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 7:20 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:20 presents a pivotal moment that brings a critical question to Jesus Christ from His forerunner, John the Baptist.

The verse narrates that emissaries from John approached Jesus to ask Him directly if He is the "one who is to come" or if they should expect another person.

This question highlights the expectation of a Messiah, a deliverer whom the Jewish people were anticipating according to their scriptures.

John, being in prison at the time, sends his disciples to ask Jesus to confirm whether He is the prophesized one or if their wait for a savior must continue.

The phrase "Art thou he that should come?" references the expectation of the Messiah, while "or look we for another?" reflects John's and the people's uncertainty, possibly stemming from John's imprisonment and the nature of Jesus' ministry, which may have seemed at odds with their expectations of a political liberator.

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Historical Context

At the time this verse was written, Israel was under Roman occupation, and there was a heightened expectation among the Jewish people for a promised Messiah, a powerful, Davidic figure who would liberate them politically and spiritually.

John the Baptist emerged as a prophetic voice in the wilderness, calling for repentance in preparation for the coming kingdom of God.

Arrested by Herod Antipas for denouncing Herod's marriage to Herodias, John's inquiry in Luke 7:20 can be interpreted as one arising from a place of doubt or reaffirmation of Jesus' messianic role during a time of personal hardship.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is significant for several reasons.

First, it underscores human doubt and the quest for confirmation, even among prophets like John the Baptist.

Second, for those who hold to a Christological view that Jesus is the Messiah, the verse sets the stage for Jesus to showcase His messiahship through His subsequent actions and teachings.

Differing theological opinions may interpret this verse as highlighting the diverging expectations of the Messiah, with some expecting a militant leader and others a spiritual savior.

Practical Applications

The question posed by John's disciples to Jesus can serve as a model for individuals dealing with doubt or uncertainty. It encourages believers to actively seek answers and reassurance in their faith, rather than passively waiting or falling into despair.

Additionally, this verse can remind believers to assess their expectations and perceptions of what a spiritual leader or God's plan should look like, being open to outcomes that may differ from their initial expectations.

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 35:4-6: "Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you."
Malachi 3:1: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."

Language Study

Key words in this verse include:

"Art thou he that should come" (Greek: ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ho erchomenos): This term is often a messianic title derived from various Old Testament prophecies.

It implies someone who is expected or promised.

"Look we for another" (Greek: ἄλλον προσδοκῶμεν, allon prosdokōmen): The Greek verb "prosdokao" suggests actively waiting with anticipation or expectation for someone or something.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient religions and cultures, there were expectations of a coming figure or a deliverer.

These ranged from mythological heroes to prophesied redeemers.

The Jewish expectation of the Messiah was distinct in that it was connected to specific prophecies in their sacred texts.

Comparatively, other cultures might have had more cyclical or less historical-specific expectations.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse does not directly engage with natural sciences but rather with human psychology, particularly regarding belief, expectation, and confirmation bias.

People often seek evidence to confirm their pre-existing beliefs and may experience cognitive dissonance when presented with information contrary to their expectations, as possibly experienced by John the Baptist.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentaries offer insights on Luke 7:20:

Some suggest that John's question was not due to his personal doubt but for the benefit of his disciples, who needed to see Jesus as the Messiah.
Others propose that the inquiry reflects a real tension John faced, reconciling Jesus' non-violent approach with the expected messianic traits of judgment and liberation.
Commentators often note Jesus' response (following verses), where he cites evidence of his works rather than a direct affirmation of his identity, which reflects a common theme in the Gospels of Jesus' messiahship being revealed through his actions and teachings.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:20 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 7:20 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?