Luke 7
1When he had finished all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion's slave, whom he valued highly, was ill and about to die. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save his slave. 4They came to Jesus and urged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5because he loves our nation, and he himself built our synagogue for us.” 6Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say 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. Turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10Those who had been sent returned to the house and found the slave well.
11Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12As he approached the town gate, look: a dead man was being carried out, his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large 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.” 14He came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you, rise!” 15The dead man sat up and began speaking, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17This report about him spread through all Judea and the surrounding region.
18John's disciples reported all these things to him. John called two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the coming one, or should we wait for another?” 20When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the coming one, or should we wait for another?’” 21At that hour he healed many of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind. 22He answered them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, people with defiling skin diseases are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor receive good news. 23And blessed is whoever does not stumble because of me.”
24After John's messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A person dressed in soft clothes? Look: those wearing splendid clothes and living in luxury are in royal palaces. 26But 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 ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
28I 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.”
29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God as right, having been baptized with John's baptism. 30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
31“To what, then, shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying,
‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a lament, and you did not weep.’
33For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look: a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35Yet wisdom is shown to be right by all her children.”
36One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the meal. 37And look: a woman in the town who was a sinner learned that he was reclining at the Pharisee's house, and brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 38She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with the hair of her head, kept kissing his feet, and anointed them with the perfume. 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 sort of woman is touching him—that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said, “Teacher, say it.” 41“A lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not repay, he freely canceled both debts. Which of them, then, will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one whose larger debt he canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Turning 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 wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfume. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven, for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49Those reclining with him began saying among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”