Jesus's Power Over Storms, Demons, and Death

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 8:1) And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with Him,

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had been eating a meal with a Pharisee who had invited Him to his house after He had been teaching and curing many people of various sorts of afflictions.  After that episode, He continued teaching throughout every city and village, bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.  His twelve apostles were with Him.

(2) And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, (3) And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to Him from their substance.

Along with the twelve apostles, there also went with Jesus many women, including Mary Magdalene, out of whom Jesus had cast out seven demon spirits.  There went also Joanna who was the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, which meant he was the manager of the property of Herod Antipas.  Joanna had also been healed by Jesus, but we aren't told if it was from evil spirits or some other infirmity; and it is likely she was now a widow who followed Jesus and ministered to Him out of her substance.  A woman named Susanna was also one who had been healed by Jesus and followed Him, and even though not much is written about her, we might assume she was a woman of means who could afford to minister to Jesus from her substance.

(4) And when many people were gathered together, and had come to Him out of every city, He spoke by a parable.

When many people had gathered together around Jesus from the surrounding cities and villages, He began to teach them with the following parable.

(5) "A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down and the fowls of the air devoured it."

Jesus began telling the parable of the sower, which was described in the gospels of both Matthew and Mark.  A sower went out to sow his seed and some of it fell by the wayside, the edges of the field, where it was trodden down by people who walked along those edges of the field, and some was devoured by birds.

(6) "And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture."

Some of the seed fell upon rocks and therefore had no roots in the soil, as the other gospel writers told it.  As soon as it had sprung up, it withered away.

(7) "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it."

Some of the sower's seed fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with the seed and choked it.

(8) "And other fell on good ground, and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold." And when He had said these things, He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

The rest of the seeds fell on good ground, rooted in good soil, and it came up and produced fruit a hundredfold.  Jesus then exhorted His listeners to really hear and understand His parable.

(9) And His disciples asked Him, saying, "What might this parable be?"

Jesus's followers asked Him what His parable meant.

(10) And He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."

Jesus told His disciples that they were privileged to be able to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God.  It was given to them to understand spiritual things, but to others the parables would not be understood in a spiritual sense.  He referenced Old Testament scripture that spoke of people seeing and hearing, but not understanding (Isaiah 6:9, Jeremiah 5:21).  To those who were being led by the Holy Spirit, they might have the ears to understand.  However, those with no regard for spiritual things would not be able to understand the parables Jesus told.  In that way, the beautiful mysteries of the kingdom of God were hidden from people who had no real desire to understand, and Jesus did not cast His pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).

(11) "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God."

Jesus began explaining the parable to His disciples.  The seed represented the word of God.

(12) "Those by the wayside are they who hear; then comes the devil and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

The seed that fell by the wayside that was trampled and devoured by birds represented those who heard the word of God, but before they could truly understand and come to salvation, that word was trampled by the world and snatched away by Satan, represented by the birds.  Satan's purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), so he must divert the attention of one who has heard the word in any way he can in order to destroy and kill the one who might be otherwise saved if he retained God's word.

(13) "They on the rock, which when they hear, receive the word with joy, but these have no root, who for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away."

The seed that fell on the rocks represented those who heard the word of God and received it with genuine joy, but it was more of a head knowledge and joy, and never became rooted in their hearts.  They believed for awhile, but that belief quickly withered away when temptation came.

(14) "And that which fell among thorns are they who when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

The seed that fell among thorns represents probably a huge number of Christians today.  They hear the word and believe it, but it is choked by the busyness of this life, and they bring forth no real fruit of their faith.

(15) "But that on the good ground are those which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

The seed that fell on good ground represented the word that was planted in a good and honest heart where it took root and brought forth fruit with endurance and perseverance, which is the more complete definition of the original word "hupomone" that was translated as "patience."  Patience in the Bible is sometimes called longsuffering.  When you think of patience that way, it fits here perfectly.  Bringing forth fruit with patience is bringing it forth even through long suffering with endurance and perseverance.

(16) "No man when he has lit a candle, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a candlestand that those who enter in may see the light."

It's as if Jesus was saying, "Let your fruit appear openly."  When that light is lit in our hearts, it should not be hidden there, but should be revealed that those who come in contact with us will see it.

(17) "For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest, neither hidden that shall not be known and come abroad."

