← Luke: All Chapters

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

The Book of Luke

Chapter 7: God Hath Visited His People

Luke 7 unfolds the compassion and power of the Saviour of all. A Gentile centurion's humble faith moves Jesus to marvel, 'I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel,' and his servant is healed by a word. At the gate of Nain, moved with compassion for a grieving widow, Jesus raises her only son from the dead, and the crowd cries, 'God hath visited his people.' When John the Baptist, in prison, sends to ask, 'Art thou he that should come?', Jesus points to the works of the Messiah and honors John as the promised messenger, more than a prophet. And in a Pharisee's house, a sinful woman washes His feet with her tears, and Jesus, telling the parable of the two debtors, declares, 'Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much,' and to her, 'Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.' The chapter reveals the God who has visited His people in Christ, whose grace reaches the Gentile, the grieving, the doubting, and the sinful, and who forgives sins and saves by faith.

About This Commentary

This is a verse-by-verse study of Luke chapter 7. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Jesus heals the centurion's servant, raises the widow's son, answers John, and forgives a sinful woman. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.

Setting the Stage

The Centurion

So Great Faith

A Gentile soldier's humble faith moves Jesus to marvel.

Nain

Young Man, Arise

Moved with compassion, Jesus raises a widow's only son.

John's Question

Art Thou He That Should Come?

Jesus answers by the works of the Messiah and honors John.

The Sinner

Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee

A forgiven woman loves much and is saved by faith.

The Centurion and the Widow of Nain

God Hath Visited His People (Luke 7:1-17)

A Gentile's faith and a widow's grief both meet the compassion and power of the Saviour who has come to visit His people.

Luke 7:1-17

I Have Not Found So Great Faith

"Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about."

Word Study

"visited," Greek epeskepsato (ἐπεσκέψατο). The word means to look upon, to visit with care and help, the tender visitation of God to His people to save them. When Jesus raises the widow's son, the crowd cries, "God hath visited his people." They spoke truer than they knew: in Jesus, God Himself had come to visit and redeem His people, exactly as Zacharias had prophesied (Luke 1:68). The One who stops a funeral and gives back a dead son is not merely a great prophet but God come near, visiting His people with salvation in the person of His Son.

Explanation

A Gentile centurion, reckoning himself unworthy to have Jesus under his roof, sends word: "say in a word, and my servant shall be healed" -- and Jesus marvels, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Then at Nain He meets a funeral: a widow's only son carried out to burial. "Moved with compassion," He touches the bier and speaks -- "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise" -- and gives him back to his mother. Luke joins Gentile faith and a widow's grief to show the Saviour's reach: He answers a soldier's word from afar and raises the dead with a touch, for God "hath visited his people."

Gospel Focus

Two scenes reveal the compassion of the Saviour of all. First, a Roman centurion, a Gentile, sends for Jesus to heal his dying servant. His humility is remarkable: though the Jewish elders call him "worthy," he calls himself unworthy, "I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof." And his faith is greater still: as a military man who understands authority, he grasps that Jesus need only "say in a word," and it will be done, for disease obeys Christ as soldiers obey their commander. Jesus "marvelled at him", one of only two times He marvels in the Gospels, and here it is at a Gentile's faith: "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Luke's theme sounds again: the Saviour is for all peoples, and sometimes the outsider believes where Israel will not. The servant is healed. Second, at the gate of Nain, Jesus meets a funeral, "a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow." Here is double grief: a widow who has now lost her only son, her last support and hope. No one asks Jesus to act; He acts out of sheer compassion. "When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not." Then He does what only God can do: He touches the bier and says, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise," and "he that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Note that His touch of the dead does not defile Him; life flows from Him instead. The crowd is filled with fear and glorifies God: "God hath visited his people." And so He had, for the One who conquers death at Nain is God come to visit and redeem. Two truths shine: the Saviour marvels at and honors faith wherever He finds it, even in a Gentile; and He is moved with compassion for the grieving and is Lord even over death. Bring Him your faith, however undeserving you feel, and bring Him your grief; God has visited His people in Christ, and He is able to say to your death, "Arise."

John's Question and Christ's Witness

Art Thou He That Should Come? (Luke 7:18-35)

Jesus answers John's doubt with the works of the Messiah, and honors John as the promised messenger who prepared the way.

