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 7:18 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:18 details an exchange where the followers of John the Baptist report to him the deeds of Jesus.

The verse implies that John, who is likely in prison at this point (a detail found in Matthew 11:2), is being informed of the miracles and teachings of Jesus by his own disciples.

This exchange sets the stage for what comes next, where John, through his disciples, asks Jesus if He is indeed 'the one who is to come' or if they should expect another (Luke 7:19-20).

The reference to "all these things" likely encompasses the various miracles Jesus performed and his emerging ministry, which were of immense interest and possible concern to John and his disciples.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke was written roughly between 80-110 AD, and this particular verse is set in the early phase of Jesus' public ministry.

John the Baptist had been a prominent prophetic figure and had baptized Jesus earlier in this Gospel (Luke 3:21-22).

The historical context for John's questioning is significant.

He had expected the coming Messiah to bring immediate and radical change, possibly through divine judgement and a political uprising.

John's imprisonment by Herod Antipas (for denouncing Herod's marriage to his brother's wife) added to the expectation of divine intervention.

This information that John's disciples brought to him was therefore critical for understanding what kind of savior Jesus was proving to be.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse can be seen as highlighting the humanity of John the Baptist. Despite being a prophet and the forerunner for Christ, he sought confirmation of Jesus' identity.

This suggests a level of doubt or the need for reassurance, which is a human trait.

Theologically, this also reflects the mystery of Jesus' mission, which wasn't only about judgement but also embodied service, healing, and spiritual redemption. Different denominations interpret this questioning by John differently.

Some see it as a sign of his perseverance in faith amid adversity, while others view it as an instance of human doubt that emphasizes the importance of faith reassurance.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Luke 7:18 might involve the recognition that it is normal and sometimes necessary to seek confirmation and reassurance in one's faith.

Just as John the Baptist sought clarity on Jesus' role, modern believers might find themselves questioning their understanding of God's work in their lives or the world.

This verse invites reflection on the nature of faith, the need for reassurance in times of uncertainty, and the importance of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue with spiritual leaders or within a community of believers.

Cross-References

Matthew 11:2-3: "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"
Luke 3:21-22: "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,"
John 1:29-34: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Language Study

The phrase "shewed him of all these things" in Greek is "ἀπήγγειλαν αὐτῷ περὶ πάντων τούτων." The verb "ἀπήγγειλαν" (apēngeilan) is a form of "ἀπαγγέλλω" (apangellō), meaning "to report," "bring word," or "relate." The word "περὶ" (peri) often means "concerning" or "regarding." Lastly, "πάντων τούτων" (pantōn toutōn) is a combination of "all" and "these," indicating a comprehensive report.

The language reflects the thoroughness with which John's disciples informed him about the events surrounding Jesus' ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions and cultures, followers brought reports of significant events to their leaders.

Similarities might be drawn with the way messengers in ancient times, such as in Egyptian, Greek, or Roman cultures, brought news of military victories or important occurrences to their pharaohs, generals, or emperors.

In terms of religious interpretations, the inquiry of John the Baptist can be compared to the inquiries made by followers in other faiths who seek validation of prophecies or reassurance of their beliefs from religious leaders or omens.

Scientific Perspectives

There is no direct scientific intersection with this verse since it pertains to religious belief and communication between individuals regarding spiritual matters.

However, one could consider the human psychological aspect of faith and doubt, an area often explored in the fields of psychology and cognitive science.

Research into why humans seek reassurance for their beliefs, including the role of confirmation bias and the psychological effects of imprisonment (as John was imprisoned), might be relevant when examining this verse from a scientific perspective.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various insights into Luke 7:18.

Some focus on the role of John as the forerunner to Jesus and how his question may indicate his desire to clarify his own prophetic message about the coming Messiah.

Others speculate on John's possible doubts, suggesting that even a prophet like John sought confirmation of faith.

Still others discuss the nature of Jesus' messianic mission and the way it diverged from contemporary expectations of a political savior.

Commentators generally agree that this verse sets up a critical moment of understanding between John the Baptist and Jesus, and reflects a turning point in the recognition of Jesus' role and identity as perceived in early Christian theology.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:18 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 7:18 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?