A Centurion’s Faith

1When He had concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.a 2A •centurion’s •slave, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, 5because he loves our nation and has built us a •synagogue.”b 6Jesus went with them, and when He was not far fromc the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, “Lord, don’t trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured.d, e 8For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command.f I say to this one, ‘Go! ’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come! ’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this! ’ and he does it.”

9Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel! ” 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

A Widow’s Son Raised to Life

11Soon afterward He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. 12Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow.g A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on herh and said, “Don’t cry.” 14Then He came up and touched the open coffin,i and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up! ”j

15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.k 16Then fearl came over everyone,m and they glorified God,n saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,”o and “God has visitedp His people.”q 17This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.

In Praise of John the Baptist

18Then John’s disciples told him about all these things.r So John summoned two of his disciples 19and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are You the Ones who is to come, or should we look for someone else? ”

20When the men reached Him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask You, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else? ’ ”

21At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases,t plagues, and evil spirits,u and He granted sight to many blind people.v 22He replied to them, “Go and report to John the things you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,w the deaf hear,x the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.y 23And anyone who is not •offended because of Me is blessed.” 24After John’s messengers left, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft robes? Look, those who are splendidly dressedz and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26What then did you go out to see? A prophet?aa Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. 27This is the one it is written about:

Look, I am sending My messenger

ahead of You;ab

he will prepare Your way before You.ac,ad

28I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John,ae but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29(And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God’s way of righteousness,af because they had been baptized with John’s baptism.ag 30But since the •Pharisees and experts in the lawah had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.ai)

An Unresponsive Generation

31“To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:

We played the flute for you,

but you didn’t dance;

we sang a lament,

but you didn’t weep!

33For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine,aj and you say, ‘He has a demon! ’ 34The •Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners! ’ak 35Yet wisdom is vindicatedal by all her children.”

Much Forgiveness, Much Love

36Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.am 37And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house.an She brought an alabaster jar of fragrant oil 38and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.ao

39When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him — she’s a sinner! ”ap

40Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher,” he said, “say it.”

41“A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 •denarii,aq and the other 50. 42Since they could not pay it back,ar he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more? ”

43Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”

“You have judged correctly,” He told him. 44Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,as but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave Me no kiss,at but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. 46You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil,au but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s whyav she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”aw

49Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins? ”ax

50And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you.ay Go in peace.”az