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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER SEVEN:
MORE MIRACLES AND TEACHINGS

[“Little Forgiveness, Little Love”]
Key word: Debt

Luke 7:1-10 – An Army Officer’s Slave Healed

|| Matthew 8:5-10, 13; 278 John 4:46-54 279

278	Matthew 8:5-10, 13: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

279	John 4:46-54: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on John.

LK7:1 When Jesus had finished all these words in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. LK7:2 Now the highly valued slave of a certain Roman centurion 280 was ill and near death.

280	A certain Roman centurion: Archaeological evidence has been unearthed suggesting the existence of this man. Remains of the synagogue mentioned below along with an inscription have been discovered.

LK7:3 So when the centurion heard about Jesus he sent Jewish elders to him asking whether he would come and cure his slave. LK7:4 Then those who approached Jesus continued to beg him earnestly: “This man is worthy for you to grant this! LK7:5 For he loves our nation and he even built a synagogue for us.” 281

281	Built a synagogue for us: It is possible the actual synagogue has been uncovered.

LK7:6 And so Jesus went with them. Now when they drew close to the house the centurion sent some friends and these told Jesus: “Do not trouble yourself, Master, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. LK7:7 So I felt myself unworthy to come to you. But, if you will just say the word, let my servant be healed. LK7:8 For I also am a person of authority with many soldiers under my command. And so when I tell one, ‘Leave,’ he leaves; and to another, ‘Come,’ he comes. And if I tell my slave do this, he does it.” LK7:9 Now when Jesus heard this he was very impressed by the centurion, so he turned around toward the crowd following him and said: “I tell all of you this – I have never discovered a greater faith in Israel.” 282

282	A greater faith in Israel: Compare Matthew 8:10. This is the third time in Luke Jesus has referred to a non-Jew as particularly blessed. The other two were women. It is only natural that Jews would be offended by this statement. Faith is always demonstrated by action.

LK7:10 And so when these friends of the centurion returned to the house they discovered the slave to be in good health.

Luke 7:11-17 – A Widow’s Son Raised

LK7:11 Now the next day Jesus traveled to a village called Nain, 283 and his disciples along with a large crowd journeyed with him.

283	Nain: A very tiny village 35 miles from Capernaum, Nain was 6 miles south of Nazareth. Tombs still exist outside the modern village of Nain.

LK7:12 Then as Jesus approached the village gate, look, the dead only-begotten son of his widowed mother was being carried out. The crowd from the village accompanying her was considerable. LK7:13 And when the Master saw her he felt compassionate 284 for her and then told her: “Do not cry.”

284	Compassionate: Or, BER: felt sympathy for her; NEB: his heart went out to her.

LK7:14 Jesus then approached and touched the bier, and those carrying it stopped as Jesus said: “Young man, I tell you, Get up!” LK7:15 Then the dead man sat up and began to speak as Jesus presented him to his mother. LK7:16 Now everyone was overcome with fear 285 and they began to glorify the God, saying: “A great prophet has been raised up among us, and The God has visited His People!”

285	Overcome with fear: Or, overawed, awe-struck, reverent fear. The Greek is PHOBOS.

LK7:17 So a report about Jesus and this matter spread into all of Judea and the surrounding countryside.

Luke 7:18-23 – Are You the Coming One?

|| Matthew 11:2-15 286

286	Matthew 11:2-15: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

LK7:18 Now all of this was reported to John [the Baptist] by his disciples, and so he summoned two of his disciples LK7:19 and sent them to ask Jesus: “Are you the Coming One or should we look for another?” LK7:20 When the men approached Jesus they said: “John the Baptist sent us to you, asking, ‘Are you the Coming One or should we look for another?’” LK7:21 Now at that same time Jesus had healed many of diseases, afflictions, evil demons as well as granting many blind persons sight. LK7:22 So Jesus answered John’s disciples: “After you leave report to John what you saw and heard. The blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are having the Good News preached to them. LK7:23 Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 287

287	No offense at me: Or, offended, no occasion for stumbling, no doubts, nothing repels, lose confidence. We suppose these words are directed to John.

Luke 7:24-30 – John in Relation to the Kingdom

LK7:24 Now as John’s messengers were leaving, Jesus began to tell the crowds regarding John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed waving in the wind? LK7:25 But, what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft clothing? 288 Behold, those with glorious apparel 289 live in luxury in royal houses. 290

288	Soft clothing: Or, dressed in silks and satins, elegantly dressed.

289	Glorious apparel: Or, KJV: gorgeously apparelled; NAS: splendidly clothed; BER: stylishly dressed; KNX: proudly dressed; NOR: handsomely clothed.

290	Live in luxury in royal houses: Or, KJV: live delicately, are in kings’ courts; NWT: palaces.

LK7:26 But, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. LK7:27 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my angel 291 before your face. He will prepare your way ahead of you.’ [Malachi 3:1]

291	Angel: Or, messenger. The Greek is ANGELON.

LK7:28 I tell you all: among those born of women no one is greater than John. However, the least important person 292 in God’s Realm 293 is greater than him.”