Luke 7:18-35

Much More Than a Prophet

"And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justified of all her children."

Word Study

"messenger," Greek angelos (ἄγγελος). The word means a messenger, one sent with a message; it is the same word translated "angel." Jesus applies to John the prophecy of Malachi 3:1: "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." John was the appointed herald sent ahead of the King to prepare His path. Note the striking claim hidden in the quotation: in Malachi, God says He sends the messenger before "my" face; Jesus applies it to John going before "thy" face, that is, before Jesus. The way John prepared was the way of the LORD, for the One he heralded is God come in flesh.

Explanation

John, in prison, sends to ask, "Art thou he that should come?" and Jesus answers with the works of Isaiah's promised age -- the blind see, the lame walk, "to the poor the gospel is preached" -- and a gentle beatitude for John's doubt: "blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." He then honors John as more than a prophet, the promised messenger, yet says "he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." The generation that rejected both John's fasting and Jesus' feasting is like petulant children who will dance to no tune; "wisdom is justified of all her children" -- vindicated by those who receive her.

Gospel Focus

Even John the Baptist, now in prison, wrestles with doubt. He had proclaimed Jesus boldly, yet the Messiah was not acting as John may have expected, no fire of judgment, no toppling of the wicked, and John himself was in a dungeon. So he sends to ask, "Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?" It is a comfort to us that so great a saint knew doubt; and it is instructive how Jesus answers it, not with rebuke but with evidence. He points to the works foretold of the Messiah in Isaiah: "the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." These are the very signs Scripture said the Messiah would do; let John weigh them and believe. And He adds tenderly, "blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me", blessed are those who do not stumble when Christ does not act as they expected. Then Jesus honors John before the crowd. John was no weak "reed shaken with the wind," no soft courtier, but a true prophet, "and much more than a prophet", the messenger of Malachi 3:1, sent to prepare the way of the Lord. "Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist," yet, astonishingly, "he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he", so great is the privilege of those who live on this side of the cross and the outpoured Spirit. Finally Jesus exposes the perversity of that generation, who rejected both John's austerity and Jesus' joy: "children sitting in the marketplace" who would neither dance nor mourn, calling John demon-possessed and Jesus a glutton. Unbelief will always find an excuse. But "wisdom is justified of all her children", those who truly belong to God recognize and receive His wisdom in both John and Jesus. If you doubt like John, do not look away from Christ; look at His works and His word, and do not be offended in Him.

The Sinful Woman Forgiven

Her Sins, Which Are Many, Are Forgiven (Luke 7:36-50)

A sinful woman's tears of love, set against a Pharisee's cold pride, reveal that the much-forgiven love much.

Luke 7:36-50

Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee; Go in Peace

"And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Word Study

"frankly forgave," Greek echarisato (ἐχαρίσατο). The verb comes from charis, "grace," and means to give freely as a favor, to graciously cancel. The creditor "frankly forgave" both debtors, that is, he freely, graciously wiped out the debt when they "had nothing to pay." That is exactly the gospel: we have nothing to pay our debt of sin, and God, of pure grace, cancels it in Christ. And the parable's point follows: the one forgiven most loves most. The sinful woman's extravagant love flowed from her great forgiveness; grace received produces love returned.

Explanation

At a Pharisee's table a notorious woman weeps over Jesus' feet, wetting them with tears and anointing them with ointment, while the host silently despises them both. Jesus tells of two debtors forgiven, and asks which will love more -- the one forgiven most. The lesson pierces: "her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Her lavish love is not the cause of her forgiveness but the overflow of it, while the self-righteous Pharisee, feeling no debt, feels no love. "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" -- grace received turns a sinner's tears into worship.

