Lucas 7

¹ NowChrist admonishes the Jews that for their obstinacy and rebellion he will go to the Gentiles, by setting before them the example of the centurion.when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

² And a certaine Ceturions seruant was sicke and readie to die, which was deare vnto him.

³ And when he heard of Iesus, hee sent vnto him the Elders of the Iewes, beseeching him that he would come, and heale his seruant.

⁴ So they came to Iesus, and besought him instantly, saying that hee was worthy that hee should doe this for him:

⁵ For he loueth, said they, our nation, and he hath built vs a Synagogue.

⁶ Then Iesus went with them: but when he was now not farre from the house, the Centurion sent friendes to him, saying vnto him, Lorde, trouble not thy selfe: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe:

⁷ Wherefore I thought not my selfe worthy to come vnto thee: but say the word, and my seruant shalbe whole:

⁸ For I likewise am a man set vnder authoritie, and haue vnder mee souldiers, and I say vnto one, Goe, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and hee commeth: and to my seruant, Doe this, and he doeth it.

⁹ When Iesus heard these things, he marueiled at him, and turned him, and said to the people, that followed him, I say vnto you, I haue not found so great faith, no not in Israel.

¹⁰ And when they that were sent, turned backe to the house, they founde the seruant that was sicke, whole.

¹¹ Christ openly affirms his power over death.And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city calledNain is the name of a town in Galilee which was situated on the other side of the Kishon, which runs into the sea of Galilee.Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

¹² Nowe when hee came neere to the gate of the citie, behold, there was a dead man caried out, who was the onely begotten sonne of his mother, which was a widowe, and much people of the citie was with her.

¹³ And when the Lord sawe her, he had compassion on her, and said vnto her, Weepe not.

¹⁴ And he went and touched the coffin (and they that bare him, stoode still) and he said, Yong man, I say vnto thee, Arise.

¹⁵ And he that was dead, sate vp, and began to speake, and he deliuered him to his mother.

¹⁶ Then there came a feare on them all, and they glorified God, saying, A great Prophet is risen among vs, and God hath visited his people.

¹⁷ And this rumour of him went foorth throughout all Iudea, and throughout all the region round about.

¹⁸ John sends from the prison his unbelieving disciples to be confirmed by Christ himself.And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

¹⁹ So Iohn called vnto him two certaine men of his disciples, and sent them to Iesus, saying, Art thou hee that should come, or shall we waite for another?

²⁰ And when the men were come vnto him, they said, Iohn Baptist hath sent vs vnto thee, saying, Art thou hee that should come, or shall we waite for another?

²¹ AndWhen John's disciples came to Christ.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.

²² And Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Goe your wayes and shewe Iohn, what things ye haue seene and heard: that the blinde see, the halt goe, the lepers are cleansed, the deafe heare, the dead are raised, and the poore receiue the Gospel.

²³ And blessed is hee, that shall not be offended in me.

²⁴ That which the prophets showed long before, John shows presently: and Christ himself presents it daily unto us in the gospel, but for the most part in vain, because many seek nothing else than foolish toys and vain glory.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?

²⁵ But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and liue delicately, are in Kings courtes.

²⁶ But what went ye foorth to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say to you, and greater then a Prophet.

²⁷ This is he of whom it is written, Beholde, I sende my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

²⁸ For I say vnto you, there is no greater Prophet then Iohn, among them that are begotten of women: neuerthelesse, hee that is the least in the kingdome of God, is greater then he.

²⁹ And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans,Said that he was just, good, faithful and merciful.justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of GodTo their own hurt.against themselves, being not baptized of him.

³¹ Whatever manner God uses in offering us the gospel, most men bring offences upon themselves: yet nevertheless a Church is gathered together.And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

³² They are like vnto litle children sitting in the market place, and crying one to another, and saying, We haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not daunced: we haue mourned to you, and ye haue not wept.

³³ For Iohn Baptist came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine: and ye say, He hath the deuil.

³⁴ The Sonne of man is come, and eateth and drinketh: and ye say, Beholde, a man which is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, a friend of Publicanes and sinners:

³⁵ But wisdome is iustified of all her children.

³⁶ Proud men deprive themselves of the benefits of the presence of Christ, even when he is at home with them in their houses; and these benefits the humble and base enjoy.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.

³⁷ And beholde, a woman in the citie, which was a sinner, when she knewe that Iesus sate at table in the Pharises house, shee brought a boxe of oyntment.

³⁸ And shee stoode at his feete behinde him weeping, and began to wash his feete with teares, and did wipe them with the heares of her head, and kissed his feete, and anoynted them with the oyntment.

³⁹ Rashness is the companion of pride.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:The Pharisee respects the law, which holds that those who touch the defiled are defiled.for she is a sinner.

⁴⁰ To love Christ is a sure and perpetual witness of the remission of sins.And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

⁴¹ There was a certaine lender which had two detters: the one ought fiue hundreth pence, and the other fiftie:

⁴² When they had nothing to pay, he forgaue them both: Which of them therefore, tell mee, will loue him most?

⁴³ Simon answered, and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgaue most; he said vnto him, Thou hast truely iudged.

⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman, and said vnto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entred into thine house, and thou gauest mee no water to my feete: but she hath washed my feete with teares, and wiped them with the heares of her head.

⁴⁵ Thou gauest me no kisse: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kisse my feete.

⁴⁶ Mine head with oyle thou didest not anoint: but she hath anoynted my feete with oyntment.

⁴⁷ Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;That is, says Theophylact, she has shown her faith abundantly: and Basil in his «Sermon of Baptism» says, «He that owes much has much forgiven him, that he may love much more». And therefore Christ's saying is so plain in light of this that it is a wonder to see the enemies of the truth so badly distort and misinterpret this place in such a thorough manner in order to establish their meritorious works: for the greater sum a man has forgiven him, the more he loves him that has been so gracious to him. And this woman shows by deeds of love how great the benefit was she had received: and therefore the charity that is here spoken of is not to be taken as the cause of her forgiveness, but as a sign of it: for Christ does not say as the Pharisees did that she was a sinner, but bears her witness that the sins of her past life are forgiven her.for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.

⁴⁸ And he saide vnto her, Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee.

⁴⁹ And they that sate at table with him, began to say within themselues, Who is this that euen forgiueth sinnes?

⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee;He confirms with a blessing the benefit which he had bestowed.go in peace.