There are no secrets in this world.  God sees all.  There is nothing hidden in the hearts that will not be known and come to light.  Regarding the secret mysteries of the kingdom of God (v. 10), that which was hidden in parables, would come to light abroad in the entire world.  What might seem hidden to the disciples at that time would not remain hidden as nothing remains hidden.

(18) "Take heed therefore how you hear; for whoever has, to him shall be given, and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have."

Jesus cautioned His disciples to be careful about how they heard the truths and doctrines He would teach, that it not be with a careless ear, for whoever had knowledge of the doctrines of Christ and had spiritual gifts and abilities to spread that knowledge, would be given more knowledge and spiritual gifts.  However, those who did not have true spiritual knowledge would lose even what they thought they had.  That way they could not pass on false spiritual knowledge to others, endangering their souls.

(19) Then came to Him His mother and His brothers and could not come at Him for the press.

Jesus's mother and brothers came seeking Him but could not approach Him because the crowd of people pressed in on Him so.

(20) And it was told Him, saying, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside desiring to see You."

The account in Matthew stated that Jesus had ceased talking to the multitude that had gathered from every city (v. 4) and He had gone into a house where the disciples had then asked Him about the parable of the sower.  Apparently, a crowd had gathered at the house and that is where Mary and Jesus's brothers had come to see Him.  Someone told Jesus that His mother and brothers were outside wishing to see Him.

(21) And He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."

Jesus took that opportunity to demonstrate that there was no closer bond among men than the one between man and his Lord, when that man embraced Him with true faith and adherence to God's word.  "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24).

(22) Now it came to pass on a certain day that He went into a ship with His disciples, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." And they launched forth.

On another day Jesus and His disciples boarded a ship where He told them to go over to the other side of the lake, which was Lake Gennesaret or the Sea of Galilee.  They set sail.

(23) But as they sailed, He fell asleep, and there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filled with water and were in jeopardy.

As they sailed to the other side of the lake, Jesus slept.  A windstorm came upon them, and their boat was filling up with water and they were in danger, at least seemingly so.

(24) And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we perish!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased and there was a calm.

The disciples came to Jesus and woke Him up, declaring they were about to perish.  Jesus rose up, rebuked the wind and the raging sea, and they ceased, and all was calm.

(25) And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they being afraid, wondered, saying to one another, "What manner of man is this! For He commands even the wind and water, and they obey Him."

Jesus rebuked His disciples, asking where their faith was.  After all, He had said, "Let us go to the other side."  He didn't say there would be no dangers along the way, but they were going to the other side; Jesus said so.  I love this!  I recently heard a teaching on this that pointed that out.  Jesus said, and there was no need to fear any danger.  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me..." (Psalm 23:4).  The disciples marveled at Jesus's action in calming the sea for even the winds and the water obeyed Him.

(26) And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

Their ship arrived at the country of the Gadarenes which was across the sea from Galilee.

(27) And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man who had devils a long time, and he wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

When Jesus stepped on the land from the boat, a man came out of the city to meet Him.  He was a man who had had demons for a long time, and he wore no clothes and didn't live in a house, but among the tombs.

(28) When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice, said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of God most high? I beseech You, do not torment me!"

When the man saw it was Jesus, possessed by the demon inside of him, he cried out in a loud voice and fell down before Jesus.  The demon recognized Jesus and asked what it had to do with Jesus, admitting He was the Son of the most high God.  Then it begged Jesus not to torment it.

(29) (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in shackles, and he broke the bonds, and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.)

It seems the demon begged Jesus not to torment it when Jesus had commanded it to come out of the man.  The parenthetical statement goes on to tell how powerful it had been against the man it possessed, breaking the chains and shackles that had been used to bind him, and driving him into the wilderness.

(30) And Jesus asked him, saying, "What is your name?" And he said, "Legion," because many devils had entered into him.

Jesus would have certainly already known the name of the demon that possessed the man, but for the sake of the observers, to understand the miserable state of this poor man possessed by such a demon, He asked it its name.  The demon answered "Legion" because there were many demons that had possessed the man.

(31) And they beseeched Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.

The demons begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss or hell.  They understood that they must obey Him; they had no power against Him, so they begged Him not to send them to hell.

(32) And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain, and they besought Him that He would allow them to enter into them. And He permitted them.

