Luke 7

Christ healed the servant of a captain in Capernaum whose faith he commend above all 11 raiseth from the dead a widows son at Naim 18 answereth the question of John disciples and proveth by his on doctrine and works that he is the Messiah 24 gives a glorious testimony of the person an office of John 29 for which the people praise God but the Pharisees condemn the council of God 31 upbraid the Jews with their impenitency under the similitude of the practice of children on the street 36 eateth with Simon the Pharisee where a sinner moistens his feet with her tears whereat Simon is offended and Christ defendeth her by the similitude of two debtors.

1. Now after that he had finished [Gr fulfilled] all his words in the hearing [Gr into the hearings] of the people he entered into Capernaum

2. And a certain centurion which was very dear to him [precious namely by reason of his faithful services] being sick lay at the point of death

3. And having heard of Jesus he sent unto him the elders of the Jews [these elders were man of the best repute among the people which at that time were employed in every city in the government of the church or common wealth see Matthew 6:3] beseeching him that he would come and heal [Gr save namely alive] his servant.

4. Now these being come to Jesus besought him earnestly [Gr diligently carefully] saying he is worthy that thou shouldst do that for him [or to whom that shalt do that] otherwise to whom that should be done]

5. For beloveth our people [namely the Jews whereby it appears that he was one of the gentiles as also by the ninth following verse] and hath him self built us the synagogue [of the synagogue see Matthew 4:3]

6. And Jesus went with them and when he was now not far from the house the centurion sent some friends unto him and said unto him [that is caused to be said in Matthew chapter 8 verse6 &c that he himself did that which he caused to be done by his friends] Lord take not the trouble for I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof.

7. Therefore also have I not esteemed myself worthy to come unto thee but say it with a word [that is bid or command with one word onely that my servant be healed see Matthew 8:8] and my servant shall be healed?

8. For I also am a man set under power of others [what he meaneth hereby see the annotate on Matthew 8 verse9] having soldiers under me and I say to this go and he goeth and the other came and he cometh and to my servant do that and he doeth it

9. And Jesus hearing this he marveled at him and turning him about said unto the multitude that followed him I say unto ye I have not found such great faith even in Israel [that is amongst the Israelites]

10. And they that were sent being retuned into the house found the sick servant whole.

11. And it came to pass on the day following that he went to the city called Naim [this was a city in Galilee situate at the foot of the mount Hermon by the brook Kison which unneth into the sea of Galilee] and many of his disciples went with and gave him great multitude

12. And as he drew near to the gate of the city [before time both among the Jews and amongst nations the dead were buried without the city Job 19.41 and as it is done yet in some places see also Genesis 23:19 and chapter 50 verse 13] Loe there a dead man was carried out which ws a widow and a great and a great multitude of the city was with her

13. And the Lord seeing her was inwardly moved with compassion toward her and sid unto her weep not. [Thereby Christ would not forbid al kind of weeping for the dead 1 Thessalonians 4:13 but give to understand that he will take away all the cause of hr weeping]

14. And he went near and touched her [or coffin] now the bearers stood still and he said young man I say unto thee arise

15. And the dead sate upright and began to speak and he gave him to his mother

16. And fear ceased on them all and they glorified [that is praised thanked] God saying a great prophet is risen up amongst us and God hath visited his people [namely for good to redeem them Exodus 4:31]

17. And this fame of him [Gr this word] went forth into all Judas and into ll country round about

18. And the disciples of John made report to him [Gr and to John his disciples made report] of all these things

19. And John having called unto him certain two of his disciples sent them to Jesus saying art thou should come [that is the Messiahs the cause of this demand see Matthew 11 verse 3] or do we look for another?

20. And when the men were come unto him thy said John the Baptist has sent us to thee to say [that is to cause to be said to thee and be demanded of thee] art thou he that should come or look we for another.

21. And in the same hour he healed many of the sicknesses and pains [Gr scourges see Mark 3 verse 10] and evil spirit and too many blind he gave the sight [Gr he gave graciously the seeing]

22. And Jesus answering said unto them go your way and tell John again the things which ye have seen and heard namely that the blind become seeing the creepled walk the leapers are cleansed nd deaf hear the dead are raised to the poor the gospel is preached

23. And blessed is he that shall not be offended at me [Gr in me see Matthew 11 verse 6]

24. Now when the messengers of John [or the sent of this whole testimony of Christ concerning John the Baptist see the annotate Matthew 11:7 and the following] were departed he began to say to the multitude concerning John what went ye out in the wilderness to be hold? A reed that is moved to and fro by the wind.