292	The least important person: Or, least, but little, of little importance, a humble member. John the Baptist never becomes a member of the congregation Christ builds. [Matthew 16:18] He is “a friend of the bridegroom” but not part of the Bride.

293	God’s Realm: Or, kingdom of God. A phrase referring first to the Church. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 13:40-43.

LK7:29 (Now all the people and the tax collectors who heard this declared The God to be just as they had been baptized in John’s baptism. LK7:30 But the Pharisees and those versed in the Law [of Moses] – having not been baptized by John – disregarded the counsel of The God.)

Luke 7:31-35 – A Generation Like Impossible Children

|| Matthew 11:16-19 294

294	Matthew 11:16-19: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

LK7:31 “So to what will I compare the people of this generation, 295 and what are they like?

295	The people of this generation: Jesus means his generation of Jews.

LK7:32 They are like children 296 sitting around in the market square, calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you but you did not dance. We sang a sad song but you did not cry.’

296	Like children: Whom no one can please.

LK7:33 For John the Baptist came not eating bread or drinking wine 297 and all of you say, ‘He is demonized!’ 298

297	Eating bread or drinking wine: Likely as a Nazarite these were forbidden to him. [Numbers 6:3]

298	Demonized: Or, has a demon, possessed, insane, crazy.

LK7:34 The Son of Humankind has come eating and drinking and you say: ‘Look, a glutton and drunkard 299 – a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

299	Glutton and drunkard: Or, winebibber, tippling, wine-drinker. There can be no question our Lord drank fermented wine with an intoxicating affect. He is often observed at feasts or banquets. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on wine at John 2:10.

LK7:35 Still wisdom is judged right by her children.” 300

300

Wisdom is judged right by her children: Or, NAS: wisdom is vindicated by; GDS: vindicated by all who are really wise; LAM: justified by all its works. [Compare Matthew 11:19.] The Greek is HE SOPHIA, that is, “the Wisdom.” It is possible Jesus refers to himself as Wisdom. Compare Proverbs 8:1 where TEN SOPHIAN occurs in the LXX. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on SOPHIA compare Proverbs 8:22 in Error of the Trinity. It is possible Jesus alludes to his pre-existence. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on pre-existence at John 6:62.

Luke 7:36-40 – A Pharisee and a Woman

LK7:36 Then a certain Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him, so after entering his house he reclined at the table. LK7:37 And, look, a woman of the village who was a sinner 301 became aware Jesus was reclining at a meal in the Pharisee’s home. She [came to the house] bringing an alabaster jar, 302

301	Sinner: Or, living an immoral life, bad woman, outcast.

302	Alabaster jar: Or, case, box, flask, pot. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew 26:7. [Mark 14:3; John 12:3]

LK7:38 and standing behind Jesus at his feet she began to cry. With her tears she began to wet the feet of Jesus and then with her hair she wiped them dry. Then she kissed his feet and anointed them with the perfumed oil. LK7:39 Now when the Pharisee who invited Jesus observed this he said to himself: “If this person was a prophet 303 he would realize who [this is] and what kind of woman is touching him, because she is a sinner.”

303	If this person was a prophet: The self-righteous are always identified by their judgmental and opinionated attitudes.

LK7:40 Then Jesus responded and said to him: “Simon, I want to tell you something.” And Simon said: “Teacher, speak.”

Luke 7:41-50 – Those Forgiven Much or Little

LK7:41 “Two persons were in debt to a certain creditor. 304 One owed five hundred denarii, 305 and the other owed only fifty.

304	Creditor: Or, money-lender, debtor.

305	Five hundred denarii: A denarii was about a day’s wage for a laborer, thus this represents a year and a half.

LK7:42 Not having the means to repay, the creditor 306 canceled both debts. So, which of them will love him more?”

306	The creditor: Likely referring to God.

LK7:43 Simon answered: “I suppose the one he forgave the most.” And Jesus told him: “You judged correctly.” LK7:44 Then turning to the woman, Jesus said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? When I came into your home you provided no water for my feet. 307 However, she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

307	You provided no water for my feet: A common hospitable practice. The lack here indicates a man both self-righteous and arrogant, and we wonder about his motives.

LK7:45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time she entered she did not stop kissing my feet. LK7:46 You never anointed my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfumed oil. LK7:47 For this reason I tell you, though her sins are many she has been forgiven, for she loved much. However, the one forgiven little loves little.” 308

308

The one forgiven little, loves little: The Nazarene’s general principle on forgiveness. The woman is the debtor owing 500 denarii, while the self-righteous Pharisee owed 50. Forgiveness is always accompanied by evidence of love and is often observed to be equivalent to the degree of forgiveness. Those forgiven the most, love the most.

LK7:48 Then Jesus told the woman: “Your sins have been forgiven.” LK7:49 And everyone reclining with Jesus began to say among themselves: “Who is this that forgives sins?” 309

309	Who is this that forgives sins: Compare Matthew 9:2, 3; Mark 2:7; Luke 5:21.

LK7:50 So Jesus said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Review Questions on Chapter Seven