CHRONOLOGY. The healing of the centurion's servant at Capernaum followed the discourse recorded in the last chapter, no event of which we have any account intervening. (See on Matthew 8:1 ff.) The raising of the widow's son at Nain, narrated by Luke only, occurred shortly after (see Luke 7:11), also... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:1-10. THE HEALING OP THE CENTURION'S SERVANT. See on Matthew 8:5-13. Luke's account is fuller and more accurate as regards the messengers of the centurion, but Matthew gives at length the language of our Lord occasioned by the centurion's faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:2. WHO WAS HIGHLY VALUED BY HIM as his only and faithful servant. It is further suggested that he was ‘held in honor,' the object of his master's attachment, as was frequently the case in these days, between master and slave. The sickness was ‘palsy' (Matthew).... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:3. HEARD CONCERNING JESUS, as he naturally would in Capernaum. ELDERS OF THE JEWS. Not elders of the synagogue, but of the people. Here Luke is more accurate than Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:4. HE IS WORTHY. The correct reading makes this verse a quotation of their language. The intercession of the elders is true to nature: a rich man, a man of authority and position, a man of their party, though not ‘to the manner born,' would enlist their good offices.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:5. HIMSELF BUILT US OUR SYNAGOGUE. This was not uncommon. They did not doubt that this would be a recommendation to our Lord. There had been no indication of the wider purpose of our Lord's mission. A long training was necessary to teach even the Apostles that the Gospel was meant for the Gen... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:6. WENT WITH THEM. There was no delay as in the case of the Syro-Phenician woman, because there was not the same necessity either for bringing out the faith of the person who asked the favor, or for thus giving a lesson to the disciples, to remove prejudice. FRIENDS. ‘A very delicate and th... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:10. FOUND THE SERVANT WHOLE, or, ‘well.' Luke here carries out the detail of his narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:11. SOON AFTERWARDS. The change of a single letter alters the sense ‘the day after' to ‘soon afterwards,' which is probably the correct reading. NAIN, Na'-in. The name occurs nowhere else in Scripture. It was a town of Galilee, southeast of Nazareth, a few miles to the south of Mount Tabor,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:11-17. THE RAISING OF THE WIDOW'S SON AT NAIN. Peculiar to Luke. Of course the silence of the other Evangelists is no argument against the truthfulness of Luke's account. As compared with the other two similar miracles this takes a middle position. Jairus' daughter was just dead _,_ this youn... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:12. THERE WAS CARRIED OUT. Graves were commonly outside the towns. THE ONLY SON OF HIS MOTHER, etc. The circumstances were peculiarly adapted to call forth compassion. He might have learned these circumstances from some of the crowd, MUCH PEOPLE accompanying the widow, but He doubtless knew... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:13. AND WHEN THE LORD SAW HER. The title ‘Lord' is peculiarly fitting here. Luke uses it more frequently than Matthew and Mark. WEEP NOT. The first sign of compassion; and a token of coming help. Doubtless His words awakened faith the same words, though not now followed by such a miracle, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:14. THE BIER. An open coffin was used among the Jews. THE BEARERS STOOD STILL. Stopped, not by miraculous influence, yet probably because of our Lord's manner. That they had heard of Him is of course possible, but not certain. YOUNG MAN, I SAY ONTO THEE, ARISE. A command, as in all the si... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:15. AND THE DEAD MAN SAT UP, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK _. _ The commanding word wrought its proper effect. Not only life, but health and strength had returned. AND HE GAVE HIM TO HIS MOTHER. The compassion (Luke 7:13) completes its work. This act of love fulfils all that was implied in the consoli... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:16. AND FEAR TOOK HOLD ON ALL _._ ‘Fear' was the natural result, but the word is used in the Old Testament sense. Not terror, but not yet the loving faith of the New Testament. Some superstition may have mingled with it, but it was mainly religious, for it is added: THEY GLORIFIED GOD. A gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:17. THIS REPORT CONCERNING HIM. Literally, ‘this saying.' It can scarcely refer to the saying of the last verse, but rather to the whole account of the miracle. IN THE WHOLE OF JUDEA. Probably meaning all Palestine, and not Judea as opposed to Galilee. REGION ROUND ABOUT, _i.e.,_ about Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:18. THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN SHOWED HIM. More definite than Matthew. ALL THESE THINGS. Probably with special reference to the last and greatest miracle at Nain.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRONOLOGY. The order is correct. There is no record of anything which occurred during the interval between the raising of the young man at Nain and the message from John. See on Matthew 8:18; Matthew 9:2, etc. Luke's account in the present section differs very slightly from that of Matthew (Matthew... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:19. TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES. This shows that the imprisonment did not shut him off from intercourse with His followers. TO THE LORD. Eleven times is this title applied to Jesus in this Gospel (see marginal references).... