Luke 7b: HG Bishop Youssef

Outline

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• 1-10: Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant
• 11-17: Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain
• 18-35: John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
• 36-50: A Sinful Woman Forgiven

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

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^{1 29} NowAnd when Heall concludedthe people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

• Justified God
  • Publicly declared and confessed the goodness and justice of God.
  • They approved of what God had done and blessed His name for sending among them such a great prophet like John the Baptist.
  • They received the word of God and listened to the preaching of John the Baptist and were baptized by him
  • Those who believe and obey the message that God sends, we declare the righteousness and justice of God.
• Those who had repented and received the ministry of St John the Baptist found it easy to accept the message of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who did not, would accuse and condemn God.
• The will of God was that all Hiswho sayingsheard John's teaching would repent and then accept the message of salvation
• The Pharisees and lawyers did not believe the testimony of John the Baptist, and thus rejected the will of God and the economy of God relating to their salvation. That's why they were not saved.

³¹ And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the hearingmarketplace ofand calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the people,flute He enteredfor Capernaum. you,
2 And ayou certaindid centurion’snot servant,dance;
We who was dearmourned to him, was sick and ready to die. you,
3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And whenyou theydid camenot to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, ⁵ “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”weep.’

^6 33 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far fromFor John the house,Baptist thecame neither centurioneating sentbread friendsnor todrinking Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word,wine, and myyou servantsay, will‘He be healed. ⁸ For I also amhas a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,demon.’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

⁹ When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” ^10 34 AndThe thoseSon whoof wereMan sent,has returningcome eating toand thedrinking, house,and foundyou thesay, servant‘Look, wella whoglutton hadand beena sick.winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

•  WhenThe HeLord concludeduses allan Hisimage sayingsto -explain the sayingsleaders of ChapterIsrael's 6conduct
• TheThey Centurionhave been exceptionally blessed with two great divine messages:
  • AOne Centurionby isJohn athe RomanBaptist, Officerthe whoservant commandedof 100 men (prefix cent-)God
  • RomanOne soldiers were stationed all over Israel including Galilee, Samaria and Judea in order to maintain order
  • This Centurion appears to be a devout, humble man despite being a Gentile Roman Soldier
    • As a Roman soldier, he is an instrument in the hand of the Roman Government to oppress Jews
    • As a Gentile, he would not be able to enter beyond the Court of Gentiles in the Temple, but he could attend Sabbath services in the synagogue.
    • He financed the building of a synagogue in Capernaum - showing his love for the Jews
    • Under Roman Law, a master has the right to kill his servant and it was expected to do so if the servant became ill or injured to the point that he cannot work... but this Centurion was a godly man who, when his servant was sick, he heard about Christ and sent the elders of the Jews to Him
• Why did he send elders and friends instead of going himself?
  • The Lord had become very famous as a Jewish teacher... so the Centurion, perceiving himself as unworthy and unfit to go ask a favor from a great Teacher likeby the Lord Jesus Christ, sent elders of the JewsMessiah and his friends, instead
    • The elders of the Jews went and told the Lord that this man, despite being a Gentile and a soldier, is worthy - "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue"
    • Even later, he sends his friends to the Lord to explain why he did not come himself
  • These conversations in the Gospel of St Matthew are said to be done by the Centurion, himself - but St Matthew was simply summarizing those parts of the story.
  • "He the Centurion was feeling unworthy, but he showed himself worthy of Christ entering - not within his roof, but within heart." - St Augustine
• The Centurion understood authority and chain of command
• The Lord marvels at him and at the Israelites
  • The Jews asked to touch the Lord Jesus Christ to be healed
  • This man believed that even without a touch, just at the spoken word of the Lord, his servant would be healed
  • The Lord marvels at the man's faith, but also at the unbelief of Israel
• The servant is healed
  • The Lord answered the Centurion's unselfish request and proved that He has the authority that the Centurion trusted Him to have - without seeing him, touching him, speaking to him... He spoke and the sick was cured.