There was a huge herd of swine there feeding on the mountain, and the demons begged Jesus to allow them to enter into the swine.  Jesus allowed them.  Why would Jesus allow the demons to bargain with Him?  Again, it was for the benefit of the witnesses to see exactly what end there was for those possessed by demons.

(33) Then the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep place into a lake and were drowned.

Apparently, this bargaining of the demons took place while they were still within the man, beginning when Jesus had commanded them to come out of him.  That shows that it was Jesus Himself who allowed them to bargain and plead, as they would have immediately gone out of the man against their will when Jesus commanded, but He permitted them this for the benefit of the witnesses.  The demons then went out of the man and into the herd of swine, and the herd ran violently over a cliff, into the lake, and were drowned.

(34) When they who fed them saw what was done, they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country.

When those who fed the swine, which totaled about 2000 head, according to the account in Mark, saw what happened to the herd, they ran away and told what had happened far and wide, in the city and in the country.

(35) Then they went out to see what was done and came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

When people heard the story of what had happened, they went out to see for themselves and went to Jesus where they found the man who had been possessed by the demons sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.  This made them afraid.

(36) They also who saw it told them by what means he who was possessed of the devils was healed.

The eyewitnesses to what had happened told the people who came out to see for themselves, the details of how it was that the man who had been possessed came to be healed.

(37) Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes all around besought Him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear; and He went into the ship and returned.

The entire country of the Gadarenes begged Jesus to leave them because they were so afraid.  One can only assume that they feared some great loss as had happened to the herd of swine, for if their fear was a reverential one for this prophet or God, they would have wanted to learn more and see others healed by Him.  They seemed to have more selfish concern for their possessions than they did for the miraculous healing of one of their own.  That may have been another reason why Jesus allowed the demons to have what they wished.  What a vivid example of unrepentant sinners it was that the Gadarenes, when they witnessed an awesome miracle in that Jesus could command devils, and what those devils were able to do to destroy their hosts, and what peace and right-mindedness Jesus gave, they yet chose to drive Him out of their country.  They chose their possessions over the gift of Jesus, and Jesus obliged and returned from whence He came.

(38) Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, (39) "Return to your own house and show what great things God has done to you." And he went his way and published throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done to him.

It seems there was one man in the whole country of the Gadarenes who chose to follow Jesus, the man who had been healed of the demons.  He asked Jesus to allow him to follow Him, but Jesus sent him back to his home to be a witness for Him.  At this time, that was where he could better serve, to give his testimony to all he could reach, for they had rejected Jesus and sent Him away.  The man did just that, reporting all the things Jesus had done for him throughout the city.

(40) And it came to pass that, when Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

In striking contrast to the Gadarenes, when Jesus returned, those people had been waiting for Him and welcomed Him gladly.

(41) And behold, there came a man named Jairus and he was a ruler of the synagogue; and he fell down at Jesus's feet and besought Him that He would come into his house.

A man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came up to Jesus and fell down at His feet and begged Him to come to his house.

(42) For he had one only daughter about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as He went, the people thronged Him.

Jairus asked Jesus to go to his house because there his only daughter, only twelve years old, was dying.  As Jesus went with him toward his house, the multitude of people crowded Him.

(43) And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians but could not be healed by any, (44) Came behind and touched the border of His garment, and immediately her issue of blood stopped.

Among the crowd was a woman who had had an issue of blood for twelve years.  She had spent her whole livelihood on doctors, but none had ever healed her.  She came up behind Jesus and touched the border of His garment and immediately her issue of blood stopped.  The account in Mark told us she had purposed to touch Jesus's garment to be healed, and indeed, she was.

(45) And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied, Peter and those who were with Him said, "Master, the multitude throngs You and presses You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"

Jesus immediately asked who had touched Him.  Everyone denied touching Him, but Peter and those with Him asked how He could ask such a question when it was obvious a crowd of many people pressed in on and touched Him.  Of course, we know that Jesus already knew who had touched Him, but for the benefit of the woman and the witnesses, including Peter and the disciples, He asked the question.

(46) And Jesus said, "Somebody has touched Me, for I perceive that power has gone out of Me."

