Luke 7
1When he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
2Now a certain centurion had a slave who was ill and about to die—one who was precious to him. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and save his slave's life. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for you to grant this, 5for he loves our nation, and he himself built the 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 for you to come under my roof. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I too am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9When Jesus heard this, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." 10And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
11Soon afterward, he traveled to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12As he drew near to the gate of the town, look—a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you: arise." 15And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
16Awe seized everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us," and "God has visited his people." 17And this report about him spread throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
18John's disciples reported all these things to him. And summoning two of his disciples, John 19sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the Coming One, or should we expect another?" 20When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptizer sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the Coming One, or should we expect another?'"
21In that very hour, he healed many from diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and to many who were blind he granted sight. 22And he answered them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 23And blessed is the one who is not caused to stumble because of me."
24When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed being shaken by the wind? 25Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft garments? Look—those in splendid clothing who live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26Then what 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 before your face, who will prepare your way ahead of you.'
28"I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John. Yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29(And all the people who heard this—even the tax collectors—acknowledged God's righteousness, having been baptized with John's baptism. 30But the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
31"To what, then, shall 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 dirge, and you did not weep.' 33For John the Baptizer 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—a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."
36One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and entering the Pharisee's house, he reclined at table. 37And look—a woman from the city who was a sinner, learning that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. 38Standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kept kissing his feet and anointing them with the oil.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." He said, "Teacher, speak."
41"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not repay, he graciously forgave both. So which of them will love him more?"
43Simon answered, "I suppose the one to whom he graciously forgave more." He said to him, "You have judged correctly."
44Then 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. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the moment I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. 47For this reason I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love shows. But the one who is forgiven little loves little."
48Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49Those reclining at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"
50But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."