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33For He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’
34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
36Then one of the Separated-Ones invited He-Who-Is-Saves to eat with him, and He entered the Separated-One house and reclined at the table.
37When a sinful woman from that town learned that He-Who-Is-Saves was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
39When the Separated-One who had invited He-Who-Is-Saves saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
40But He-Who-Is-Saves answered him, “Heard, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.
41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Heard replied. “You have judged correctly,” He-Who-Is-Saves said.
44And turning toward the woman, He said to Heard, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48Then He-Who-Is-Saves said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50And He-Who-Is-Saves told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”