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 7:21 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 7:21 is a testament to the miraculous healing power exhibited by Jesus Christ during His ministry. The passage describes a particular moment when Jesus performed numerous healings in a very short period.

The verse captures the essence of the miraculous nature of these events as Jesus heals a variety of conditions such as infirmities, plagues, and drives out evil spirits.

Moreover, he restores sight to many who were blind.

The verse portrays not only the authority of Jesus over physical and spiritual afflictions but also His compassion and willingness to restore those who are suffering.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 7:21 is set in the context of Jesus' early Galilean ministry, which is characterized by teaching, preaching, and performing miracles.

Luke's Gospel is the third book of the New Testament and was written by Luke, the physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, around 60-61 AD.

The Gospel was likely written to Theophilus, a Greek-speaking audience, to provide a well-ordered account of Jesus' life and ministry.

In the cultural context of the time, diseases and disabilities were often associated with sin, and individuals afflicted were marginalized within the society.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Luke 7:21 offers several insights.

It highlights the divine power and messianic role of Jesus, as miracles were seen as signs of the arrival of God's Kingdom.

Jesus’ ability to heal reflects Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah who would have the power to give sight to the blind and heal the sick ([Isaiah 35:5-6](/old-testament/isaiah/35/5/what-does-isaiah-35-5-mean)).

In a broader theological sense, the verse exemplifies the holistic healing that Jesus brings, addressing both physical ailment and spiritual bondage.

Practical Applications

Practically, Luke 7:21 can be seen as an encouragement for believers to trust in God's power to heal and transform lives.

It also acts as a call for Christians to show compassion to those who are in distress and to help address physical and spiritual needs within their communities.

For individuals facing illnesses or challenging circumstances, the verse is a source of hope and faith in the possibility of divine intervention.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:23: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."
Isaiah 35:5: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."
Mark 1:34: "And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words used in this verse include:

"ἐθεράπευσεν" (etherapeusen), translated as "he cured" or "he healed".

It emphasizes the therapeutic action, focusing on alleviation of the conditions.

"ἀσθενείας" (astheneias), meaning "infirmities" or "weaknesses," denoting various illnesses or physical limitations.
"μάστιγας" (mastigas), traditionally translated as "plagues," which can also mean "scourges." This term often implies severe afflictions.
"πνεύματα πονηρά" (pneumata ponēra) referring to "evil spirits," which suggests spiritual or demonic influences rather than purely physical issues.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of ancient religious texts and myths, miraculous healings are not unique to Christianity.

Many cultures have stories of gods or demigods performing healings, such as Asclepius in Greek mythology, who was revered as a god of medicine.

However, the healings of Jesus are unique in the sense that they are deeply connected to His personhood and His mission to bring about spiritual redemption alongside physical healing.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific perspective, the healings described in Luke 7:21 are miraculous and do not have a natural explanation.

Many people interpret these miracles metaphorically, seeing them as a way to express the transformative power of Jesus' teachings.

However, within the Christian worldview, these miracles are taken as manifestations of divine power and are accepted as historical events that transcend natural law.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians offer differing interpretations and emphases regarding Luke 7:21.

Some focus on the compassion of Jesus, others on the authority He demonstrates over both physical and spiritual realms.

Commentators may also highlight the Messianic fulfillment aspect, as Jesus' healings confirm His identity as the promised Messiah. Generally, most agree that this verse showcases Jesus' power to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth, providing a foretaste of the ultimate restoration to come.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:21 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 7:21 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?