CHRONOLOGY. The healing of the centurion's servant at Capernaum
followed the discourse recorded in the last chapter, no event of which
we have any account intervening. (See on Matthew 8:1 ff.) The raising
of the widow's son at Nain, narrated by Luke only, occurred shortly
after (see Luke 7:11), also... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:1-10. THE HEALING OP THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. See on Matthew
8:5-13. Luke's account is fuller and more accurate as regards the
messengers of the centurion, but Matthew gives at length the language
of our Lord occasioned by the centurion's faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:2. WHO WAS HIGHLY VALUED BY HIM as his only and faithful
servant. It is further suggested that he was ‘held in honor,' the
object of his master's attachment, as was frequently the case in these
days, between master and slave. The sickness was ‘palsy' (Matthew).... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:3. HEARD CONCERNING JESUS, as he naturally would in Capernaum.
ELDERS OF THE JEWS. Not elders of the synagogue, but of the people.
Here Luke is more accurate than Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:4. HE IS WORTHY. The correct reading makes this verse a
quotation of their language. The intercession of the elders is true to
nature: a rich man, a man of authority and position, a man of their
party, though not ‘to the manner born,' would enlist their good
offices.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:5. HIMSELF BUILT US OUR SYNAGOGUE. This was not uncommon. They
did not doubt that this would be a recommendation to our Lord. There
had been no indication of the wider purpose of our Lord's mission. A
long training was necessary to teach even the Apostles that the Gospel
was meant for the Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:6. WENT WITH THEM. There was no delay as in the case of the
Syro-Phenician woman, because there was not the same necessity either
for bringing out the faith of the person who asked the favor, or for
thus giving a lesson to the disciples, to remove prejudice.
FRIENDS. ‘A very delicate and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:10. FOUND THE SERVANT WHOLE, or, ‘well.' Luke here carries
out the detail of his narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:11. SOON AFTERWARDS. The change of a single letter alters the
sense ‘the day after' to ‘soon afterwards,' which is probably the
correct reading.
NAIN, Na'-in. The name occurs nowhere else in Scripture. It was a
town of Galilee, southeast of Nazareth, a few miles to the south of
Mount Tabor,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:11-17. THE RAISING OF THE WIDOW'S SON AT NAIN. Peculiar to
Luke. Of course the silence of the other Evangelists is no argument
against the truthfulness of Luke's account. As compared with the other
two similar miracles this takes a middle position. Jairus' daughter
was just dead _,_ this youn... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:12. THERE WAS CARRIED OUT. Graves were commonly outside the
towns.
THE ONLY SON OF HIS MOTHER, etc. The circumstances were peculiarly
adapted to call forth compassion. He might have learned these
circumstances from some of the crowd, MUCH PEOPLE accompanying the
widow, but He doubtless knew... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:13. AND WHEN THE LORD SAW HER. The title ‘Lord' is peculiarly
fitting here. Luke uses it more frequently than Matthew and Mark.
WEEP NOT. The first sign of compassion; and a token of coming help.
Doubtless His words awakened faith the same words, though not now
followed by such a miracle, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:14. THE BIER. An open coffin was used among the Jews.
THE BEARERS STOOD STILL. Stopped, not by miraculous influence, yet
probably because of our Lord's manner. That they had heard of Him is
of course possible, but not certain.
YOUNG MAN, I SAY ONTO THEE, ARISE. A command, as in all the si... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:15. AND THE DEAD MAN SAT UP, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK _. _ The
commanding word wrought its proper effect. Not only life, but health
and strength had returned.
AND HE GAVE HIM TO HIS MOTHER. The compassion (Luke 7:13) completes
its work. This act of love fulfils all that was implied in the
consoli... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:16. AND FEAR TOOK HOLD ON ALL _._ ‘Fear' was the natural
result, but the word is used in the Old Testament sense. Not terror,
but not yet the loving faith of the New Testament. Some superstition
may have mingled with it, but it was mainly religious, for it is
added: THEY GLORIFIED GOD.
A gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:17. THIS REPORT CONCERNING HIM. Literally, ‘this saying.' It
can scarcely refer to the saying of the last verse, but rather to the
whole account of the miracle.
IN THE WHOLE OF JUDEA. Probably meaning all Palestine, and not Judea
as opposed to Galilee.
REGION ROUND ABOUT, _i.e.,_ about Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:18. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN SHOWED HIM. More definite than
Matthew.
ALL THESE THINGS. Probably with special reference to the last and
greatest miracle at Nain.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRONOLOGY. The order is correct. There is no record of anything which
occurred during the interval between the raising of the young man at
Nain and the message from John. See on Matthew 8:18; Matthew 9:2, etc.
Luke's account in the present section differs very slightly from that
of Matthew (Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:19. TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES. This shows that the imprisonment did
not shut him off from intercourse with His followers.
TO THE LORD. Eleven times is this title applied to Jesus in this
Gospel (see marginal references).... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:21. IN THAT HOUR, etc. This is implied in the answer given by
Matthew (Luke 7:4-5).
DISEASES AND PLAGUES (Greek, ‘scourges'), AND OF EVIL SPIRITS.
