Chapter 7

1After Jesus had finished saying all this within the people’s hearing, he entered Capernaum.

2A Roman army officer there had a slave whom he valued highly. The man was very sick and close to death.

3When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish community leaders to ask Jesus to come and save his slave.

4They came to Jesus and urged him earnestly, saying, “This man deserves to have you do this for him.

5He loves our people, and he built our synagogue for us.”

6So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, do not trouble yourself. I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. Just give the command, and let my servant be healed.

8I too am a man placed under authority, and I have soldiers under me. I tell one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; I tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I tell my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at the officer. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I tell you, I have not found trust this great even among the people of Israel.”

10When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

11The next day Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him.

12As he approached the town gate, a dead man was being carried out for burial. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A sizable crowd from the town was with her.

13When the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion and said, “Do not cry.”

14Then he stepped forward and touched the burial stretcher, and those carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”

15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16Everyone was overcome with awe, and they praised God. They said, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and, “God has come to help his people!”

17This report about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the whole surrounding region.

18John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples

19and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the promised one who is coming, or should we expect someone else?”

20The men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptizer sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the promised one who is coming, or should we expect someone else?’”

21At that very time, Jesus healed many people of diseases, painful illnesses, and evil spirits. He also gave sight to many who were blind.

22Jesus answered John’s messengers, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: blind people can see, people who could not walk are walking, those with serious skin diseases are healed and restored, deaf people can hear, the dead are raised, and poor people are hearing good news.

23How fortunate is anyone who does not let what I do become a reason to reject me.”

24After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25Then what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft, fine clothes? People who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are found in royal palaces.

26So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you—and much more than a prophet.

27John is the one written about in these words: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way before you.’

28I tell you, no one ever born is greater than John. Yet even the least important person under God’s rule is greater than he is.”

29All the people who heard this, including tax collectors, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had accepted John’s baptism.

30But the Pharisees, members of a strict religious group, and the experts in religious law rejected God’s purpose for them by refusing to be baptized by John.

31Jesus continued, “What can I compare the people of this generation to? What are they like?

32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a funeral song, but you did not cry.’

33John the Baptizer came without eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

34Then the Son of Man—that is, I—came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine. He is a friend of tax collectors and other sinners.’

35Yet wisdom is proved right by all her children—those who live by it.”

36One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. Jesus entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37A woman in that town was known for her sinful life. When she learned that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

38Crying, she stood behind Jesus at his feet. She began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She kept kissing his feet and pouring perfume on them.

39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he thought, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner.”

40Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Simon replied, “Teacher, go ahead.”

41Jesus said, “Two people owed money to a lender. One owed five hundred denarii, roughly five hundred days’ pay for a laborer, and the other owed fifty.

42Neither could repay the debt, so the lender freely canceled both debts. Which of them, then, will love him more?”

43Simon answered, “I suppose it will be the one whose larger debt he canceled.” Jesus told him, “You have judged correctly.”

44Then Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, and you gave me no water for my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45You did not greet me with a kiss, but from the time I entered, she has not stopped kissing my feet.

46You did not put oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet.

47So I tell you: her many sins have been forgiven, as her great love shows. But whoever is forgiven little loves little.”

48Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49The other guests began saying among themselves, “Who is this man, who even forgives sins?”

50But Jesus said to the woman, “Your trust has saved you. Go in peace.”