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Luke 7 All

Note: this page allows you to see all the commentary pages for Luke chapter 7 together. Click on the heading to go to a specific page.

Luke 7:1-5

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:6-10

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:11-15

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:16-20

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:21-25

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:26-30

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:31-35

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:1-35
Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:17: Shewed. Here shewed is used differently than we use it today. A more recent translation may be helpful. Here are two: from The New International Version: "John's disciples told him about all these things;" from the English Standard Version "The disciples of John reported all these things to him."
  • Luke 7:28: The least in the kingdom og God is greater than John. What should we make of Jesus' comment that he who is least in the kingdom of God is better than John--who is greatest of those born among women? The claim tells us that the greatest person is lower than the lowest one in "the kingdom of God." But who are those in the kingdom of God? And what is this statement doing in the middle of Jesus's discussion of John. It seems a distraction from his point.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" is much used in Luke and in several different contexts. To preach the gospel is to preach the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2), God's mysteries are "the mysteries of the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:10). The kingdom of God is something we must recieve (Luke 18:17), something that can be within us (Luke 17:21) and something that we can (or not) enter into (Luke 18:24).
Some have interpreted being in the kingdom of God to mean something like being a follower of Jesus Christ (see note on Matthew Henry's interpretation in related links below). But in all of the uses of this phrase in Luke, there is no indication that anyone of us are "in the kingdom of God" today. If John wasn't "in the kingdom of God" surely no one else Jesus was speaking to at the time was either. Such an interpretation doesn't make much sense of why Jesus was making this remark at the time, since it would have applied to no one he was speaking to. Further this interpretation is suspect as it is self-aggrandizing.
If we interpret those in the kingdom of God to mean something like (in our language) those in the Celestial Kingdom, then this means that the least person in the Celestial Kingdom is greater than John was in his life. In that case the point still is a distraction from Jesus's discussion of John, but it has a clear purpose. At the same time Jesus tells the people that John was the greatest (leading up to the importance of not rejecting his message) he reminds them not to fall into the trap of caring about being greatest. In this interpretation the point is that it matters little who is greatest--we need not seek to be it. We all have the chance to be in the Celestial Kingdom which is really what matters.
Matthew Henry suggests in his commentary on the Bible that when Jesus says that he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist (who himself was greatest of those born among women), it means that all those who follow/serve Christ are better than the greatest of those who came before Christ.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 6:17-49                      Next page: Verses 7:36-50

Luke 7:36-40

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


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Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50

Luke 7:41-45

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50

Luke 7:46-50

Home > The New Testament > Luke > Chapters 4b-9a > Verses 7:36-50
Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50


This page would ideally always be under construction. You are invited to contribute.


Summary

This section should be very brief. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Discussion

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:36-50: Structure. The passage is structured chiastically:
a. Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman)
b. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in action)
c. Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly)
d. Parable
c’. Dialogue (Simon judges rightly)
b’. The Outpouring of the Woman’s Love (in retrospect)
a’. Conclusion (the Pharisees, Jesus, the woman)
Each of the above components represents a separate scene. There are seven scenes.
  • Luke 7:36-37. First scene: Introduction (the Pharisee, Jesus, the woman).
Alternate translation, by Bailey:
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
And he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined.
And behold, there was a woman who was a sinner in the city."
All three major characters are introduced. For other instances of this in Luke, see 15:1-2 and 15:11. Notice that Jesus is invited, while the woman is uninvited. Also note: "They featured in particular the study of the Torah, and sometimes continued late into the night when they warmed to their discussions, or when there was a lecture from their teacher or a visiting sage" (Safrai, in Bailey, Through Peasant Eyes, p. 3). There are a few historical/cultural aspects that would be helpful for interpretation: an understanding of purity laws, information about who else was present perhaps, and details about the setup of the room.
  • Luke 7:37-38: Second scene: Outpouring of the woman’s love (in action). When she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house (having learned that he was [going] to eat: she is there from the beginning)
  a Brought an alabaster box of ointment
  b And stood at his feet behind him
  c Weeping and began to wash his feet with tears
  c' And did wipe them with the hairs of her head
  b' And kissed his feet
  a' And anointed them with ointment
The woman has come prepared, which might imply that the act is premeditated, though it is possible that it is not (which might emphasize the pouring out of grace). At any rate, some kind of gift is implied in the offering, though some interpretation must be offered to make sense of it.
What must not be missed in this scene is the hint of less-than-conventional stories in the Bible (Ruth, etc.), where "feet" probably function as a euphemism.
  • Luke 7:39-40: Third scene: Dialogue (Simon judges wrongly). The order is repeated from the introduction: the Pharisee, Jesus (prophet), woman.
What is ultimately in question here is the difference between the perception/knowledge of Jesus and Simon.
The woman is right now, in the present moment, a sinner. What was expected of Jesus under the law? But: Jesus IS the law.

Unanswered questions

This section is for questions along the lines of "I still don't understand ..." Please do not be shy. The point of these questions is to identify things that still need to be addressed on this page. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for life application

This section is for prompts that suggest ways in which a passage can influence a person's life. Prompts may be appropriate either for private self reflection or for a class discussion. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

Prompts for further study

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • Luke 7:47. The Lord says here "to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." This might seem to suggest that to truly love the Savior we must commit and then repent of egregious sins. Surely we should seek to truly love the Savoir but shouldn't seek to commit sin. What then are we to make of this?

Resources

This section is for listing links and print resources, including those that are also cited elsewhere on this page. A short comment about the particular strengths of a resource can be helpful. Click the "edit" link to edit or add content to this section. →

  • See Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes: A Literary-Cultural Approach to the Parables in Luke, by Kenneth E. Bailey (Combined Edition), William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, reprinted 1994.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.




Previous page: Verses 7:1-35                      Verses 8:1-9:50