Jesus said, in an answer to Peter, that He knew someone had touched Him for He felt power going out of Him.  It's not as if Jesus had not willed the power to go forth from Him and heal the woman.  It was not as if His healing power went out from Him just because people touched Him, or else the people who crowded Him would have also been healed.  Jesus said this to make a point and bring everyone's attention to just what had happened.  It was one of those teaching moments of Jesus.

(47) And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared to Him before all the people for what reason she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.

When the woman saw that what she had done in secret was not a secret to Jesus, she came to Him, trembling, and fell down before Him.  She confessed the reason she had sought to touch Him and told how she had been healed immediately.

(48) And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; your faith has made you whole; go in peace."

Jesus told the woman to be at peace; He was not angry with her.  On the contrary, He recognized her faith and told her that is why she had been healed, and she could go in peace.

(49) While He was still speaking, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Master."

While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone came from Jairus's house and told him that his daughter had died, so he should not trouble Jesus.

(50) But when Jesus heard, He answered him, saying, "Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole."

I believe it was by design that Jesus tarried with the woman who had the issue of blood.  Not only had valuable lessons been taught with the woman, but now Jesus could show that there was no need to fear even in the most hopeless situation when one had faith in Jesus.  And of course, He would demonstrate His power over death.

(51) And when He came into the house, He permitted no man to go in except Peter, James, John, and the father and the mother of the girl.

When Jesus came to Jairus's house, He only allowed Peter, James, and John, and of course, the parents of the girl, to go into the house.  There was no reason to allow a crowd of people to trample all over Jairus's house, but as was Jesus's usual custom, there would be two or three witnesses to establish a thing as truth (Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16).

(52) And all wept and bewailed her, but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping."

All the people who were already in the house wept and mourned over the girl.  However, Jesus told them not to weep because she was not dead, only sleeping.

(53) And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

The people in the house only laughed and ridiculed Jesus because they knew the girl was dead.

(54) And He put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, "Maid, arise."

Jesus put all those people out.  It is not helpful to have a bunch of non-believers and naysayers when one is holding onto faith in the seemingly impossible.  Besides, what kind of people were they, who were supposedly mournful over the girl, but then could turn so quickly to laughter and ridicule at so solemn a moment?  They were unworthy to be witnesses of this great miracle.  Jesus did not cast His pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6).  He then took the girl by the hand and called out to her to arise.

(55) And her spirit came again and she arose immediately, and He commanded to give her food.

The girl's soul and life returned to her, and she rose up from her bed immediately.  Jesus commanded her parents to give her some nourishment.

(56) And her parents were astonished, but He charged them that they should tell no one what was done.

The girl's parents were obviously amazed, but Jesus told them not to publish far and wide what was done there in private.  Of course, everyone could see that the girl was now alive, but after all, Jesus had said she was only sleeping.  There was no need to publish the details of this miracle and bring about the wrath of the Pharisees before the proper time.

This chapter began with Jesus preaching and teaching, and culminated with his restoring life to a dead girl.  That is, of course, the reason He came, to give us life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Jesus's Miraculous Healings and His Commendation of John and a Sorrowful Penitent Woman

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 7:1) Now when He had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered Capernaum.

When Jesus had finished speaking all the sayings and teachings He had been giving the people in chapter 6, He then went to Capernaum.

(2) And a certain centurion's servant who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.

There in Capernaum was a centurion who had a servant who was very dear to him, and that servant was very sick and on the verge of death.

(3) And when he heard of Jesus, he sent to Him the elders of the Jews, beseeching Him to come and heal his servant.

When the centurion heard that Jesus had come into Capernaum or perhaps meaning that he had heard the fame of Jesus as well, he sent Jewish elders to Jesus asking Him to come heal his servant.  The centurion, being a Roman officer and a Gentile, either felt unworthy to confront Jesus himself, or perhaps he thought it would be of more help to his servant if Jewish elders pled his case rather than a Gentile.

(4) And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying that he was worthy, the one for whom He should do this, (5) "For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue."

When the Jewish elders came to Jesus, they immediately pleaded with Him to help the centurion's servant, telling Him that this Roman centurion was a good man deserving of Jesus's mercy in healing his servant because he loved the Jewish nation and had built them a synagogue.

(6) Then Jesus went with them. And when He was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof."

Jesus went with the elders to the centurion's house.  However, when he neared the house, the centurion sent his friends out to meet Jesus to tell Him that he was unworthy to have Jesus enter his house.  That confirms the reason the centurion sent the Jewish elders in the first place.