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:21. IN THAT HOUR, etc. This is implied in the answer given by Matthew (Luke 7:4-5). DISEASES AND PLAGUES (Greek, ‘scourges'), AND OF EVIL SPIRITS. Luke, the physician, distinguishes the possessed from the diseased. Luke 7:22-28 are almost word for word the same as Matthew 11:4-11. In Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:29-30. These verses have been regarded as, either a part of our Lord's discourse, or a comment of the Evangelist. Each view has able supporters. The latter seems more natural. But the words: ‘And the Lord said' (Luke 7:31), are to be omitted. The early insertion of the phrase shows that the v... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:31-35. See Matthew 11:16-19. The only variation is in Luke 7:35: ALL HER CHILDREN. In Matthew: ‘by her works.' Here the persons are contrasted. The children of Wisdom are childlike, not childish, like the men of this generation (Luke 7:31-32). Instead of petulant treatment of the different te... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:36. ONE OF THE PHARISEES. ‘Simon' (Luke 7:40). THAT HE WOULD EAT WITH HIM. There is no evidence of an improper motive. With all his scruples, the Pharisee shows no hostility. Pride may indeed have entered. Our Lord, who came ‘eating and drinking' (Luke 7:34), accepted the invitation. SAT... [ Continue Reading ]
A COMPARISON of the various accounts renders it highly probable that the Evangelist is here following the strict chronological order. (Some think the words of Luke 7:34 may have suggested the insertion of the event at this point.) The only intervening event on record seems to have been the discourse... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:37. A WOMAN WHO WAS IN THE CITY, A SINNER, _i.e._, an unchaste person. The words ‘in the city' show that she led this life of sin in the place where the Pharisee lived. What place it was we do not know. Certainly not Jerusalem, but some place in Galilee. Those who identify the woman with Mary... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:38. STANDING BEHIND AT HIS FEET WEEPING, etc. She came to our Lord, as He reclined at table; standing by Him, leaning over His feet, her tears of penitence began to flow, and thus SHE BEGAN TO WET HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS. Her tears dropped on his feet. That she intended to do this is unlikely... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:39. HE SPAKE WITHIN HIMSELF. Our Lord replies (Luke 7:40) to the thought of the Pharisee's heart, as here given. IF HE WERE A PROPHET, etc. Simon seems to have been inclined to regard Him as such. But he reasoned thus: a prophet would _know_ what others must learn; this man cannot be a proph... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:40. ANSWERING, the thought of the Pharisee, not some outward manifestations of displeasure, though such may have been displayed. I HAVE SOMEWHAT TO SAY UNTO THEE. Direct personal address, implying a knowledge of Simon's heart. MASTER, or, ‘Teacher,' SAY ON. The tone is respectful, as if t... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:41. A CERTAIN MONEY LENDER HAD TWO DEBTORS _. _ The former represents our Lord, the two debtors the woman and Simon respectively. But in the parable the lender is in the background, the emphasis rests upon the comparison between the respective amounts: THE ONE OWED FIVE HUNDRED PENCE (_denari... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:42. AND WHEN THEY HAD NOT WHEREWITH TO PAY. They found out and confessed that they could not pay the debt. It is true that sinners have ‘nothing,' but the verse brings out rather the discovery than the fact itself. Grateful love does not pay any part of the debt, according to the parable. H... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:43. I SUPPOSE. We are to understand, ‘that is, if they feel as they ought.' TO WHOM HE FORGAVE THE MOST. From this correct answer a false conclusion has often been drawn, oftener in thought and deed than in word. Men sometimes find in it an encouragement to sin, on the theory that the great... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:44. SEEST THOU THIS WOMAN? He thus brings face to face the two persons whose cases He had set forth in the parable. Possibly Simon had hitherto avoided looking at her, or in any case had looked down upon her; now according to his own verdict he must look up to her. THINE HOUSE. The emphasis... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:45. NO KISS, of welcome, on the face, came from the host; but the unbidden woman coming in with the Guest (SINCE THE TIME I CAME IN) at once kissed His feet, and continued to do so.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:46. MINE HEAD WITH OIL.... MY FEET WITH OINTMENT. The host failed to supply oil for the head, the woman not only gave the more precious ointment, but herself applied it to His feet.... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:47. WHEREFORE I SAY TO THEE. Because of these exhibitions of love, in recognition of them, I say to thee. Our Lord gives the reason for His _saying_ that she is forgiven, not for the forgiveness itself. The latter sense is ungrammatical, as well as out of keeping with the parable. HER SINS,... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:48. THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN. This does not forbid the view that a previous sense of pardon moved the woman to acts of love. It is rather a new assurance, a more formal personal declaration. Christians have a sense of pardon awakening gratitude, but ever need more assurance of it, ever hope for... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 7:49. WHO IS THIS THAT EVEN FORGIVETH SINS? Comp. chap. Luke 5:21 and the parallel passages. Such a question was natural, and does not necessarily imply decided hostility. THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE. Not love. Love is to convince others, faith lays hold of grace, and thus love is begotten. It w... [ Continue Reading ]