Luke 7

2 centurion. Centurions were Roman officers commanding 100 men. One of them was usually quartered in every important provincial town, to preserve order. This man appears to have become

3 the elders. Omit “the.”

4 instantly. i.e., “urgently.”

5 and he hath built us a synagogue. Rather, “and himself built us a synagogue” (R.V.). A striking instance of honour paid by a Gentile to the religion of Israel.

6 the centurion sent friends. See note on Matt. viii. 5.

8. Do this, and he doeth [it]. My authority is but limited; for my power is but human, and my rank subordinate: yet even my word is certainly and promptly obeyed. Who or what can resist Thine?

11. Nain. A village of Galilee (still called Nela), lying on the northern declivity of Little Hermon, about eight miles S.W. of Nazareth. This narrative is peculiar to Luke.

many of his disciples. Not only of the apostles, who had been set apart on the preceding day; but of those, generally, who believed in Him.

12 carried out. Among the Jews, all burials were outside the city walls, except those of kings and distinguished persons: see 1 Sam. xxviii. 3; 2 Kings xxi. 18.

13. He had compassion. Our Lord’s compassion appears to have been awakened, without any solicitation on the part of the mourners, by the affecting combination;—an only son, a widowed mother, a sympathising crowd.

14 the bier. The corpse was wrapped in folds of linen (John xi. 44), and carried on an open bier.

Arise. The calm dignity apparent in every case in which our Lord raised the dead (viii. 54; John xi. 43) is particularly impressive when contrasted with the manner in which the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and in which also His own apostles Peter and Paul, obtained the restoration of life in the only other instances in which it was granted (1 Kings xvii. 17-24; 2 Kings iv. 31-37; Acts ix. 39-43; xx. 9-12).

15 delivered him to his mother. By this tender and gracious act, Jesus honours maternal love.

16. God hath visited His people. Cp. Luke i. 68.

17 throughout all Judea. Beyond the limits of Galilee, in which Nain was situated.

18-35. See notes on Matt. xi. 2-19.

21 plagues, and of evil spirits. “Observe that Luke, himself a physician, distinguishes between the diseased and the possessed” (Alford).

29-35. These verses are most probably a parenthetical statement of the evangelist, designed to show that the success of John’s ministry, though great, was almost entirely confined to the more despised classes of people, who “justified God” by their faith in His Divine commission and their obedience to His injunctions; whilst the religious teachers rejected Him. The statement serves to introduce the remarks of our Lord which follow in vers. 31-35. The words, “And the Lord said” (31), which seem to indicate the resumption of the discourse after an interruption, are not found in the best manuscripts.

36-50. Peculiar to Luke.

37 a woman. There is no ground for supposing, as some have done, and as is stated in the title often prefixed to the chapter, that this woman was Mary Magdalene (mentioned in viii. 2); or Mary the sister of Lazarus, who also anointed our Lord’s feet shortly before His last sufferings: see note on Mark xiv. 3. Neither of them, so far as we know, had been a person of immoral character. Of this woman we hear nothing more.

brought an alabaster box, etc. It is still customary, in some parts of the East, to allow strangers to enter the house, or the open court in which the meal is often taken. This was probably the best opportunity which this penitent woman could find of expressing personally her gratitude to her Deliverer.

38 stood at His feet behind [Him], etc. The Jews were accustomed to recline at table, with the feet unshod on the couch; so that one who stood weeping behind a guest might easily let her tears fall upon his feet.

39 would have known. The inspiration of a prophet (thought he) would reveal to him this sinner’s character; and his sanctity would shrink from her touch. Jesus therefore (he concluded) cannot be a prophet. Our Lord’s reply proves the contrary: for He shows His knowledge not only of the woman’s life and conduct, but even of the Pharisee’s thoughts: and His accurate appreciation of the penitence of the one, and the uncharitable self-righteousness of the other.

41 five hundred pence (denarii) . . . fifty. Equal to about £20 and £2 respectively.

44 gavest me no water. Simon probably thought it a sufficient condescension to invite the Nazarene prophet to his table, without adding these customary tokens of hospitality. And the incivility might have passed unnoticed by Him who “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,” had it not afforded an opportunity for a rebuke of the Pharisee for his remark in ver. 39.

47 for she loved much. The word “for” often adduces not a cause but a proof. Our Lord is speaking not of the ground of forgiveness, but of its evidence; which evidence is grateful love. Not, “she is forgiven because she loved,” but “see know by her love that she is forgiven.” On the contrary, as in the Pharisee’s case, little love shows little sense of pardon.