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Luke 7

Luke places Jesus’ authority over sickness, death, and sin alongside the contrasting responses of faith, questioning, and rejection.

Jesus enters Capernaum, where Jewish elders ask him to heal a centurion’s dying servant. He then meets a funeral procession at Nain and raises a widow’s son. John the Baptizer sends messengers to ask whether Jesus is the expected one; Jesus points to his works and speaks to the crowd about John and their divided responses. At Simon the Pharisee’s table, a woman washes Jesus’ feet with tears, and Jesus declares her sins forgiven.

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1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
2A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.
3When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.
4When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,
5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
6Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
7Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
10Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.”
14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
15He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.
16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
17This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.
19John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”
21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
22Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
23Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
24When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts.
26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
27This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
28“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
31“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?
32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’
33For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
35Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.
37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Luke 7:22Jesus answers John’s question through deeds his messengers can witness, joining healing and resurrection with good news for the poor.
Luke 7:47The woman’s abundant love displays the forgiveness illustrated by the canceled debts, exposing Simon’s failure to understand her actions.
Luke 7:50Jesus names faith as the means of her salvation and sends her away in peace amid the guests’ questions.
Where this chapter reaches

Matthew shares the healing of the centurion’s servant and John’s question, while Isaiah supplies the promise language of restored sight and good news for the poor. Romans and Ephesians share the themes of forgiveness and salvation through faith that close the meal at Simon’s house.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do you notice about Jesus’ response to John’s question and his words about John afterward?

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How does the story of the two debtors shape your understanding of the woman’s love?

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Questions people ask about Luke 7

Who is the woman who anoints Jesus in Luke 7?

Luke leaves the woman unnamed, describing her as a woman in the city who was a sinner. He does not identify her as Mary Magdalene or specify her sins. The account centers on her tears and acts of love, Simon’s judgment, and Jesus’ declaration that her sins are forgiven.

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

John sends his question after his disciples report Jesus’ works. Luke does not explain what prompted his uncertainty, so claims about his precise motive go beyond the text. Jesus directs the messengers to report the healings and good news they witness, then speaks of John as more than a prophet.

Does Luke 7:47 mean the woman earned forgiveness by loving Jesus?

The two-debtor story places canceled debt before the debtor’s love: forgiveness produces gratitude. That sequence frames Jesus’ words about the woman loving much. Her actions show her response to forgiveness, and Jesus’ closing statement identifies faith as the means of salvation. The passage gives no basis for treating love as payment for pardon.

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Luke · 24 chapters

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).