What is the main message of this passage about Jesus’ character?

This passage shows Jesus as both powerful and deeply kind. He heals a Gentile officer’s servant with just a word, even though He never enters the house. He stops a funeral and gives a widow back her only son, moved simply by seeing her grief. He answers John’s doubts by pointing to what people can see: the sick healed, the dead raised, good news preached to the poor. He lets a known sinner weep at His feet and tells her that her many sins are forgiven. In all this, He cares for the lowly and responds to real faith.

Why did Jesus praise the centurion’s faith so highly?

The centurion believed that Jesus did not need to come into his house to heal his servant. As a military officer, he knew how authority worked. He said that just as soldiers obey his word, sickness would obey Jesus’ word. He also felt unworthy for Jesus to enter his home or for him to come in person. This mix of deep humility and strong confidence in Jesus’ power is what Jesus praised. Jesus said He had not found such faith in Israel, showing that true faith can be found even in people outside the expected religious circle.

Why did Jesus raise the widow’s son at Nain without being asked?

When Jesus reached the city gate, He saw a funeral. The dead man was the only son of a widow, which meant she had lost not only her child but also her main earthly support. The passage says that when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her. She did not ask Him for anything. He simply told her not to weep, touched the bier, and called the young man to rise. This shows that Jesus is moved by human sorrow and sometimes acts before anyone knows what to ask. It also points to His authority over death and hints at the hope of resurrection.

Why did John the Baptist send his disciples to ask if Jesus was the one to come?

John was in prison, and his disciples came and told him about Jesus’ works. John sent two of them to ask Jesus, “Are you he that should come, or look we for another?” This may have been to help his disciples see for themselves who Jesus was, or because John himself, in suffering, needed fresh confirmation. Jesus did not give a simple yes or no. Instead, He healed many people right then, cast out evil spirits, gave sight to the blind, and told them to report what they had seen and heard. This showed that He fit the promised signs of God’s chosen one.

What does it mean that the people and publicans justified God, but the Pharisees rejected His counsel?

The common people and tax collectors had received John’s baptism. By doing so, they were agreeing with God’s judgment about their sin and His way of mercy. The passage says they “justified God,” meaning they declared God to be right and good in what He was doing. The Pharisees and lawyers, however, refused to be baptized by John. By rejecting this simple call to repentance, they were really rejecting God’s plan for their own good. It shows that proud hearts can turn away from grace, while those who know they are sinners are more ready to accept it.

What does the picture of children in the marketplace mean in this passage?

Jesus compares the people of that generation to children in the marketplace calling to each other. They complain that others will not dance when they play lively music and will not weep when they play sad music. This picture shows how some people are never satisfied with the way God reaches out to them. John came with a very strict, fasting lifestyle, and they said he had a demon. Jesus came eating and drinking with others, and they called Him a glutton and a friend of sinners. The point is that the problem is not God’s way, but their unwilling hearts.

Who is the sinful woman who washed Jesus’ feet, and why is her act important?

The passage does not name the woman, but calls her a sinner from the city, so people knew her past. When she heard Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, she brought costly ointment. She stood behind Him weeping, washed His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet, and anointed them. Her actions show deep sorrow over sin and strong love for Jesus. Jesus contrasts her care with the Pharisee’s lack of basic hospitality. He explains that her many sins are forgiven, and that is why she loves much. Her love is a sign of the forgiveness she has received.

What does Jesus mean by “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much”?

This line can sound like she earned forgiveness by loving, but the story shows the opposite order. Jesus tells a parable about two debtors who are both freely forgiven. The one who had the bigger debt forgiven loves more. In the same way, the woman’s great love is the result of being forgiven a great debt, not the cause of it. Her tears, kisses, and ointment show how much she values the mercy she has found. Jesus later says directly to her, “Thy faith hath saved thee,” making it clear that faith in Him, not her deeds, is what brought forgiveness.

What does this passage teach about faith and doubt in the Christian life?

This passage shows that faith and doubt can appear even in godly people. The centurion has strong, humble faith without seeing Jesus act in person, and Jesus praises him. John, who had boldly prepared the way for Jesus, later sends to ask if Jesus is really the one to come. Jesus does not reject him for this question. Instead, He points to His works as proof and then speaks very highly of John to the crowd. At the end, Jesus tells the forgiven woman, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Faith here is trusting Jesus’ word and person, even when feelings are weak or situations are hard.

How can a believer today apply the lessons of this chapter?

This chapter invites you to come to Jesus with humble trust, like the centurion, and to bring your pain and losses before Him, like the widow at Nain, knowing He cares. It warns against the proud attitude of the Pharisees, who refused both John’s call to repent and Jesus’ offer of grace. It also shows that someone with a very broken past can come to Jesus, weep over sin, and be fully forgiven. In daily life, this leads to loving Jesus openly, treating others with compassion, and being ready to accept God’s way of working, even when it does not fit your first expectations.

Luke.7.1

Luke 7:1

KJV

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

Chapter:

The Faith of the Centurion

1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 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.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 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:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 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.

9 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.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

11 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.

12 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.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16 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.

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

John’s Inquiry

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 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?

20 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?

21 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.

22 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.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Jesus Testifies about John

24 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 for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

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

28 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.

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 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.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 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!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus

36 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, 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,

38 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.

39 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.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 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.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 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.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Context:

The Faith of the Centurion

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.