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 7:4 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:4 details a moment when a group of Jewish elders approaches Jesus on behalf of a Roman centurion whose servant is gravely ill. In the verse, they earnestly petition Jesus, arguing that the centurion deserves Jesus's attention and miraculous intervention because of his goodness.

The verse reveals the elders' view of the centurion as a man of character and highlights a theme of intercessory action, individuals requesting assistance on someone else's behalf.

Interestingly, they appeal to Jesus's sense of worthiness, implying a merit-based consideration for Jesus's healing power.

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Historical Context

The historical context of Luke 7:4 is in ancient Palestine during the time of the Roman Empire.

Jews were under the governance of Rome, with strained relations due to Roman occupation.

The presence of Roman military figures, like the mentioned centurion, was a common reality.

Centurions were non-commissioned officers in the Roman army, commanding roughly a hundred soldiers.

They were often respected figures of authority within the local communities.

The Jewish elders advocating on behalf of a Roman officer indicates an unusual level of respect, likely influenced by the centurion's kindness and support for the Jewish people, such as his building of a synagogue for them.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this incident showcases several key concepts:

Intercession: The Jewish elders intercede for the centurion, which aligns with the Christian practice of interceding through prayer on others' behalf.
Faith and Grace: The emphasis on "worthiness" contrasts with the common Christian teaching that God's grace is not merited by human standards.

Often the gospels demonstrate that faith, rather than worthiness, is the key to receiving grace. 3. Gentile inclusion: The centurion, as a Gentile, is a foretaste of the spread of the Gospel beyond the Jews to all nations.

Practical Applications

The verse suggests several practical applications for modern readers:

Advocacy: Like the Jewish elders, individuals can act on behalf of those in need by advocating for them, whether it's for healthcare, justice, or other forms of assistance.
Merit and Grace: Reflecting on personal motivations when providing help to others, recognizing that acts of kindness should be based on compassion rather than a transactional sense of worthiness.
Cross-Cultural Relations: Encouragement to build positive relationships across cultural and social divides.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:8: "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."
1 Timothy 2:1: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;"

Language Study

The key phrases in Greek from Luke 7:4 would be "ἄξιός ἐστιν" (axios estin), which means "he is worthy" or "deserves." The term "άξιός" (axios) often corresponds to having value or merit, carrying the implication that the centurion's actions have earned him some favor or recognition.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of appealing to a deity or divine figure on behalf of another is not unique to Christianity; it is seen in various religious traditions.

Intercessory figures are common in many ancient mythologies, where priests, prophets, or intermediaries would plead with the gods for favor, healing, or intervention on behalf of the people.

Scientific Perspectives

While modern scientific understanding does not validate the occurrence of miracles as described in the Bible, there is a robust field of study in the science of human behavior which looks at the impact of human advocacy and intercessory behavior.

Positive psychological effects of feeling supported by one's community, such as reduced stress levels and improved health outcomes, are well documented.

Commentaries

Commentaries offer varied insights into Luke 7:4:

Historical insights: Some commentaries emphasize the historical and social dynamics at play, pointing out the unusual alliance between Jewish leaders and a Roman centurion.
Literary analysis: Others focus on the literary structure of the Gospel of Luke, noting that this event is part of a larger narrative demonstrating Jesus’s authority and inclusivity.
Theological reflection: Many theological commentaries deliberate on the concept of worthiness, contrasting the Jewish leaders' perspective with Jesus's teachings on faith and grace.
Ethical considerations: Ethical commentaries might explore the moral implications of advocating for others and what it means to be considered "worthy" of aid.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:4 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 7:4 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?