(7) "Therefore, neither did I think myself worthy to come to You, but say the word, and my servant shall be healed."

The centurion confirmed to Jesus through his friends the reason he had not gone to Jesus Himself, that he had felt unworthy, but he had the faith to know that if Jesus only said the word, his servant would be healed.

(8) "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

The centurion in a way compared himself to Jesus in that he was also one in authority, having soldiers under him that did whatever he commanded.  He saw Jesus as one in authority who merely needed to command with the words, and it would be done.

(9) When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him and turned Himself around, and said to the people who followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

Jesus marveled at the faith of that Gentile centurion and turned back to the people who followed Him, and told them He had not seen in all of Israel so great a faith as was in this Gentile centurion.

(10) And they who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole who had been sick.

When the Jewish elders returned to the centurion's house, they found his servant completely well and whole.

(11) And it came to pass the day after that He went into a city called Nain, and many of His disciples went with Him, and many people.

The next day Jesus went into the city of Nain, followed by many of His disciples and many other people.

(12) Now when He came near to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and many people of the city were with her.

As Jesus neared the gate of the city of Nain, there was a dead man being carried out of the gates.  He was the only son of a widow, and many people of the city were with her.

(13) And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said to her, "Do not weep."

When Jesus saw the grieving widow, He had compassion for her, and told her not to weep.  How sweet is our Lord that He has such love and compassion for us!  He didn't wait until He was asked to help; He didn't wait until He saw proof of the widow's faith.  He felt compassion for her and wanted to help her.  The Lord shows mercy for whomever He wants (Romans 9:18).

(14) And He came and touched the bier, and they who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

Jesus came and touched the bier, the frame that was holding the dead man, and those who carried the bier stopped and stood still.  Jesus spoke to the dead man and told him to rise up.

(15) And he who was dead sat up and began to speak.  And He delivered him to his mother.

The young man who had been dead sat up and began to speak, proving he was indeed alive.  Jesus delivered him to his mother.

(16) And there came a fear on all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet is risen up among us," and "God has visited His people."

All the people were awestruck and filled with a reverential fear because they knew they were witnessing God in action.  They recognized that God had been with them to miraculously bring the young man back to life and they glorified Him.  They called Jesus a great prophet raised up by God.  More than just any prophet, they likely saw Him as the great Prophet that Moses had written about, who would be raised up from the midst of Israel (Deuteronomy 18:15).

(17) And this rumor of Him went forth throughout all Judea and throughout all the region round about.

The report of this miracle went out through all Judea and the surrounding region as the many witnesses told others about what had happened.

(18) And the disciples of John told him of all these things.

The disciples of John the Baptist, who was in prison at the time, told him all about the miracles that Jesus had been performing.

(19) And John, calling two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You He who is to come, or do we look for another?"

John called two of his disciples to send them to Jesus to ask if He was the promised Messiah or should they be looking for another.  John, of course, had seen and known Jesus as the Messiah, but he could not see him for himself at that point to confirm to his disciples that it was indeed the promised One.  For their sake and confirmation, he sent them to ask Jesus directly if He was the One.

(20) When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, 'Are You He who is to come, or do we look for another?'"

When John's disciples came to Jesus they told Him that John the Baptist had sent them to ask if He was the promised Messiah or if they should be looking for someone else, just as John had told them to say.

(21) And in that same hour He cured many of infirmities and plagues and evil spirits, and to many blind, He gave sight.

At that same time that John's disciples had come to Jesus, He was curing many people of infirmities, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and he was restoring sight to the blind.

(22) Then Jesus answering, said to them, "Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

Jesus then answered John's disciples, telling them to go back to John and tell him about the things they had seen and heard, that the blind could then see, the lame could walk, lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, even the dead were raised from the dead, and the gospel was preached to the poor.  In telling them these precise things, He was actually quoting prophetic scriptures that proved He was indeed the promised Messiah.  Isaiah 35:5-6 spoke of how the blind would see, the deaf would hear, and the lame would jump.  Isaiah 42:7 said the Messiah would bring out the prisoners, all those imprisoned by one affliction or another.  Isaiah 61:1 said God had sent Him to preach the gospel to the meek.

