TruthTexts Luke Study: Chapter 7

TruthTexts.com Luke Study – Chapter 7

Written and Posted by Timothy Smith

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More Actions that Apply to Any Chapter:

• Choose a verse, phrase, or section from today’s study that spoke to you, and explain what it means, as if you were talking to a friend.

• Now think of any other verses in any other part of the Bible that reinforce what you learned (or teach a similar lesson). You could use an online Bible and do a word or topic search, if your Bible does not have study notes.

• Now apply what you’ve learned today to your own life. What will you do (start doing, keep doing, stop doing, or change) from reading and thinking about our study today?

• Pray, in your own words, asking God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to help you remember what you’ve learned, and ask for the power to live more like Jesus.

Luke Chapter Seven: Jesus and People

(An Officer, a Prophet, Two Women, and a Religious Leader)

Thinking About Chapter Seven:

As we read chapter 7, notice how Jesus crosses paths with the five individuals, and how the crowds react. Notice what each meeting reveals about Jesus’ character. Make a mental list of the elements of Jesus’ personality, as revealed in what actions are different, and what are the same in all five of these face-to-face encounters. Two of these interactions (both highly detailed and involving women) are found only in Luke, continuing one of this Gospel’s unique features.  

Jesus and a Centurion’s Servant (Luke 7:1-10)

When Jesus grew up in Nazareth, he lived about five miles away from Sepphoris, a Greek-speaking city that was loyal to Rome. When Jesus went “every year” (Lk. 2:41) to Jerusalem, he would have encountered many Roman soldiers. So Jesus was well familiar with Roman military structure and with how the soldiers thought and acted. The Centurion mentioned in this chapter was different, in that he had Jewish friends who came to Jesus to ask for a healing and to vouch for the Roman’s good character. Read the soldier’s message and Jesus’ response in verses 6-10. The Centurion recognized something about Jesus’ power.

• Jesus heals the Roman’s servant differently than we have seen before, and the Roman knew he could. What happened? What does this demonstrate about the nature of Christ’s power?

• Why did Jesus praise the Centurion’s faith? What would be our equivalent today of this kind of faith?

A Widow and Her Son Meet Jesus (Luke 7:11-17)

Jesus came to Nain and immediately disrupted a funeral procession. What he did next left the people filled with both fear and awe.  

• How does Jesus respond to the widow in verse 13? What is Jesus’ attitude toward death?

• Why do the crowds feel fear? What kind of fear is it? Would you feel that way?

• What do the crowds begin to realize about Jesus’ mission (v 17)?

Jesus Answers John the Baptist’s Biggest Question (Luke 7:18-35)

We know from studying John the Baptist’s background that he knew he was born for a purpose. Being a relative, he may have met Jesus when they were young. He has already declared who Jesus really is, and he heard God’s voice at Jesus’ baptism. Yet he asks the question of his life: “Are you the one we were expecting, or should we wait for someone else?” (my paraphrase of v 19).

• Why does John the Baptist ask that question? (It goes to his purpose in life)

• What is Jesus’ reply to John? (Luke 7:21-23)

• (Luke 7:24-28 deep dive) What does Jesus mean in verse 28?

• In 7:31-35, Jesus describes a spiritual battle inside many of his hearers. (Look at 4:14-15 and 6:11). What does Jesus mean in 7:35?

Jesus, a Pharisee, and a Woman Party Crasher (Luke 7:36-50)

“On paper,” we would agree with the Pharisees theologically on almost everything. Yet no group of people caused more consistent trouble for Jesus than the party of the Pharisees. One day, Jesus of Nazareth is the guest of honor at the home of a prominent Pharisee named Simon. A woman seemingly crashes the party, and makes a scene. John’s Gospel identifies her as Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. She scandalizes the onlookers by crying all over Jesus’ feet and drying them with her hair. She takes an alabaster jar of perfume, a costly possession she would traditionally have been saving for her wedding night, breaks it, kisses Jesus’ feet, and pours the whole thing all over them. The onlookers are shocked and scandalized!

• (Luke 7:39) Let’s assume the Pharisee is right about the woman’s character. What does Simon say to himself about the woman and about Jesus?

• (7:40-43) Jesus backs the Pharisee into a corner when he responds. What does Jesus tell Simon? What is the Pharisee’s reply?

• (7:44-48)  What does Jesus say about the woman (to Simon)? What does Jesus say to the woman?

• (verses 48-50)  What is the reaction of the crowd? Why?

Deep Dive from Luke 7: Based on facts revealed in this chapter, what is the character of the Lord we serve?