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 7:22 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:22 is a response Jesus gives to the disciples of John the Baptist.

John, who was in prison at the time, sent his disciples to Jesus to inquire if He was the one who was to come, or if they should expect another (as per Luke 7:19-20).

Jesus' answer was not a direct yes or no. Instead, He pointed to the evidence of His works.

The verse encapsulates the Messianic activities Jesus performed, miracles and preaching good news to the poor, which were foretold by prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures as signs of the Messiah's arrival.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke is thought to have been written by Luke the Evangelist, who was a companion of the Apostle Paul. It dates back to around AD 80-110.

It was a time when early Christians were wrestling with understanding the identity and mission of Jesus.

The context of this verse is important; John the Baptist, a key prophetic figure who heralded Jesus' coming, is imprisoned and perhaps doubting or seeking confirmation of Jesus' messiahship.

Jesus' ministry was characterized by acts of compassion and power, fulfilling prophecies and assuring those who awaited the Messiah that the age of salvation had begun.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Luke 7:22 is rich with insights about who Jesus is and what constitutes His mission:

It suggests Jesus' fulfillment of Messianic prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 35:5-6; 61:1).
It underscores the nature of the Messianic age as one of healing, restoration, and good news.
It points to Jesus' focus on not just spiritual transformation but also physical healing and social justice.
Some theologians see this verse as an affirmation of Jesus' authority and as evidence of His divinity.

Different Christian traditions might emphasize various aspects of this verse. For example, liberation theologians might focus on the socio-political implications of the gospel preached to the poor.

Practical Applications

In today's context, Luke 7:22 suggests several practical applications:

Followers of Jesus might see it as a mandate to engage in works of mercy, healing, and compassion.
It encourages believers to bear witness to their faith through actions that reflect Jesus' ministry.
It serves as a reminder to reach out to marginalized groups with both spiritual and physical aid.
It reinforces the importance of faith accompanied by demonstrable works that benefit and uplift others.

Cross-References

Isaiah 35:5-6: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped."
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..."
Matthew 11:4-5: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see..."
James 2:17-18: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

Language Study

The original language of the Gospel of Luke is Koine Greek. Key terms from Luke 7:22 would include:

"the blind see" (τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν): The Greek verb anablepousin refers to receiving sight.
"the lame walk" (χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν): The term peripatousin implies not just walking but also the freedom of movement.
"lepers are cleansed" (λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται): Katharizontai suggests purification or restoration.
"the deaf hear" (κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν): The Greek akouousin refers to gaining the ability to hear.
"the dead are raised" (νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται): Egeirontai means to be revived or raised up.
"the poor the gospel is preached" (πτωχοὺς εὐαγγελίζεται): The verb euangelizetai means to announce good news.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, miracles and acts of healing were not unique to Christianity and can be found in other ancient religions and myths.

However, the degree to which Jesus' miracles are tied to his message and identity as the Messianic figure sets them apart in Christian tradition.

Many ancient myths involve deities or heroes performing wonders, but the purpose of Jesus' miracles, affirming His messianic role and His concern for the marginalized, is distinct in the history of religion.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not typically affirm miraculous events, as they defy natural laws.

Hence, the healings and resurrections described in Luke 7:22 are often interpreted metaphorically by some people.

However, for many believers, these miracles are accepted as historical truths that confirm divine intervention.

Additionally, the psychological and sociological effects of faith and its role in healing and community-building are well-documented in scientific literature.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Luke 7:22 offer a variety of perspectives:

John Calvin speaks of Jesus showing "by facts, that what the prophets had foretold concerning the Messiah was fully accomplished in his own person."
William Barclay notes that Jesus' answer to John's disciples was to give them evidence of the transformational work He was doing.
The Pulpit Commentary emphasizes that the message Jesus sends back to John is a direct reference to the fulfillment of specific Messianic prophecies.
Matthew Henry reflects on the spiritual implications of these miraculous signs as demonstrations of Christ's divine authority and power over both physical and spiritual ailments.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:22 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 7:22 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?