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 7:47 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:47 is a statement from Jesus that encapsulates a profound truth about forgiveness and love.

In context, Jesus is speaking to Simon the Pharisee, who had questioned the character of a woman who was anointing Jesus' feet with ointment and tears because of her sinful reputation.

Jesus tells a parable of two debtors to illustrate that those who are forgiven much love much because they understand the depth of grace they have received.

Conversely, those who believe they are forgiven little may not exhibit as much love, perhaps because they don't realize how much they needed forgiveness in the first place or because they don't grasp the vastness of God’s mercy.

Therefore, the verse emphasizes a direct correlation between the experience of forgiveness and the expression of love.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Luke is believed to be written by Luke the physician, a companion of the Apostle Paul, around AD 60.

The setting is in the house of Simon the Pharisee during the early part of Jesus' ministry.

At that time, the Pharisees represented a strict Jewish sect that prided themselves on following the letter of the law.

Socially and religiously, being a "sinner" as the woman was labeled, put one at the margins of Jewish society.

Luke often highlights Jesus' interactions with those on the fringes as He breaks down social and religious barriers, bringing forgiveness and inclusion.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse offers a glimpse into the nature of God's grace.

It suggests that self-awareness of our own sins can lead to a greater appreciation of forgiveness and, therefore, a deeper love for God.

The Catholic tradition might emphasize the sacrament of reconciliation, stressing the importance of confessing sins to experience God's forgiveness fully.

Protestant interpretations often focus on grace through faith alone and might highlight that forgiveness is not earned by loving more, but rather love is a natural response to the realization of God's grace.

In both views, there is a transformative effect of Jesus’ forgiveness in a person's life.

Practical Applications

This verse can be practically applied in several ways:

It encourages individuals to self-reflect on their own need for forgiveness to foster a more profound love for others and for God.
It can inspire acts of humility, as one acknowledges their sins and the extent of the grace they have received.
It may prompt believers to forgive others, understanding that they, too, have been forgiven for much.
It can help dismantle judgmental attitudes by recognizing everyone's need for grace.

Cross-References

Matthew 18:21-35 - Parable of the unforgiving servant, emphasizing forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:32 - "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
1 John 4:19 - "We love him, because he first loved us."

Language Study

The Greek word for "forgiven" used in this verse is "aphiemi," which means to send away, to let go, or to give up a debt. This gives a sense of a burden being removed.

The word for "loved" is "agapao," which is a deliberate, unconditional love that goes beyond superficial affection. Committing to a deep analysis of these key terms enriches the interpretation of the verse, providing insight into the profound exchange between God's pardon and human response.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Ancient myths often include themes of forgiveness and restitution.

Greek and Roman mythologies include tales of gods showing both mercy and wrath.

In these stories, however, forgiveness from the gods is often conditional or arbitrary, contrasting with the consistent and unconditional forgiveness that Jesus offers.

In other religious texts, such as Hinduism's Bhagavad Gita, while there are notions of mercy and forgiveness, they are communicated in the context of karma, which stands in contrast to the grace presented in the Christian faith.

Scientific Perspectives

While scripture does not delve into scientific discourse, modern psychology corroborates the positive effects of forgiveness outlined in the Bible.

Studies suggest that forgiving can lead to healthier relationships, improved mental health, less anxiety, stress, and hostility, lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression, and a stronger immune system.

Although these insights are from a temporal viewpoint, they affirm the potential benefits of a life rooted in forgiveness, as suggested by the teachings of Jesus.

Commentaries

Biblical commentaries often offer differing interpretations based on denominational perspectives.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the woman's faith and great love displayed in her actions.

The Pulpit Commentary points out the contrasting attitudes of the Pharisee and the woman, suggesting a lesson on understanding the breadth of one's own sinfulness and the depth of God's forgiveness.

Meanwhile, the IVP New Testament Commentary Series highlights the revolutionary aspect of Jesus' message; people who are socially marginalized and deemed sinners can experience profound spiritual transformation.

All agree that this verse confronts the human understanding of righteousness, forgiveness, and love.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:47 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 7:47 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?