Luke 7 - Signs and Sinners

As we look at a few verses in this chapter we get a deeper insight into Jesus' interaction with the people.

Here are a few selected verses.

A Great Prophet

Luk 7:16  And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Luk 7:17  And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

Mat 16:13  When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mat 16:14  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Mat 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God

Jesus offers these words and a blessing to those disciples of John who came to ask who he was. Note the six signs.

Luk 7:22  Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Luk 7:23  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

This word is used 31 times in this way.

G4624

σκανδαλίζω

skandalizō

Total KJV Occurrences: 31

offended, 16

Mat 11:6, Mat 13:21, Mat 13:57, Mat 15:12, Mat 24:10, Mat 26:31, Mat 26:33 (2), Mar 4:17, Mar 6:3, Mar 14:27, Mar 14:29, Luk 7:23, Joh 16:1, Rom 14:21, 2Co 11:29

offend, 14

Mat 5:29-30 (3), Mat 17:27, Mat 18:6, Mat 18:8-9 (2), Mar 9:42-43 (2), Mar 9:45, Mar 9:47, Luk 17:2, Joh 6:61, 1Co 8:13 (2)

Paul writes this from a different perspective, that he should not be ashamed, which is often the case even today, though many are likewise offended, these show two perspectives, the believer is ashamed, the unbeliever is offended.

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Speaking of faith, faith is a grace, it is given by God. We then respond to this faith. We believe it and act on it. This is the natural response of the elect, once they are aware of being born of God, by the spirit. Our response may have different forms and will have different seasons, much like our physical birth, were we cry out immediately, or later when learn to walk and fall often, and later grow in wisdom, stature and understanding. This is all the grace of God. The chapter ends with a great example of this.

Luk 7:34  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

By the way that crowd includes some of us....

1Co 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1Co 6:10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1Co 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Continuing...

Luk 7:37  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

Luk 7:38  And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Luk 7:39  Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Luk 7:40  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

Luk 7:41  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

Luk 7:42  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Luk 7:43  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

We then have this great ending...

Luk 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luk 7:48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Luk 7:49  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

Luk 7:50  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Matthew Henry writes that Jesus had the power and pleasure to forgive sinners.

for as he had there proved that he had power to forgive sin, by curing the man sick of the palsy, and therefore would not here take notice of the cavil, so he would now show that he had pleasure in forgiving sin, and it was his delight; he loves to speak pardon and peace to penitents: He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee, Luk 7:50. 

This would confirm and double her comfort in the forgiveness of her sin, that she was justified by her faith. All these expressions of sorrow for sin, and love to Christ, were the effects and products of faith; and therefore, as faith of all graces doth most honour God, so Christ doth of all graces put most honour upon faith. 

Note, They who know that their faith hath saved them may go in peace, may go on their way rejoicing.

Paul writes...

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in hiskindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Three times Jesus states this doctrine.

Joh 6:36  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Joh 6:37  ♥️  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Joh 6:44  ♥️  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Joh 6:46  Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Joh 6:47  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Joh 6:65  ♥️  And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?