Skip to content
Lumen

Luke 7Faith that astonishes

←→

Before you read

Who is speaking?
Jesus, in and around Capharnaum and Galilee, answering requests, questions and criticism.
Who is listening?
A Roman centurion's messengers, a grieving widow and a funeral crowd, disciples sent by John the Baptist, and a Pharisee at whose table Jesus eats.
What should I watch for?
Unexpected faith: a pagan soldier and a woman known as a sinner understand Jesus better than the religious insiders.

Only part of this chapter is loaded in the development dataset (verses 36–50).

Tap a verse to understand it.

The woman who loved much36And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. 37And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; 38And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it. 41A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? 43Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly. 44And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. 45Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet. 47Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. 48And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain

After you read

What just happened?

A Roman centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant but says he is not worthy to have Jesus under his roof; Jesus marvels at his faith. At the gate of Naim Jesus meets a widow burying her only son, is moved with mercy, and raises the young man. John the Baptist, in prison, sends to ask whether Jesus is the one who is to come; Jesus points to what is happening and praises John. At a Pharisee's dinner a woman known as a sinner weeps on Jesus' feet and anoints them; Jesus tells a short parable about two debtors and declares her sins forgiven.

Key idea

Jesus responds to faith wherever he finds it — and forgiveness received becomes love shown.

Bible Lens

Look at Luke 7 through…

The heart of it in plain words

Explanation (AI-assisted)

Four scenes: a soldier trusts Jesus' word, a mother gets her son back, a prophet asks an honest question, and a woman everyone judged is forgiven. In each one Jesus goes beyond what people expected.

People you met

  • The centurion — A Gentile officer who loved Israel and trusted Jesus' word at a distance
  • The widow of Naim — Losing her only son meant losing her protection and livelihood
  • John the Baptist — In prison, sends disciples with an honest question
  • Simon the Pharisee — Invites Jesus but withholds the customary welcome
  • A woman who was a sinner — Unnamed; her tears, kisses and ointment speak for her

Places

  • Capharnaum — Jesus' base by the Sea of Galilee
  • Naim — A town of Galilee, usually identified with the village of Nein near Mount Tabor
  • A Pharisee's house — Guests reclined at table, so the woman could stand behind at Jesus' feet

Symbols

  • Not under my roof — Humility before Jesus; the Church echoes the centurion's words before Communion
  • The touch of the bier — Jesus reaches into death itself
  • Tears, hair, kisses and ointment — The welcome Simon did not give, offered by love
  • Two debtors — Everyone is in debt to God; whoever knows the size of the debt forgiven loves more

Words to understand

Centurion
A Roman officer in command of about a hundred soldiers.
Bier
The open stretcher on which the dead were carried to burial.
He that is to come
A way of speaking of the awaited Messiah.
Alabaster box
A sealed jar of soft stone used for costly perfumed ointment.
Pence
Denarii — a denarius was a labourer's day's wage (Matthew 20:2).

Connections to other Scripture

One question to think about

Who is easier for you to identify with at that dinner — Simon or the woman? What would change if you knew how much you had been forgiven?

Awaiting theological review

Explore connections

written by

All connections →