1 Now when hee had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, hee entred into Capernaum.
2 And a certaine Centurions seruant, who was deare vnto him, was sicke and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Iesus, he sent vnto him the Elders of the Iewes, beseeching him that he would come and heale his seruant.
4 And when they came to Iesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that hee was worthy for whome hee should doe this.
5 For he loueth our nation, and hee hath built vs a Synagogue.
6 Then Iesus went with them. And when he was now not farre from the house, the Centurion sent friends to him, saying vnto him, Lord, trouble not thy selfe: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe.
7 Wherefore neither thought I my selfe worthy to come vnto thee: but say in a worde, and my seruant shall bee healed.
8 For I also am a man set vnder authoritie, hauing vnder mee souldiers: and I say vnto one, Goe, and he goeth: and to another, Come, and hee commeth: and to my seruant, Doe this, and he doeth it.
9 When Iesus heard these things, hee marueiled at him, and turned him about, and saide vnto the people that followed him, I say vnto you, I haue not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the seruant whole that had bene sicke.
11 ¶ And it came to passe the day after, that he went into a citie called Naim: and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the citie, behold, there was a dead man caried out, the onely sonne of his mother, and shee was a widow: and much people of the citie was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and saide vnto her, Weepe not.
14 And hee came and touched the beere (and they that bare him, stood still.) And he said, Yong man, I say vnto thee, Arise.
15 And he that was dead, sate vp, and began to speake: and he deliuered him to his mother.
16 And there came a feare on all, and they glorified God, saying, that a great Prophet is risen vp among vs, and that God hath visited his people.
17 And this rumour of him went foorth throughout all Iudea, and throughout all the region round about.
18 And the disciples of Iohn shewed him of all these things.
19 ¶ And Iohn calling vnto him two of his disciples, sent them to Iesus, saying, Art thou hee that should come, or looke we for another?
20 When the men were come vnto him, they said, Iohn Baptist hath sent vs vnto thee, saying, Art thou hee that should come, or looke we for another?
21 And in that same houre hee cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of euill spirits, and vnto many that were blind, he gaue sight.
22 Then Iesus answering, said vnto them, Go your way, and tell Iohn what things ye haue seene and heard, how that the blind see, the lame walke, the lepers are clensed, the deafe heare, the dead are raised, to the poore the Gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he whosoeuer shall not be offended in me.
24 ¶ And when the messengers of Iohn were departed, hee beganne to speake vnto þe people concerning Iohn: What went ye out into the wildernesse for to see? A reede shaken with the winde?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and liue delicately, are in kings courts.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say vnto you, and much more then a Prophet.
27 This is he of whome it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
28 For I say vnto you, among those that are borne of women, there is not a greater Prophet then Iohn the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdome of God, is greater then he.
29 And all the people that heard him, and the Publicanes, iustified God, being baptized with the baptisme of Iohn.
30 But the Pharisees and Lawyers reiected the counsell of God against themselues, 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 vnto children sitting in the market place, & calling one to another, and saying, We haue piped vnto you, and ye haue not danced: wee haue mourned to you, and yee haue not wept.
33 For Iohn the Baptist came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say, He hath a deuill.
34 The sonne of man is come, eating, and drinking, and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a wine bibber, a friend of Publicanes and sinners.
35 But wisedome is iustified of all her children.
36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisees house, and sate downe to meat.
37 And behold, a woman in the citie which was a sinner, when shee knew that Iesus sate at meat in the Pharisees house, brought an Alabaster boxe of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feete with teares, and did wipe them with the haires of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the oyntment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him, saw it, he spake within himselfe, saying, This man, if he were a Prophet, would haue knowen who, and what maner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Iesus answering, said vnto him, Simon, I haue somewhat to say vnto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certaine creditour, which had two debtors: the one ought fiue hundred pence, and the other fiftie.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgaue them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will loue him most?
43 Simon answered, and saide, I suppose, that hee to whome he forgaue most. And he said vnto him, Thou hast rightly iudged.
44 And hee turned to the woman, and said vnto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entred into thine house, thou gauest me no water for my feete: but shee hath washed my feete with teares, and wiped them with the haires of her head.
45 Thou gauest me no kisse: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kisse my feet.
46 Mine head with oile thou didst not anoint: but this woman anointed my feet with oyntment.
47 Wherefore, I say vnto thee, her sinnes, which are many, are forgiuen, for she loued much: but to whom litle is forgiuen, the same loueth litle.
48 And he said vnto her, Thy sinnes are forgiuen.
49 And they that sate at meat with him, began to say within themselues, Who is this that forgiueth sinnes also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saued thee, goe in peace.
The centurion's servant healed. (1-10) The widow's son raised. (11-18) John the Baptist's inquiry concerning Jesus. (19-35) Christ anointed in the house of the Pharisee The parable of the two debtors. (36-50)1-10 Servants should study to endear themselves to their masters. Masters ought to take particular care of their servants when they are sick. We may still, by faithful and fervent prayer, apply to Christ, and ought to do so when sickness is in our families. The building places for religious worship is a good work, and an instance of love to God and his people. Our Lord Jesus was pleased with the centurion's faith; and he never fails to answer the expectations of that faith which honours his power and love. The cure soon wrought and perfect.
11-18 When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death itself. The gospel call to all people, to young people particularly, is, Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light and life. When Christ put life into him, it appeared by the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us spiritual life, he opens the lips in prayer and praise. When dead souls are raised to spiritual life, by Divine power going with the gospel, we must glorify God, and look upon it as a gracious visit to his people. Let us seek for such an interest in our compassionate Saviour, that we may look forward with joy to the time when the Redeemer's voice shall call forth all that are in their graves. May we be called to the resurrection of life, not to that of damnation.
19-35 To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is preached. It clearly pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he sent before him to prepare his way, did it by preaching repentance and reformation of heart and life. We have here the just blame of those who were not wrought upon by the ministry of John Baptist or of Jesus Christ himself. They made a jest of the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of multitudes; they are not serious in the concerns of their souls. Let us study to prove ourselves children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's word, and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisees deride and blaspheme.
36-50 None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they feel they cannot enough express self-abhorrence on account of sin, and admiration of his mercy, the self-sufficient will be disgusted, because the gospel encourages such repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character. But without free forgiveness none of us can escape the wrath to come; this our gracious Saviour has purchased with his blood, that he may freely bestow it on every one that believes in him. Christ, by a parable, forced Simon to acknowledge that the greater sinner this woman had been, the greater love she ought to show to Him when her sins were pardoned. Learn here, that sin is a debt; and all are sinners, are debtors to Almighty God. Some sinners are greater debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we are able to pay. God is ready to forgive; and his Son having purchased pardon for those who believe in him, his gospel promises it to them, and his Spirit seals it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let us keep far from the proud spirit of the Pharisee, simply depending upon and rejoicing in Christ alone, and so be prepared to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to recommend him unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the forgiveness of our sins. What a wonderful change does grace make upon a sinner's heart and life, as well as upon his state before God, by the full remission of all his sins through faith in the Lord Jesus!
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.