1Christ admireth the centurion's singular faith, and healeth his absent servant: 11he raiseth to life the widow's son at Nain: 18and sendeth back the messengers of John with an account of the miracles they had seen wrought by him: 24his testimony of John: 31he reproveth the perverseness of the people, who were not to be won either by the manners of John or himself: 36he alloweth his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who had been a sinner; and in a parable sheweth that even the worst of sinners may be forgiven upon the terms of a sincere repentance.
1NOW when he had 1ended all his sayings 2in the audience of the people, he entereda into Capernaum.
1 Gr. fulfilled.
2 Gr. in the hearing.
a Mat. 8:5.
2And a certain centurion's servant, who was 3dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 Gr. precious, namely, by reason of his faithful services.
3And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the 4elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and 5heal his servant.
4 These elders were men of best repute among the people, who at that time were employed to rule in every city the political government or the church. See Mat. 26:3.
5 Gr. save, namely, alive.
4And when they came to Jesus, they besought him 6instantly, saying, That he was worthy for 7whom he should do this:
6 Gr. diligently, carefully.
7 Or, to whom Thou shalt do that. Otherwise, for whom that should be done.
5For he loveth 8our nation, and he hath built us a 9synagogue.
8 Namely, the Jews; from which it appears that he was one of the Gentiles, as also from verse 9.
9 Of the synagogues, see Mat. 4:23.
6Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, 10saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
10 That is, caused to be said by these his friends. This can also be understood from that which is said by Mat. 8:6, etc. that he himself did, that which he caused to be done by his friends.
7Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but 11say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
11 That is, bid or command with one word only, that my servant be healed. See Mat. 8:8.
8For I also am a man set 12under 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.
12 What he means hereby, see the annotation at Mat. 8 on verse 9.
9When 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 13in Israel.
13 That is, amongst the Israelites.
10And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
11¶And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called 14Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
14 This was a city in Galilee, situated at the foot of Mount Hermon, at the brook Kison, which runs into the Sea of Galilee.
12Now when he came nigh to the 15gate 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.
15 In former times, both among the Jews and among other nations, the dead were buried outside the cities, as Christ was also buried in a garden outside the city, John 19:41, and as it is done yet in some places. See also Gen. 23:19; 50:13.
13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, 16Weep not.
16 Therewith Christ would not forbid all kinds of weeping for the dead, 1 Thes. 4:13, but give to understand that He wanted to take away the cause of their weeping.
14And he came and touched 17the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.b
17 Or, coffin.
b Acts 9:40.
15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16And there came a fear on all: and they 18glorified God, saying, That ac great prophet is risen up among us; and, That Godd hath 19visited his people.
18 That is, praised, thanked.
c Luke 24:19; John 4:19; 6:14; 9:17.
d Luke 1:68.
19 Namely, for good, to redeem them, Exod. 4:31.
17And this 20rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
20 Gr. this word.
18Ande the disciples of John shewed 21him of all these things.
e Mat. 11:2.
21 Gr. And his disciples made report to John.
19¶And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he 22that should come? or look we for another?
22 That is, the Messiah. See the cause of this question at Mat. 11 on verse 3.
20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, 23saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
23 That is, to cause to be said and to ask.
21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and 24plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he 25gave sight.
24 Gr. scourges. See Mark 3:10.
25 Gr. He gave graciously to see.
22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how thatf the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
f Isa. 29:18; 35:5; 61:1.
23And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended 26in me.
26 Or, at Me. See Mat. 11:6.
24¶Andg when 27the 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?
g Mat. 11:7.
27 Or, the sent. Of this whole testimony of Christ concerning John the Baptist see the annotations at Mat. 11 on verse 7, and the following.
25But 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.
26But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
27This is he, of whom it is written, Behold,h I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
h Mal. 3:1; Mark 1:2.
28For 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 28least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
28 Gr. the lesser.
29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, 29justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
29 That is, acknowledged and praised His righteousness, goodness, faithfulness and truth, as verse 35.
30But the Pharisees and lawyers 30rejected 31the counsel of God 32against themselves, being not baptized of him.
30 Or, disannul. Or, made of no force, namely, by their willful despising of the means which God has ordained for the salvation of men.
31 That is, the means which God, according to His wise counsel, has ordained in the new covenant, whereby to bring mankind to salvation. See Prov. 1:25, 30; Acts 20:27; Heb. 12:25. Otherwise the counsel, that is, the decree of God, concerning the salvation of His elect, abides always firm, Mat. 24:24; Rom. 8:28, 29; Heb. 6:13, etc.
32 That is, to their own hurt and destruction.
31¶Andi the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
i Mat. 11:16.
32They are 33like 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.
33 The exposition of this parable, see in the annotation at Mat. 11 on verse 16.
33Forj John the Baptist came 34neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
j Mat. 3:4; Mark 1:6.
34 That is, using no ordinary meat and drink, as other men. For, he did eat locusts and wild honey. Mat. 3:4.
34The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a 35gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 Gr. an eater and wine drinker.
35But wisdom is 36justified of all her children.
36 See Mat. 11:19.
36¶Andk 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.
k Mat. 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 11:2; 12:3.
37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was 37a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought 38an alabaster box of ointment,
37 That is, a great sinner, of a dishonest life, and known for such in the city.
38 See the same, Mat. 26:7; Mark 14:3.
38And stood at his feet behind him 39weeping, and began to wash his 40feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Namely, being grieved for her sins, as Peter, Luke 22:62.
40 These are tokens of her repentance and love to Christ, springing forth from the sense of her sins and from the remission of the same, as appears in verse 47.
39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, Thisl 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.
l Luke 15:2.
40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41There was 41a certain 42creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five 43hundred pence, and the other fifty.
41 The purpose of Christ’s intention in this similitude, He shows Himself when He applies it to this woman, verse 47.
42 Or, lender, banker.
43 Gr. denarii. See the value thereof Mat. 18 on verse 28.
42And when they had nothing to pay, he franklym forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
m freely
43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no 44water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
44 With these three expressions of friendship, the ancients received in those countries their unknown guests and friends, as is to be seen in Gen. 18:4, 19:2; Exod. 4:27, 18:7; Psalm 23:5; Prov. 9:8; Rom. 16:16, and elsewhere.
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman 45since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
45 Otherwise, since she came in.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; 46for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
46 Hereby is not shown that this her great love was the cause of the forgiveness of her sins, but that it was a fruit, evidence and token, that her many sins were forgiven; and that therefore she was now no more to be reckoned for such a sinner; as appears from the words which follow, and the whole intention of this similitude. From which may clearly be seen that the forgiveness of sins is put for the cause of the love, and not the love for the cause of remission of sins; as it is also said in the 50th verse that faith and not love saved her.
48And he said unto her, Thyn sins are forgiven.
n Mat. 9:2.
49And they that sat at meat with him began to say 47within themselves, Whoo is this that forgiveth sins also?
47 Or, among one another.
o Mat. 9:3.
50And he said to the woman, Thy 48faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
48 That is, by thy faith in Me, thou hast received this benefit of the forgiveness of thy sins, whereby thou art preserved unto salvation. See Acts 26:18.