Luke 7

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things in the hearing of the people, he went into Capernaum.

2There a centurion had a servant who was highly valued by him, and the servant was sick and about to die.

3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and save the life of his servant.

4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, “He deserves to have you do this for him,

5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”

6So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.

8For I too am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me. 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.”

9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned to the crowd that was following him and said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

10When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

11Soon afterward Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her.

13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

14Then he went up and touched the bier, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”

15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has come to help his people!”

17This report about him spread throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

18John’s disciples told him about all these things.

19So John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”

20When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for someone else?’”

21At that very time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to many who were blind.

22So he answered them, “Go and tell 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 have good news proclaimed to them.

23And blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me.”

24When John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

25What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Look, those who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are in royal 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: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

28I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”

29All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged that God was right, because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.

30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

31“To what, then, can I compare the people 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 funeral song, and you did not weep.’

33For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

35Yet wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

36One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37A woman in that town who was a sinner learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume

38and stood behind him at his feet, weeping. She began to wet his feet with her tears and to wipe them with the hair of her head. She kept kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfume.

39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

41“A moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42When they could not pay him back, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.

46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.

47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little.”

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

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

50But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”