Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Luke Ch.7 / 24 Ch.s
LU:7
* The centurion's servant healed. (1-10) The widow's son raised.
(11-18) John the Baptist's inquiry concerning Jesus. (19-35)
Christ anointed in the house of the Pharisee The parable of the
two debtors. (36-50)
#1-10 Servants should study to endear themselves to their
masters. Masters ought to take particular care of their servants
when they are sick. We may still, by faithful and fervent
prayer, apply to Christ, and ought to do so when sickness is in
our families. The building places for religious worship is a
good work, and an instance of love to God and his people. Our
Lord Jesus was pleased with the centurion's faith; and he never
fails to answer the expectations of that faith which honours his
power and love. The cure soon wrought and perfect.
#11-18 When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the
grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death
itself. The gospel call to all people, to young people
particularly, is, Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you
light and life. When Christ put life into him, it appeared by
the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show
it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us spiritual life,
he opens the lips in prayer and praise. When dead souls are
raised to spiritual life, by Divine power going with the gospel,
we must glorify God, and look upon it as a gracious visit to his
people. Let us seek for such an interest in our compassionate
Saviour, that we may look forward with joy to the time when the
Redeemer's voice shall call forth all that are in their graves.
May we be called to the resurrection of life, not to that of
damnation.
#19-35 To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds
this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is
preached. It clearly pointed out the spiritual nature of
Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he sent before him to
prepare his way, did it by preaching repentance and reformation
of heart and life. We have here the just blame of those who were
not wrought upon by the ministry of John Baptist or of Jesus
Christ himself. They made a jest of the methods God took to do
them good. This is the ruin of multitudes; they are not serious
in the concerns of their souls. Let us study to prove ourselves
children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's word,
and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and
Pharisees deride and blaspheme.
#36-50 None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the
glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they
feel they cannot enough express self-abhorrence on account of
sin, and admiration of his mercy, the self-sufficient will be
disgusted, because the gospel encourages such repenting sinners.
The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman's
repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character.
But without free forgiveness none of us can escape the wrath to
come; this our gracious Saviour has purchased with his blood,
that he may freely bestow it on every one that believes in him.
Christ, by a parable, forced Simon to acknowledge that the
greater sinner this woman had been, the greater love she ought
to show to Him when her sins were pardoned. Learn here, that sin
is a debt; and all are sinners, are debtors to Almighty God.
Some sinners are greater debtors; but whether our debt be more
or less, it is more than we are able to pay. God is ready to
forgive; and his Son having purchased pardon for those who
believe in him, his gospel promises it to them, and his Spirit
seals it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let
us keep far from the proud spirit of the Pharisee, simply
depending upon and rejoicing in Christ alone, and so be prepared
to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to recommend him
unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and
our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the
forgiveness of our sins. What a wonderful change does grace make
upon a sinner's heart and life, as well as upon his state before
God, by the full remission of all his sins through faith in the
Lord Jesus!