Luke 7
DOYLY— in the city.] Probably Nain or Capernaum, the only cities which have been mentioned here. Dr. Whitby.
— which was a sinner.] One who had lived in a sinful course. Dr. Hammond.
She was a sinner, now she is not; her very appearing in our Lord’s presence argues she is not. Had she continued in her evil courses she would not have endured the sight of Christ. Bp. Hall.
Luke 7:18
- And the disciples of John &c.] For further notes on what follows, see Matt. xi. 3—19.
Luke 7:21
- — And in the same hour he cured &c.] Thus the messengers themselves were eyewitnesses of His powers and gifts and mighty works; and to this evidence He refers them, and a more decisive or dignified answer could not possibly have been given. He neither says that He was, nor that He was not, the person they inquired after, but bids them take notice and tell John of what they saw, and draw their own conclusion from it. Archdeacon Foley.
Luke 7:29
- And all the people that heard him, &c.] Our Saviour proceeds to say, All the common people that heard him, publicans and sinners, men of humble dispositions and sensible of the greatness of their sins, were convinced by his preaching, and brought to repentance; thankfully accepting that condition of pardon and mercy, which God graciously offered them, and being gladly baptized by John. Dr. S. Clarke.
— justified God.] Approved the wisdom and justice of His counsel, in calling them by the Baptist to repentance. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 7:30
- — rejected the counsel of God &c.] Neglected those gracious offers of mercy, which God made to them by him, and rejected his preaching. Dr. S. Clarke. It is observable, that, in rejecting the baptism of St. John, they are said to reject the counsel of God towards them; that is, His gracious design of calling them to Him by that repentance, which alone could exempt them from the wrath to come; and by that refusal declared they approved not of His counsel, as just and righteous. Dr. Whitby.
Luke 7:31
- And the Lord said,] After He had ended the former discourse, He said further, as follows. Bp. Pearce.
Luke 7:36
- — one of the Pharisees] Whose name was Simon, ver. 40.
Luke 7:37
- And, behold, a woman &c.] A narrative, similar A woman anointeth the feet of Christ. Anno DOMINI 31.
city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Luke 7:38
- — stood at his feet behind him] The Jews did not sit on chairs at their meals, but lay on their side on couches, their feet either resting on the couch, or hanging down a little beyond the edge of it; and in either of these positions, a person standing behind, and leaning a little forward, might easily handle them. See John xiii. 23. Bp. Mann.
The expression in our translation, being accommodated to the modern custom of sitting at meals, instead of reclining or lying down, as did the ancients, is not very intelligible, because it is impossible that Jesus could have sat at meat, and that the woman could have stood at His feet behind Him. The account however is perfectly clear, from knowing the custom that then subsisted of reclining during meals with the feet drawn back on the couch. Fragments to Calmet.
— to wash his feet with tears.] It was customary for the Jews to wash the feet after they had been walking, and before they went to their meals. They wore no stockings; and before they reclined on their couches, they put off their sandals or shoes which had no upper leather. Bp. Pearce.
Together with shame and bashfulness arising from the consciousness of her former wickedness, this woman
to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luke 7:39
- — who and what manner of woman &c.] The Pharisee judged of her, according to the notions of his sect, not by her present humility and contrition, but by her past character. Dr. S. Clarke.
Luke 7:40
- And Jesus answering said] The Pharisee had only spoken within himself; but Jesus answers him. Thus it is that, when we speak to our hearts, we speak to God who knoweth our hearts. He, who hears our thoughts, judges of them as if they were clothed with words. Bp. Hall.
Luke 7:43
- — he, to whom he forgave most.] God is our creditor, our sins our debts; we are all debtors, but some more deeply than others. No man can pay his debt; remission alone can discharge it. God in mercy forgives as well the greatest as the least sins; our love to God is proportional to our sense of His forgiveness. Thus the Pharisee cannot but confess that, the more and greater the sin is, the greater mercy in the forgiveness; and the greater mercy in the forgiver, the greater sense of obligation in him who is forgiven. Bp. Hall.
Luke 7:44
- — gaveest me no water for my feet.] Which was a customary mark of respect to a stranger. This custom yet remains in the East among the Arabs, where the master of the family presents himself to welcome a stranger, and to wash his feet. Dr. Shaw.
Luke 7:45
- — gaveest me no kiss.] Which was the ordinary salutation and expression of kindness. Dr. S. Clarke. See note at Matt. xxvi. 48.
Luke 7:47
- Wherefore I say unto thee, &c.] Assuredly therefore I tell thee, so far is this woman from being unworthy to come near Me by reason of her sins, which are indeed great and many, that, on the contrary, God having forgiven her those many and great sins on her sincere repentance, the sense of that mercy hath filled her heart with such ardent love and gratitude, as expresses itself in far more signal instances of humble
See Matt. 10. 22. Anno DOMINI 31. Women minister unto Christ. The parable of the sower. Anno DOMINI 31.
Luke 7:50
- — Thy faith hath saved thee;] Thy great faith hath procured for thee proportionably great mercy and pardon: go and enjoy that peace and satisfaction of mind, which the sense of the love and favour of God will continually afford thee. Dr. S. Clarke.
— go in peace.] What can be wished by any mortal creature, but remission, safety, faith, peace? Yet all these are here met to make a contrite soul happy; remission, the ground of her safety; faith, the ground of her peace; safety and salvation, the issue of her remission; peace, the blessed fruit of her faith. Bp. Hall.
Chap. VIII. ver. 1.—every city and village.] Literally, in the original, “through town and village.”