1 After Jesus had finished telling the people all He had to say, He went into Capernaum.
2 And a certain military officer's slave [was there], whom the officer highly valued. This slave was [so] sick that he was about to die.
3 And when the officer heard about Jesus, he sent [some] Jewish elders to Him asking that He come and heal his slave.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, "This officer deserves that you should do this for him [i.e., heal his slave],
5 for he loves our nation and he is the one who built the synagogue for us."
6 So, Jesus went with them. And when He got close to the military officer's house, the officer sent [his] friends to Jesus, saying to Him [i.e., speaking on behalf of the military officer], "Sir, do not trouble yourself, for I do not deserve for you to come into my house;
6 miles southeast of Nazareth]. His disciples and a large crowd [also] went with Him.
7 [and] for the same reason I did not think I deserved to come to you either. So, [just] say the word and [I know] my slave will be healed.
8 For I also am a man [who was] placed under the authority [of others], and I have soldiers [who serve] under me. I can say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another one, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9 And when Jesus heard these things, He was amazed and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I tell you, I have never found [anyone with] such great faith, not [even] among the Israelites."
10 And those who were sent [i.e., the officer's friends. See verse 6] returned to the house and found the slave completely well.
11 And it happened soon after this that Jesus went to a town called Nain [Note: This was a town of Galilee about
12 Now when He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out; it was the only son of his widowed mother. And many people from the town were with her.
13 Now when the Lord saw her, He felt very sorry for her and said to her, "Do not cry."
14 Then He went near the casket and touched it; [immediately] the pallbearers stopped. Jesus said, "Young man, I tell you, get up."
15 And the dead man sat up and began talking. And Jesus gave him [back] to his mother [alive].
16 Then everyone was gripped with fear and gave honor to God, saying, " [Surely] a great prophet has arisen among us and God's [presence] has come to His people."
17 And the report of this [incident] about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the entire surrounding district.
18 Then the disciples of John [the Immerser] told him all about these things [i.e., what Jesus was doing].
19 So, John called to him two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?"
20 And when these men came to Jesus they said, "John the Immerser has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?'"
21 At that very time Jesus was healing many people from diseases, those plagued with serious illnesses and those dominated by evil spirits. He [also] restored sight to many blind people.
22 So, Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard; [how] blind people are receiving back their sight, and crippled people are walking [again], and people with infectious skin diseases are being healed, and deaf-mutes are hearing [and speaking (?) again], and people are being raised [from the dead], and poor people are having the good news preached to them.
23 The person who does not find an occasion for having doubts about my identity is fortunate indeed."
24 And when the messengers sent by John left, Jesus began saying to the crowds about John, "What did you expect to see when you went out into the desert? A tall stem swaying in the wind?
25 What did you expect to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, people who wear elaborate outfits and bask in luxury live in kings' palaces.
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I will say [he is], and much more than a prophet.
27 He is the one about whom it was written [Mal. 3:1], 'Look, I [will] send my messenger on ahead of you. He will prepare the pathway in front of you.'
28 And I tell you, among [all] those born of women, there is no one greater than John [the Immerser], yet the least significant person in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29 And when all the people, together with the tax collectors, heard this they praised God for being so just, and were immersed with the immersion [preached] by John.
30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law of Moses, who would not be immersed by John, rejected God's purpose for themselves.
31 "What then should I compare the people of this generation with?" [Jesus asked]. "And what are they like?
32 They are like children sitting in the open shopping market, calling to one another, saying, 'We [pretended we] were making music [at a wedding] but you did not dance; we [pretended we] were wailing [at a funeral] but you did not cry [along with us].'
33 For when John the Immerser came, he did not eat bread or drink wine [on festive occasions] and you said, 'He is dominated by an evil spirit.'
34 [Then] the Son of man came eating and drinking [at festive occasions] and you said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and worldly people.'
35 It proves that [God's] wise counsel is right in the eyes of all of her children [i.e., in the eyes of people known for their wisdom]."
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have a meal with him. So, He went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the [dinner] table. [Note: Matt. 23:6].
37 And when a sinful woman from the town learned that He was having dinner at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster [i.e., stone] jar of liquid perfume,
38 and stood behind Jesus, at His feet, crying. She began wetting His feet with her tears and wiping them dry with the hair of her head. Then she kissed His feet and poured the perfume on them.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who touched him and what kind of a woman she was --- a sinner."
40 Then Jesus said to him, "Simon [See verse 43], I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Teacher, [go ahead and] say it."
41 [Jesus then gave this parable]: A certain moneylender had two men who owed him money; one owed him five hundred coins [Note: The total amount was days of a farm laborer's pay, or about $35,000 in 1994], and the other man [owed him] fifty coins [Note: About $3,500 in 1994].
42 When these two men did not have [the money] to repay him, the moneylender canceled [the debts of] both of them. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon answered, "The one who had the largest debt canceled, I suppose." Jesus said to him, "You are right."
44 Then Jesus turned to the woman [who had just poured the perfume on Him] and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you did not give me any water for [washing] my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them dry with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss [of greeting], but from the time I came in [to your house] she has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not pour [aromatic] oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet.
47 For this reason, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. [Note: This suggests that her forgiveness was the result of her loving, but the point Jesus makes better fits the idea that her forgiveness produced love]. But the person who is forgiven of little [i.e., of only a few sins], loves [only] a little bit."
48 Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 And those who were reclining at the [dinner] table with Him began saying among themselves, "Who is this person who can even forgive sins?"