25. But what went y out to see ? a man clothed with soft garment? Behold they that are in glorious clothing and voluptuousness are in the kings courts

26. But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea I say unto ye much more also then a prophet

27. This is he of whom it is written behold I send mine Angel before thy face who shall prepare thy way before thee

28. For I say unto ye amongst them that are born of women there is no man a greater prophet then John the Baptist but the least[Gr the lesser] in the kingdom of God is greater then he.

29. And all the people hearing him the publican who were baptized with the baptism of John justified God [that is acknowledged and praised his righteousness goodness faithfulness and truth as verse 35]

30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected [or disannulled or made no force namely by their willful despising of the means which God hath ordained for the salvation of men] the counsel of God [that is the means which God according to his wife counsel hath ordained in the new covenant whereby to bring mankind to salvation see Proverbs 1:25,30 Acts 20:27 Hebrews 12:25 otherwise the counsel that is the decree of God concerning the salvation of his elect abides always firm Matthew 4:24 Romans 8:28,29 Hebrews 6. verse17 & c] against themselves [that is to their own hurt and destruction]being not baptized of him

31. And the Lord said to whom then shall I liken the men of his generation and to whom are they like

32. They are like to the children [the exposition of this similitude see in the annotate on Matthew 11:16] which sit on the market and call one another and say we have played on the pipe to you and ye have not danced we have sung lamenting songs to you and ye have not wept.

33. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine [that is using no ordinary meat and drink like as other men for he did eat locusts and wild honey Matthew 3 verse4] and ye say he hath the devil

34. The son of man is come eating and drinking and ye say lo there a man who is a glutton and winebibber [Gr an eater and wine drinker] a friend of publican and sinners

35. But wisdom is justified [see Matthew 11:19] of all her children

36. And one of the Pharisees entreated him that he would eat with him and being entered into the Pharisees house he sate don

37. And behold a woman in the city which was a sinner [that is of a dishonest life and known in the city for such a one] understanding that he sate at meat in the Pharisees house brought an alabaster jar with ointment [see the like Matthew 26:7 Mark 14:3]

38. And standing behind at his feet weeping [namely being grieved for her sins as Peter Luke 22:62] she began his feet wet with hr tears [these are tokens of repentance and love of Christ springing from the sense of her sins and remission of the same appears verse 47] and she dried them with the hair her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment

39. And the Pharisees which had invited him seeing this spake with himself saying this man if he were prophet would know well what and what manner of woman this is that touched him for she is a sinner

40. And Jesus answering said unto him Simon I have somewhat to say to thee and he spake master say it

41. Jesus said [what is Christ scope in this similitude he sheweth himself when he applies it to this woman verse 47] a certain creditor [or lender out bank-keeper] had two debtors the one was indebted five hundred pence [Gr Denari see the value therof Matthew 18:8] and the other fifty

42. And when they had nothing to pay he acquitted them both of it say then which of these shall love him more

43. And Simon answering said I hold it that it is he to whom he hath acquitted most and he said unto him thou hast judged right

44. And he returning him about the woman said unto Simon seest thou this woman? I came into thine house thou gavest me no water for my feet but this woman hath moistened my feet with tears and dried them with the hair of her head

45. Thou gavest me no kiss but this woman since she came in [otherwise since I came in] hath not ceased to kiss my feet

46. Thou didst not anoint mine head with oil but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment[with these three expressions of friendship an ancient in those countries received their guests and friends as it to be seen Genesis 18 verse 4 and 19.2 Exodus 4:27 and 18.7 Psalms 23:5 and Ecclesiastes9.8 Romans 16:16 and elsewhere]

47. Therefore I say unto thee her sins are forgiven her with which many for she loved much [hereby is not shewed that this great love of hers was the cause of the forgiveness of her sins but that it was a fruit argument and token that many sins were forgiven her and that therefore now she was no more to be reckoned for such a sinner as appears from the word next following and the whole cop of this similitude from whence may clearly be seen that the forgiveness of sins is put for the cause of the love and not the love for the cause of remission of sins as it is also said in the 50 verse that the faith and not love saved her] but to whom little is forgiven he loveth little

48. And he said unto her thy sins are forgiven thee

49. And they that sate down with him began to say with themselves [or amongst one another] ho is this that forgiveth sins also

50. But he saith to the woman the faith hath saved thee that is by thy faith in me thou hast receive this benefit of forgiveness of thy sins whereby thou art preserved to salvation see Acts 26:18]go thy way in peace.