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 7:13 mean?

Explanation

[And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.] (Luke 7:13) This verse illustrates a moment of deep compassion displayed by Jesus Christ.

In the broader context, the verse is part of a narrative where Jesus encounters a funeral procession.

A widow from the town of Nain is mourning the death of her only son.

Upon seeing her, Jesus is moved by a sense of profound empathy and kindness.

This is not merely a description of Jesus acknowledging the woman's pain but showing a divine response to human suffering.

The phrase "Weep not" suggests a comforting intervention, possibly hinting at the miraculous event that follows , the raising of her son from the dead.

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Historical Context

The verse is nestled within the Gospel of Luke, which was written between 80-110 AD and is one of the synoptic gospels of the New Testament.

The cultural and historical context of 1st-century Palestine, where the story is set, is one where widows would often be in a precarious social and economic position due to the loss of their husband, who would typically be the provider and protector in the familial structure.

The death of her only son compounded the widow's vulnerability, as she would now have no male relative to support her.

This made her plight particularly pitiable in the eyes of Jesus and the society of that time.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this Luke 7:13 verse demonstrates several core Christological concepts.

First, it illustrates Jesus' divine compassion, an essential aspect of his character and ministry.

Secondly, it underscores the belief in the possibility of miracles, as the moment is a precursor to Jesus performing the miracle of raising the widow's son.

Theologically, this reflects the power of Jesus over life and death, which is a testament to his divinity for many believers.

Practical Applications

This verse serves as a powerful reminder for believers to embody compassion in their lives, mirroring the example presented by Jesus.

The practical application is the call for empathy and taking actions that comfort and aid those who are in suffering or mourning.

It encourages individuals to not only offer words of sympathy but also to be prepared to act to alleviate the pain of others, consistent with the Christian teaching 'to love your neighbor as yourself' (Mark 12:31).

Cross-References

John 11:35: "Jesus wept."
Matthew 9:36: "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them..."
Matthew 14:14: "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them..."
John 11:25-26: "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life..."

Language Study

In this verse, the original Greek word for "had compassion" is "ἐσπλαγχνίσθη" (esplagchnisthē), derived from "σπλάγχνον" (splanchnon), meaning inner organs or guts.

It metaphorically implies a deep, visceral feeling of compassion.

The imperative "Weep not" or "Μὴ κλαῖε" (Mē klaie) in Greek carries the sense of an empathetic command, signaling both comfort and authority in Jesus' demeanor.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, miraculous healings and acts of compassion are often attributed to deities and heroes.

For example, in some Greek myths, Asclepius, the god of medicine, was said to have healing powers.

In Buddhist traditions, the virtue of compassion (karuṇā) is deeply entrenched, reflected in the life and teachings of the Buddha.

Jesus' act can be viewed alongside these narratives, though in the Christian context, it asserts Jesus' unique authority and messianic role.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the concept of compassion having a beneficial effect on others is substantiated. Psychological studies have demonstrated the positive impact of compassion on mental health and social bonds.

However, the miracle of raising the dead is not something that aligns with current scientific explanations, as it contends with the established understanding of biological death as irreversible.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have offered interpretations of this verse.

Some emphasize the messianic revelation displayed in the raising of the dead.

Others focus on the personal qualities of Jesus, particularly his empathy and ability to understand human sorrow.

Still, some discuss the social implications of the miracle, noting the restoration of the widow's status and security.

Commentators often reflect on this verse's display of Jesus’ power and authority, alongside his willingness to intervene in the deepest of human experiences: sorrow and loss.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:13 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 7:13 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?