(23) "And blessed is whoever shall not be offended in Me."

Jesus also told John's disciples that whoever was not offended by Him would be blessed.  Those who saw the truth in His words and actions and were not ashamed to call Him who He was, would be blessed.  That may have been a hint from prophecy, as well, as Isaiah 8:14-15 said He would be a stumbling rock of offense and many would stumble and fall.  They were encouraged to see the truth and not stumble and fall.

(24) And when the messengers of John were departed, He began to speak to the people concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?"

When John's disciples left Jesus, He began to speak to the people about John.  He asked them what they had gone into the wilderness to see, with regard to John.  Had they troubled themselves to go out there to see someone wavering and unstable, what He called a reed shaken by the wind?

(25) "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, they who are gorgeously appareled and live delicately are in kings' courts."

Had the people gone out in the wilderness to see a man finely dressed living in luxury as if he belonged in a king's court?

(26) "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet."

Had the people gone out to see John because he was a prophet?  Jesus answered that He knew they did, but He was there to tell them that John was much more than a prophet.

(27) "This is of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.'"

Jesus told the people that John was the one who had been prophesied in Malachi 3:1, "Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me..."

(28) "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Jesus told the people that there had been no greater prophet than John born on earth.  However, He went on to say that the very least of those in the kingdom of God would be greater than John the Baptist.  That is because they had Jesus Himself whom they would witness dying on the cross and rising again.  John had only the promise of that.  Jesus would teach a new covenant, whereas John had only the old and a promise of the new to come.  After Jesus ascended into heaven after His death, He would send the Holy Spirit to His people.  John baptized only with water, but men afterward would be baptized with water and with fire; the Holy Spirit would come to live within them.

(29) And all the people who heard, including the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

There are two ways to interpret this.  All the people who heard the words of Jesus, even tax collectors and the worst of characters, after being baptized by John, declared God to be just and righteous.  Albert Barnes, in his Notes on the Bible, wrote that these were the continued words of Jesus, that all the people who heard John the Baptist, including the least, the lowliest characters on earth, proved God just and righteous when they had been baptized by John, following through with what had been ordained, repentance and baptism.

(30) But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized by him.

The scribes and Pharisees on the whole, perhaps with a few exceptions, rejected God's plan to the detriment of themselves, by not being baptized by John.  Again, these might have been the words of Jesus, according to Albert Barnes, first qualifying His statement about whom might be considered the least in the kingdom of God (v. 29) and disqualifying those who rejected John's message and his baptism.

(31) And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?"

Jesus asked the people to what He should liken the people of His generation.  That question does seem to logically follow a statement about those who rejected John's message and baptism.  Additionally, most Biblical manuscripts omitted the words "And the Lord said."  It's as if the scribe who added them did so to return the reader back to what Jesus said after the parenthetical statements in verse 29 and 30.  However, knowing they probably were not in the original manuscripts, that fact lends credence to the fact that verses 29 and 30 were the continued words of Jesus. 

(32) "They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling one to another, and saying, 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have mourned to you, and you have not wept.'"

Jesus's point was that that present generation was like a people who ignored the calls of the children.  They were neither happy with the piped music nor were they mournful when they were among those who mourned; they could not be pleased.  John Gill, in his Exposition of the Bible pointed out something I did not see the first time I read this account in Matthew.  The children who imitated the pipers represented Christ and His disciples who delivered the joyful sound of the Gospel.  The children who acted as the mourners represented John the Baptist who preached the doctrine of repentance.  The other children who responded to neither were like the scribes and Pharisees of that present generation who were moved by neither John nor Jesus.

(33) "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a devil.'"

Jesus pointed out that John the Baptist came, represented by the children who played the mourners, in an austere solemn manner calling people to recognize their sins and repent, but the people of that generation called him mad and demon possessed.

(34) "The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!'"

However, when Jesus came in the opposite manner, eating and drinking and fellowshipping with the common people, then they called Him an immoral man who gave Himself up to sinful pleasures like eating and drinking too much and palling around with sinners.  These people would not be pleased any way.

(35) "But wisdom is justified by all her children."

Jesus said that wisdom was justified or proven by its fruits, called its children.  Or perhaps the meaning is that wisdom would be justified by the children of God who submitted to His wisdom.  In the end, regardless of what the scribes and Pharisees thought, the wisdom of Christ would be proven right.

