NAS - Luke 7:18-50

Deputation from John

¹⁸The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. ¹⁹Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?" ²⁰When the men came to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, `Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?'" ²¹At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. ²²And He answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.²³"Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

²⁴When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?²⁵"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!²⁶"But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.²⁷"This is the one about whom it is written, `BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.' ²⁸"I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."²⁹When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

³¹"To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?³²"They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, `We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'³³"For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, `He has a demon!'³⁴"The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, `Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'³⁵"Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. ³⁷And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."

Parable of Two Debtors

⁴⁰And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." ⁴¹"A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.⁴²"When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"⁴³Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."⁴⁴Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.⁴⁵"You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.⁴⁶"You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.⁴⁷"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."⁴⁸Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."⁴⁹Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."