Luke 7

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

But wisdom is justified of all her children.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

What does Luke 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:11 presents a narrative about Jesus Christ and his followers entering the city of Nain.

The verse sets the scene for the story that follows, where Jesus encounters a funeral procession and performs one of his miracles.

Literally, the verse tells us that Jesus, his disciples, and a large crowd are traveling together the day after an unnamed event.

The mention of "many disciples" and "much people" indicates Jesus's growing influence and the interest he sparked among people of that time.

Deeper interpretation may consider the significance of the city of Nain and the presence of the crowd.

It suggests a pivotal moment where Jesus's ministry is increasingly public, and it hints at a divine encounter that the city and its inhabitants will experience, which unfolds further in the subsequent verses.

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Historical Context

Nain is a town in the Lower Galilee, mentioned only in this passage in the Christian New Testament.

During Jesus’s time, Galilee was a region with a diverse population and mixed beliefs, including Jewish communities living under Roman occupation.

This setting is significant because it provides a backdrop to Jesus's ministry and suggests the potential tensions and needs of the people he encounters.

The city's name, "Nain," means "pleasant" or "beautiful" in Hebrew, which may be a literary contrast to the scene of death and mourning that Jesus enters. During this time, the dead were often buried outside the city, explaining why Jesus encounters the funeral as he approaches Nain.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the verse (and the ensuing miracle of raising the widow's son, which follows in Luke 7:12-15) serves as a sign of Jesus's divinity and his power over life and death.

It also connects to the Old Testament, as the prophet Elisha performed a similar miracle in the city of Shunem, which is geographically close to Nain.

Several viewpoints exist regarding the significance of the miracle.

Some see it as an act of compassion by Jesus toward the widow. Others interpret it as a demonstration of the in-breaking of God's kingdom, where Jesus confronts and overcomes the ultimate enemy of humanity, death.

Practical Applications

Practically, Luke 7:11 can inspire individuals to be aware of the opportunities to be compassionate and to offer support to those in mourning or suffering.

It may encourage believers to follow Jesus's example in being present with others during times of need and to act with kindness.

Furthermore, it encourages believers to have faith in Jesus's power to transform situations, comforting those with the belief in resurrection and eternal life.

Cross-References

John 11:25 - "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"
1 Kings 17:17-24 - The account of Elijah raising the widow’s son.
2 Kings 4:32-37 - The account of Elisha raising the Shunammite's son.

Language Study

In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, key words are:

"πόλις" (polis) which means city, indicating an urban center or community.
"μαθηταί" (mathētai) refers to disciples, suggesting followers who are committed learners or adherents.
"ὄχλος" (ochlos) describing the crowd or multitude, indicating a significant number of people accompanying Jesus.

These terms provide context to the scale of the event and the social dynamics of Jesus's following at the time.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The story of Jesus raising the widow's son parallels other cultural and religious narratives of miraculous revivals. In some ancient myths, gods and heroes display power over death.

However, in the biblical account, Jesus's miracle is unique in its personal and compassionate nature, and it is performed not to display power but as a sign of the coming Kingdom of God and the messianic age.

Comparing this to other religious interpretations, in Judaism, the role of the prophet or holy man could include such miraculous actions, often seen as signs of divine favor or a mark of a true prophet.

In some strands of thought within Islam, Jesus (Isa in Islam) is recognized as a prophet and worker of miracles, though the Quran does not recount this specific miracle.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of this verse with modern scientific understanding is limited since the verse primarily sets the stage for a miracle, which by definition is an event that falls outside of the normal explanations provided by science.

However, modern psychology provides insights into the effects of communal mourning and empathy, which are relevant to the scene depicted.

Biblical accounts of miracles like the one foreseen in Luke 7:11 do not have a scientific explanation as they are understood to be supernatural events that transcend natural laws.

That being said, the effects of belief in miracles and their impact on communities is a subject of interest in the field of psychology of religion.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 7:11 offer diverse perspectives:

Some emphasize the compassion of Jesus as he enters Nain, preparing to encounter the widow.
Others focus on the messianic aspects of the miracle that follows, which this verse sets up.
There are also notes on the parallels with Old Testament figures like Elijah and Elisha, suggesting Jesus as the culmination of prophetic authority and power.
Commentators also consider the socio-political context, with Jesus entering a small town with a significant crowd, and what that indicates about the growth of his movement and its potential disruptions to the existing social order.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 7:11 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?