Luke, the physician, distinguishes the possessed from the diseased.
Luke 7:22-28 are almost word for word the same as Matthew 11:4-11. In
Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:29-30. These verses have been regarded as, either a part of our
Lord's discourse, or a comment of the Evangelist. Each view has able
supporters. The latter seems more natural. But the words: ‘And the
Lord said' (Luke 7:31), are to be omitted. The early insertion of the
phrase shows that the v... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:31-35. See Matthew 11:16-19. The only variation is in Luke
7:35: ALL HER CHILDREN. In Matthew: ‘by her works.' Here the persons
are contrasted. The children of Wisdom are childlike, not childish,
like the men of this generation (Luke 7:31-32). Instead of petulant
treatment of the different te... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:36. ONE OF THE PHARISEES. ‘Simon' (Luke 7:40).
THAT HE WOULD EAT WITH HIM. There is no evidence of an improper
motive. With all his scruples, the Pharisee shows no hostility. Pride
may indeed have entered. Our Lord, who came ‘eating and drinking'
(Luke 7:34), accepted the invitation.
SAT... [ Continue Reading ]
A COMPARISON of the various accounts renders it highly probable that
the Evangelist is here following the strict chronological order. (Some
think the words of Luke 7:34 may have suggested the insertion of the
event at this point.) The only intervening event on record seems to
have been the discourse... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:37. A WOMAN WHO WAS IN THE CITY, A SINNER, _i.e._, an unchaste
person. The words ‘in the city' show that she led this life of sin
in the place where the Pharisee lived. What place it was we do not
know. Certainly not Jerusalem, but some place in Galilee. Those who
identify the woman with Mary... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:38. STANDING BEHIND AT HIS FEET WEEPING, etc. She came to our
Lord, as He reclined at table; standing by Him, leaning over His feet,
her tears of penitence began to flow, and thus SHE BEGAN TO WET HIS
FEET WITH HER TEARS. Her tears dropped on his feet. That she intended
to do this is unlikely... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:39. HE SPAKE WITHIN HIMSELF. Our Lord replies (Luke 7:40) to
the thought of the Pharisee's heart, as here given.
IF HE WERE A PROPHET, etc. Simon seems to have been inclined to
regard Him as such. But he reasoned thus: a prophet would _know_ what
others must learn; this man cannot be a proph... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:40. ANSWERING, the thought of the Pharisee, not some outward
manifestations of displeasure, though such may have been displayed.
I HAVE SOMEWHAT TO SAY UNTO THEE. Direct personal address, implying a
knowledge of Simon's heart.
MASTER, or, ‘Teacher,' SAY ON. The tone is respectful, as if t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:41. A CERTAIN MONEY LENDER HAD TWO DEBTORS _. _ The former
represents our Lord, the two debtors the woman and Simon respectively.
But in the parable the lender is in the background, the emphasis rests
upon the comparison between the respective amounts: THE ONE OWED FIVE
HUNDRED PENCE (_denari... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:42. AND WHEN THEY HAD NOT WHEREWITH TO PAY. They found out and
confessed that they could not pay the debt. It is true that sinners
have ‘nothing,' but the verse brings out rather the discovery than
the fact itself. Grateful love does not pay any part of the debt,
according to the parable.
H... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:43. I SUPPOSE. We are to understand, ‘that is, if they feel
as they ought.'
TO WHOM HE FORGAVE THE MOST. From this correct answer a false
conclusion has often been drawn, oftener in thought and deed than in
word. Men sometimes find in it an encouragement to sin, on the theory
that the great... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:44. SEEST THOU THIS WOMAN? He thus brings face to face the two
persons whose cases He had set forth in the parable. Possibly Simon
had hitherto avoided looking at her, or in any case had looked down
upon her; now according to his own verdict he must look up to her.
THINE HOUSE. The emphasis... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:45. NO KISS, of welcome, on the face, came from the host; but
the unbidden woman coming in with the Guest (SINCE THE TIME I CAME IN)
at once kissed His feet, and continued to do so.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:46. MINE HEAD WITH OIL.... MY FEET WITH OINTMENT. The host
failed to supply oil for the head, the woman not only gave the more
precious ointment, but herself applied it to His feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:47. WHEREFORE I SAY TO THEE. Because of these exhibitions of
love, in recognition of them, I say to thee. Our Lord gives the reason
for His _saying_ that she is forgiven, not for the forgiveness itself.
The latter sense is ungrammatical, as well as out of keeping with the
parable.
HER SINS,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:48. THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN. This does not forbid the view that a
previous sense of pardon moved the woman to acts of love. It is rather
a new assurance, a more formal personal declaration. Christians have a
sense of pardon awakening gratitude, but ever need more assurance of
it, ever hope for... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:49. WHO IS THIS THAT EVEN FORGIVETH SINS? Comp. chap. Luke 5:21
and the parallel passages. Such a question was natural, and does not
necessarily imply decided hostility.
THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE. Not love. Love is to convince others,
faith lays hold of grace, and thus love is begotten. It w... [ Continue Reading ]