1When Jesus had finished saying all these things where the people could hear him, he went into Capernaum.
2A certain centurion had a servant who was dear to him. The servant was sick and about to die.
3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to him. He begged Jesus to come and heal his servant.
4When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, "This man deserves to have you do this for him."
5"For he loves our nation, and he built us a synagogue."
6So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him to say, "Lord, do not trouble yourself. I am not worthy to have you come under my roof."
7That is why I did not think myself worthy to come to you. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8"For I too am a man placed under authority, and I have soldiers under me. 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."
9When Jesus heard these things, he was amazed at him. He turned round and said to the crowd that followed him, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."
10The men who had been sent went back to the house. There they found the servant well again.
11The next day Jesus went to a town called Nain. Many of his disciples went with him, and a large crowd.
12As he came near the town gate, look, a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, "Do not weep."
14Then he came and touched the open coffin, and the men carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up."
15The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16Fear came on them all, and they gave glory to God. They said, "A great prophet has risen among us," and, "God has come to help his people."
17This report about him spread through all Judaea and all the country around.
18The disciples of John told him about all these things.
19So John called two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we look for another?"
20When the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we look for another?'"
21At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases and sufferings and evil spirits, and to many who were blind he gave sight.
22Then Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard. The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
23"And blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me."
24When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the people about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?"
25But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear splendid clothes and live in luxury are in kings' palaces.
26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
27This is the one about whom it is written, 'Look, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
28"For I tell you, among those born of women there is no greater prophet than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29All the people who heard him, and the tax collectors too, declared that God was right, for they had been baptized with the baptism of John.
30But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by him.
31The Lord said, "To what then shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?"
32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance. We sang a song of mourning, and you did not weep.'
33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'
34The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a greedy man and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
35"But wisdom is shown to be right by all her children."
36One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. So he went into the Pharisee's house and sat down at the table.
37And look, a woman in the town who was a sinner heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
38and she stood behind him at his feet, weeping. She began to wash his feet with her tears and wipe them with the hair of her head. She kissed his feet and poured the perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is, for she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he said, "Teacher, say it."
41"There was a certain moneylender who had two men in debt to him. One owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty."
42"When they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both. Tell me then, which of them will love him most?"
43Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave most." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."
44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head."
45You gave me no kiss, but since the time I came in, this woman has not stopped kissing my feet.
46You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume.
47"So I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little loves little."
48Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49Those who were eating with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."