Tyndale Open Study NotesLuke 7

This episode shows God’s message of salvation is for Gentiles as well as Jews.

centurion: This type of Roman officer was in charge of a group of about 100 soldiers (a century). A Roman legion had 60 centuries, totaling 6,000 soldiers.

Jewish elders were leaders in the Jewish community. Matthew’s shorter account says that the centurion approached Jesus himself (Matthew 8:5–13). Luke gives more details and explains that Jewish elders, and later the centurion’s friends, spoke to Jesus for him.

for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue: Wealthy Gentiles often supported Jewish communities in the Roman Empire. This suggests that the centurion might have been "God-fearing" like Cornelius in Acts 10:2. A God-fearing person was a Gentile who worshiped the God of Israel but had not fully converted to Judaism.

I am not worthy to have You come under my roof: The man was probably trying to respect Jewish customs. Faithful Jews would not enter the home of a Gentile, because they believed this would make them ceremonially unclean (see Acts 10:28; 11:12). The centurion might also have been acknowledging the greater status of Jesus.

I myself am a man under authority: The Roman army was famous for its organization and discipline. The centurion recognized authority when he saw it in the words and actions of Jesus.

I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith: While many in Israel were unresponsive to the good news of salvation, some Gentiles believed and found salvation.

Jesus raised three people from the dead:

• the dead man in this passage,

• Jairus’s daughter (8:40–56), and

• Lazarus (John 11:38–44).

Jesus has power over life and death (compare 1 Kings 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:18–37).

The location of the village of Nain is uncertain. It might be the modern town of Nein, 9.6 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of Nazareth.

• a dead man being carried out: In Judaism, a large crowd of mourners and intense wailing signified great love for the person who died. In some cases, people hired people to mourn.

• Widows were the most vulnerable members of society, and God had special concern for them (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; 27:19). This widow’s only son was her means of support and hope for the future. His death was a terrible loss (see Jeremiah 6:26; Amos 8:10; Zechariah 12:10).

Here, the word coffin may refer to:

• a long box in which someone is buried, or

• a funeral bier (a frame or portable stand used to carry the coffin or the body of the person who had died).

A Jew became ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body, coffin, or bier (Leviticus 21:1, 11–12). But when Jesus touched the man with leprosy, he did not become unclean (Luke 5:13). Instead, he replaced disease and death with cleansing and life.

A great prophet: Jesus was like the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha.

John’s disciples: See study note on 5:33. John was now in prison (3:19–20). He wondered if Jesus was truly the Christ since Jesus did not act like a powerful political king who would defeat the Romans. In response, Jesus defined his role as God's chosen king.

The blind receive sight, the lame walk: The prophet Isaiah describes God’s salvation as the renewal of his fallen creation (Isaiah 26:19; 29:18–19; 35:5–6; 61:1–2). Jesus did not come to end Roman rule over Judea. This may explain why he leaves out the words "proclaim liberty to the captives" when he quotes Isaiah 61:1. He came for a greater purpose: to reverse the effects of sin and death.

Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me: The blessing is for those who are willing to leave behind their own expectations about the Christ and accept Jesus’s path of suffering.

The quotation is from Malachi 3:1. In Malachi 4:5–6, this messenger is identified as the prophet Elijah. Though John denied that he was Elijah (John 1:21–23), he came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for God's chosen king (Luke 1:17; see 3:4–6).

Jesus praised John as the greatest person who ever lived under the old covenant. But even the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than John.

The blessings of the new covenant are

• free and complete forgiveness of sins,

• the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and

• intimate knowledge of God.

These blessings give believers in Jesus a new and greater position than even John enjoyed.

To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation?: Jesus compares Israel to fickle children in the marketplace who play games of make-believe. They called John the Baptist to dance (a wedding game), but the serious prophet refused. Instead, he called them to mourn and repent of their sins.

Then they called on Jesus to mourn (a funeral game), but he was the bridegroom who announced the joyful celebration banquet of the kingdom of God. It would not have been appropriate for him to mourn (compare Mark 2:19–20).

John the Baptist did not spend his time eating bread or drinking wine. He lived a simple life of self-denial that fit his role as a prophet. He announced God’s kingdom, the coming judgment of God, and the need for repentance and cleansing from sin.

Wisdom is vindicated: This means wisdom is proven right by the lives of those who follow it. The book of Proverbs describes wisdom as a woman who calls God’s people to a life of godliness and obedience to God’s commands (Proverbs 1:20–33; 8:1–9:6). Wisdom’s children are those who live righteously, as God’s word instructs.

What Jesus said in 7:35 is shown in this story by one of “wisdom’s children” (see study note on 7:35). She is a repentant sinner (a person who turns away from sin). She shows deep gratitude for the forgiveness she has received.

one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him: Jesus has more positive contact with the Pharisees in Luke than in the other Gospels. He was a respected teacher and healer, so it is not surprising that this Pharisee invited him to dinner. Not all Pharisees opposed Jesus. Some were interested in his teaching, while others were simply curious about him.

• a sinful woman: This suggests she was known in the community as a person with a bad moral reputation. Some people think she may have been a prostitute, but the passage does not state this explicitly.

• Alabaster is a soft stone, often white, yellow, or red. People used it to make costly containers, such as this beautiful jar.

• she stood behind Him: At a banquet, people ate while lying on their sides around a low table, with their feet stretched out behind them. Because of this, the woman could not reach the head of Jesus to anoint him (to pour oil on him as a sign of honor), so she poured the perfume on his feet.

  wipe them with her hair: In that culture, a woman normally kept her hair covered in public. Letting her hair down could bring shame and even give a husband reason for divorce. By wiping the feet of Jesus with her hair and kissing them, she showed deep respect and honor. She set aside normal social rules because she was so thankful.

But Jesus answered him: See study note on 5:22.

five hundred denarii: This was nearly two years' wages for a person who earned a living by working different jobs each day. In first-century Galilee, people who were poor often owed large debts to people who were wealthy.

the one who was forgiven more: Those who had been forgiven the most responded with greater gratitude and love. The woman did her extraordinary act of sacrificial love because Jesus had forgiven her sins.

Simon failed to show Jesus the usual acts of hospitality (ways to welcome a guest). The roads were dusty, so a servant would normally wash a guest’s feet. People in the Middle East often greet guests with a kiss on both cheeks, and this is still common today. Hosts also put olive oil on a guest’s head as a way to show honor and respect.

for she has loved much: It was not that her great love for Jesus caused him to forgive her, but that the forgiveness she had already received from Jesus caused her love.