The Faith Jesus Celebrates - Luke 7:1-10, 36-50

1After Jesus had finished teaching all this to the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they urged him earnestly, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5because he loves our nation, and even built our synagogue.” 6So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed. 8For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!” 10So when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.

36Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. 38As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40So Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.” 48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”