Gospel Focus

This tender scene contrasts two hearts before Christ: a proud Pharisee and a broken sinner. Simon invites Jesus to dinner but withholds the ordinary courtesies, no water for the feet, no kiss, no oil, keeping Jesus at a cool distance. Then "a woman in the city, which was a sinner", her reputation known to all, dares to come, and pours out her heart: weeping at His feet, washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing them, anointing them with precious ointment. It is a scene of overwhelming love and humility. Simon recoils inwardly: if Jesus were a prophet, he thinks, He would know what kind of woman this is and would not let her touch Him. But Jesus knows Simon's thoughts, and also knows the woman's heart, and He tells the parable of the two debtors, one owing much, one little, both "frankly forgave." Which will love more? The one forgiven most. Then Jesus turns the mirror on Simon: "Seest thou this woman?" Simon showed little love because he felt little need; the woman showed great love because she knew great forgiveness. "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Note carefully: her love did not earn her forgiveness; her love was the evidence and fruit of it, as Jesus makes plain by saying at the end, "Thy faith hath saved thee." She was forgiven and saved by faith, and her love overflowed in response. The Pharisee's problem was that he did not think he needed much forgiveness, and so he loved little and received nothing. And when Jesus says, "Thy sins are forgiven," the guests ask the question the whole Gospel keeps raising: "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" Only God can forgive sins, and He does it here, in the flesh. Here is the gospel in a single room: the self-righteous who feel no need go away unforgiven, while the sinner who comes in broken faith is forgiven, saved, and sent away in peace. Do not be Simon, cool and self-satisfied. Come like the woman, pour out your heart at His feet, and hear Him say, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Chapter 7 in Review

Luke 7 displays the compassion and grace of the Saviour of all. He marvels at a Gentile centurion's humble faith, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel," and heals his servant by a word. At Nain, moved with compassion, He raises a widow's only son, and the crowd cries, "God hath visited his people." He answers John's imprisoned doubt with the works of the Messiah, "the blind see... to the poor the gospel is preached," and honors John as the messenger who prepared the way, "much more than a prophet." And in Simon's house, a sinful woman washes His feet with her tears, and Jesus, by the parable of the two debtors, declares, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much," and to her, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

For the Apostolic reader the chapter reveals who Jesus is and how wide His grace reaches. He is God come to "visit his people," Lord even over death, who forgives sins as God alone can, so that the guests rightly ask, "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" And His grace reaches the outsider, the Gentile centurion; the grieving, the widow of Nain; the doubting, John in his prison; and the sinful, the weeping woman. Two truths press home. Faith is what He marvels at and rewards, wherever He finds it, and faith is what saves, "Thy faith hath saved thee." And the much-forgiven love much: those who know the depth of their debt and the freeness of God's grace pour out their love at His feet, while the self-righteous, feeling little need, love little and receive nothing. So the chapter searches us: do we, like Simon, keep Christ at a cool distance, feeling little need of Him; or do we, like the woman, come broken and believing to the One who forgives sins and saves by faith? God has visited His people in Christ. Come to Him, and go in peace.

Key Takeaways
  • Christ marvels at and rewards faith wherever He finds it, even in a Gentile (7:9).
  • Moved with compassion, Jesus is Lord over death; "God hath visited his people" (7:13-16).
  • When you doubt, look to Christ's works and word, and be not offended in Him (7:22-23).
  • The gospel is free grace: God "frankly forgave" the debt we could not pay (7:42).
  • The much-forgiven love much; love is the fruit of forgiveness, not its price (7:47).
  • Jesus forgives sins as God and saves by faith: "Thy faith hath saved thee" (7:48-50).

Questions for Reflection

  • Do you bring Christ your faith, however undeserving you feel, as the centurion did?
  • When doubts come, do you look to Christ's works and word, or turn away offended?
  • Do you grasp the greatness of your debt and the freeness of God's grace?
  • Are you cool like Simon, or broken and loving like the forgiven woman?

References & Sources

Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. God visiting and redeeming His people: Luke 1:68, 78; Exodus 3:16; 4:31. The works of the Messiah: Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1. The messenger before the Lord: Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6. Free grace and forgiveness: Romans 3:24; Ephesians 2:8-9; Colossians 2:13-14. Saved by faith: Luke 8:48; 18:42; Ephesians 2:8. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.

  1. The centurion's servant and the widow of Nain: Luke 7:1-17; Matthew 8:5-13; 1 Kings 17:17-24.
  2. John the Baptist's question and Christ's witness: Luke 7:18-35; Matthew 11:2-19; Malachi 3:1.
  3. The sinful woman forgiven: Luke 7:36-50; Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:1-8.
How Can I Be Saved?