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 7:19 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:19 highlights an event in the New Testament where John the Baptist, who was imprisoned at the time, sends two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him if he is the Messiah ("he that should come") or if they should expect another.

This expression of doubt from John, who previously announced Jesus as the Lamb of God, indicates a pivotal moment in the narrative where the identity and mission of Jesus are put into question.

The deeper meaning here may involve understanding human doubt and faith, even among prophets like John the Baptist, and highlights Jesus's role as the awaited savior in Christian belief.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The historical context of Luke 7:19 is set during the period of John the Baptist's imprisonment by Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, due to John's condemnation of Herod's marriage to Herodias (who was his brother's wife).

Early Christian communities, for whom the Gospel was written, would have recognized John the Baptist as a key prophetic figure whose ministry prepared the way for Jesus.

The inquiry by John's disciples in the verse reflects the expectations of a Jewish Messiah who would deliver Israel politically and spiritually.

Theological Insights

From a theological viewpoint, this verse plays a significant role.

It brings out the concept of Messianic expectation in Judaism and how Jesus was viewed in light of these expectations.

It also touches upon the human aspect of doubt – even John the Baptist, who prophesied about Jesus, sought confirmation of Jesus' identity.

Some theologians interpret this as John seeking reassurance for his followers rather than himself.

Furthermore, Jesus' response in the subsequent verses, where he points to the deeds being performed, is seen as a fulfillment of Messianic prophecies from Isaiah, validating his mission.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Luke 7:19 can inspire individuals to seek truth and reassurance in moments of doubt.

It teaches that even figures of great faith have moments where they seek confirmation and that seeking such affirmation is a part of spiritual life.

For believers, it could also serve as an invitation to evaluate the evidence of faith in their own lives, mirroring the way Jesus replied to John's disciples with evidence of his works rather than a straightforward proclamation.

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?"
Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."

Isaiah 61:1: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;"

Language Study

The key phrase in Luke 7:19 is "he that should come" (ὁ ἐρχόμενος in Greek), which is a Messianic title rooted in Jewish eschatological expectations.

The phrase "look we for another" (ἄλλον προσδοκῶμεν) conveys a sense of expectancy for one who would fulfill the divine promises.

This language reinforces the anticipation of a messianic figure who would usher in a new era, resonating with Old Testament prophecy and Jewish beliefs about the deliverance and restoration of Israel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Culturally and religiously, the expectation of a messianic figure is not unique to Judaism.

Various cultures have myths of saviors or heroes who come to restore order or deliver people.

For example, in Zoroastrianism, there is an expectation of a Saoshyant, a world savior.

In some interpretations of Buddhism, there's the figure of Maitreya, a future Buddha who will appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure Dharma.

The question of Jesus' identity in this verse intersects with universal themes of waiting for a deliverer or a savior.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives do not directly apply to this verse, as it deals with matters of faith and religious expectation rather than empirical evidence.

However, modern psychology can provide insight into the human condition reflected in John's question, questioning, doubting, and seeking reassurance are all well-documented aspects of human cognition and behavior.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered various interpretations of Luke 7:19:

Some commentaries suggest John the Baptist's question was meant to clarify to his own disciples the nature of Jesus' mission, as John's apocalyptic expectations might not have matched the works Jesus was performing.
Other scholars propose that this verse demonstrates John's human side, as he grapples with doubt while facing his own demise.
Still, other perspectives highlight the significance of Jesus' response in the subsequent verses, emphasizing that Jesus' messiahship is demonstrated through his deeds, specifically, the healing miracles and preaching to the poor.
Many agree that this passage serves as a turning point in the Gospel narrative, showcasing the movement from John's preparatory ministry to Jesus' fulfillment of messianic prophecies.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:19 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 7:19 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?