ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Luke 7

Luke 7:1–50 Luke helps his readers answer the question “Who is this . . . ?” (v. 49) by recounting two healing miracles (vv. 1–10, 11–17), John’s testimony about Jesus (vv. 18–35), and another example of Jesus forgiving sins (vv. 36–50).

Luke 7:2 centurion. A Roman officer in charge of a hundred men.

Luke 7:3 elders of the Jews. Local Jewish officials.

Luke 7:9 Not even in Israel foreshadows the entry of Gentiles into the kingdom of God.

Luke 7:11–17 This miracle, involving a widow’s son, recalls a similar miracle by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17–24).

Luke 7:12 The only son of his mother . . . a widow reveals the woman’s desperate economic situation. Without a husband or a son, she has little financial support.

Luke 7:14 bier. A plank that served as an open coffin to carry the dead body outside the city to its burial place. Jesus is not made unclean when he touches the dead. Instead, the dead man comes to life.

Luke 7:15 sat up and began to speak. This is proof of Jesus’ miracle.

Luke 7:16 God has visited his people. God is making known his presence in Jesus (see 1:68).

Luke 7:18 All these things refers to Jesus’ miracles and his teaching.

Luke 7:19–20 Are you the one . . . to come indicates John’s doubt as to whether Jesus was the promised Messiah. Perhaps this was because it did not appear that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman rulers or immediately bring judgment on evildoers.

Luke 7:22 tell John. Jesus does not answer John’s question directly but gives evidence demonstrating that he is the “coming one”: blind receive . . . sight (see 4:18; 18:35–43); lame walk (5:17–25); lepers are cleansed (5:12–16; 17:11–19); deaf hear (see Isa. 29:18; 35:5); dead are raised (Luke 7:11–17; 8:40–56); poor have good news preached to them (4:18; 6:20). The days of salvation foretold by Isaiah have begun, even though they will not be completed until Christ returns to establish the eternal kingdom.

Luke 7:23 Jesus’ word of encouragement is surely directed to John and his disciples.

Luke 7:28 none is greater. John’s greatness comes from his role as the one who prepared people for Jesus the Messiah. Therefore the one who is least in the kingdom of God (one who has believed in Jesus and has become a member of the new covenant kingdom) is actually greater than John, for that person lives in the age of fulfillment.

Luke 7:29–30 Those among Jesus’ hearers who had been baptized by John rightly took Jesus’ words in vv. 24–28 as praising John, and therefore they declared God just. Those who had not been baptized by John (that is, the Pharisees and the lawyers) had a more negative response.

Luke 7:31–34 This generation refers to the leaders and others dominant in the culture. They reject both Jesus and John. They are like children who do not want to play with anyone.

Luke 7:35 Wisdom (God’s way, v. 29) is justified (shown to be right) by all her children (the followers of John and Jesus).

Luke 7:36 The Pharisees were the most influential of the three major Jewish sects (see note on John 1:24).

Luke 7:37–38 a woman. Unnamed; see note on Mark 14:3–5. Alabaster is a soft stone frequently used as a perfume container. Reclining toward a low center table(s), the feet of the participants would have faced outward like spokes from a hub. Her tears are tears both of thankfulness and also of reverent awe as she senses the presence of God in Jesus. Her act would have been considered improper. It took great courage to honor Jesus in this way.

Luke 7:39–40 Jesus knew what Simon said to himself, showing that he was indeed a prophet.

Luke 7:41 five hundred denarii. About 20 months’ wages. fifty denarii. About two months’ wages.

Luke 7:42 cancelled the debt. For the comparison of sin with debt, see 11:4; Matt. 6:12; 18:21–35.

Luke 7:47 For she loved much refers not to the reason the woman is forgiven but the result of being forgiven (see note on v. 50; see also “which of them will love him more,” v. 42).

Luke 7:48–49 Your sins are forgiven. As in 5:20–25, Jesus is exercising the divine role of forgiving sins. Who is this, who even forgives sins? Luke includes this question to allow his readers to think about who Jesus is.

Luke 7:50 Your faith has saved you. Compare 8:48; 17:19; 18:42. See note on 7:47. Her faith is shown in the way she honored Jesus by washing his feet.