(36) And one of the Pharisees desired Him to eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to the meal.

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to his house to eat with him, and Jesus graciously accepted.  At this point, it's hard to know if the Pharisee had genuine interest in Jesus and His message or if he was looking for another reason to accuse Him.

(37) And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the meal in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, (38) And stood at His feet behind weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

There was a woman in that city, called a sinner, who heard that Jesus was eating a meal at the Pharisee's house, and she went there, bringing an alabaster box of ointment.  She stood behind Jesus at His feet and cried many tears with which she began to wash His feet and then dried them with her hair.  She kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment from the alabaster box.

(39) Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman it is who touched Him, for she is a sinner."

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus to eat with him witnessed this action of the woman and thought to himself that if Jesus were really a prophet, he would have known what sort of woman was touching Him, a sinner.

(40) And Jesus answering, said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he said, "Master, say on."

Jesus, of course, knew the Pharisee's thoughts, and calling him by name, Simon, told him He had something to say to him.  Simon asked Him to go ahead and tell him.

(41) "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty."

Jesus began a parable saying that there was a creditor who had two debtors, one owing him 500 pence and the other owing 50.

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

Jesus continued His parable saying that neither of the debtors had the money to repay the creditor, and he graciously and gratuitously, which is the more complete definition of the original word used here, forgave them both.  He then posed the question to Simon, asking which of the debtors would love the creditor the most.

(43) Simon answered and said, "I suppose, to whom he forgave most." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."

Simon answered Jesus's question by saying that he assumed that the debtor who had been forgiven the most would likely love the creditor most, and Jesus told him he had judged correctly.

(44) And He turned to the woman, and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, you gave Me no water for my feet, but she has washed My feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head."

Jesus turned back to the woman, but speaking to Simon, asked him to see and consider the woman.  Jesus said He had entered into Simon's house and he had given Him no water to wash His feet as was the customary gesture offered by a host.  Once again, it's hard to know if this was simple forgetfulness or contempt.  However, Jesus told Simon, this sinner, as Simon had called her, had washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

(45) "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss My feet."

Jesus told Simon that he had not kissed Jesus which was a usual sign of salutation or affection used by men, and would have been an appropriate gesture to someone he had invited into his home to eat.  However, this sinful woman had not ceased kissing Jesus's feet ever since she came in.  That is the proper pronoun that should be used here, as the woman was not there when Jesus arrived, but came in after Him when she realized He was there.

(46) "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment."

Jesus told Simon he had not anointed His head with oil, as was another common custom among the Jews.  However, this woman had anointed Jesus's feet with the ointment in her alabaster box that was surely more precious and costly than the oil regularly used would be.

(47) "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little."

Jesus told Simon that the woman's sins were forgiven and that is why she loved Him so much.  She knew the fame of Jesus and that is why she went into the house when she knew He was there.  Jesus knew her heart and she showed it by her sorrowful tears and her servant like ministry to Him.  By her great love, she demonstrated her great faith, and because she knew how great her sins were, her love was therefore greater.  However, someone who had been forgiven very little would not feel the same great amount of love and would therefore not demonstrate that love as he loved little.

(48) And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus told the woman that her many sins were forgiven.

(49) And they who sat at the meal with Him began to say within themselves, "Who is this who forgives sins, also?"

The other people who sat at Simon's table with them began to ponder within themselves who this man could possibly be who forgave sins.  They could have been awestruck in a good way by the thought that no one but God could forgive sins, but probably were more likely offended by His apparent blasphemy, apparent to their blind eyes, that is.

(50) And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Jesus went on to tell the woman that her faith in Him had saved her and for her to go in peace.  That confirmed to her that her sins were forgiven as her faith had saved her from righteous judgment and punishment for her sins.  Therefore, she could now go in peace with that knowledge.

In this chapter, Jesus continued His miracles of healing, and to a greater extent.  He healed from a distance and He raised a man from the dead.  He also gave a great commendation of John the Baptist, but as great as he was, Jesus said the least in the kingdom of God would be greater than him.  Then He appeared to prove His statement by forgiving the sins of a sinful woman who displayed great love, sorrow, and repentance, and He enumerated her loving and faithful actions to judgmental Simon who had denied Jesus even the most common courtesies.