Jesus Raises theIncarnated Son of the Widow of Nain

15:12

¹¹ Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. ¹² And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

¹⁶ Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” ¹⁷ And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

• This story is only mentioned in the Gospel of St Luke
• Nain is a city near Tabor in Galilee
• A dead man was being carried out of the city
  • They used to not bury inside the city
  • All funerals are tragedies... but this one is a special loss
    • At that time, women did not work...
    • Since she's a widow, her son is now taking care of her and now her son is dead. So there is noone to support her.
    • Losing a son or daughter is one of the most difficult tragedies... more so than losing a parent or other relative
    • A large crowd followed in order to give sympathy
• The Lord had compassion on her
  • In this instance, as in so many others, the miracle of the Lord is not from a distinct purpose to give Himself credentials - but came from His own compassion on human suffering.
  • When He saw the widow crying and weeping, He showed divine compassion for the human suffering
• TouchingHe chose an everyday scene from the Coffinpeople's life that they had witnessed often:
  • AccordingChildren toplayed simple games in the Jewishopen Law,air (e.g. a coffin is impure and if you touched it you became ritually impure. marketplace)
  • The Lordresentment touchedof thea opengroup coffinof and thosechildren who carriedrefused itto stoodtake still.part in or approve of any game
    • TheySo marveledthere that Jesus, who was known asare a teacher,group wouldof touchchildren and when they see the coffinchildren whichplaying mosta Rabbishappy wouldgame calllike impure
    a
    wedding
  -
  they
• He presented himrefuse to hisparticipate. mother(The to make it clear "I raised you to take care of your mother"flute)
• Jesus showed hereSo the greatnesschildren ofplay Hisa power,different but also the truth of His mission - so the people gave thanks to God and glorified Him
• This report went to all Judea and the surrounding region
• The Lord's Authority over Death
  • The Daughter of Jairus
  • The Son of the Widow of Nain
  • Lazarus
  • "As the Lord had mercy on the body, He also has mercy on our souls. These three miracles are illustrations of Christ's divine power and love in raising our souls that are dead in trespasses and sin. Whether the soul be dead but not yet carried outgame like thea Daughter of Jairus; or dead and carried out but not buried like the son of the widow; or dead, carried out and buried like Lazarus. He who raised Himself on the third day can raise all of us from the death of sin. Therefore, let no one despair."funeral - St Augustine

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

25:18

¹⁸ Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

• We have three passages about the relationship between the Lord Jesus to St John
  • 18-23
  • 24-30
  • 31-35
• We can conclude some facts about the disciples of John:
  • The disciples of John were present when the Lord performed these miracles and they heardstill His teachings
  • Although John was imprisoned, his disciples were allowed free accessrefuse to him
  participate.
  • St(The Luke likely heard this account from one of the disciples of St John

¹⁹ And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

²⁰ When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ” ²¹ And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

²² Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. ²³ And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

• We have seen before that John knew clearly that the Lord is the Messiah... so why is he sending these disciples?
  • Nowadays some say it's because John doubted that Jesus is the Messiah since he was in prison and hadn't been delivered... This is not in line with his character or what the Lord says about him.mourning)
  • TheYou Fathersresent ofevery the Church teach us that he sent his disciples to remove all doubt from their heart, and not for his own personal satisfaction.
• In response to those disciples, in that very hour, Jesus cured many and then answered them to "Go and tell John the things that you have seen and heard"
  • In the Gospel of St Matthew, St Matthew says the Lord simply sent a verbal message. But St Luke gives more detail that the Lord did miracles in their presence first.
  • That very hour:
    • "He knew what John's design was in sending to Him. He knew that in this very moment, those two disciples would come. He put it into his heart to send at that very time when He, Himself, was working many miracles which were the true answer to the question." - St Cyril of Alexandriaact
  • The poorchildren havethat played the gospel preached to them
    • The poor in spirit,flute and thosewere whohappy do not trust inrepresent the riches of the world
    • Those who are gratified by temporal things are too satisfied or too busy to pay attention to the word of God
• Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me
  • Obviously this message is not for St John the Baptist, because he is not offended by Him
  • Some people had a preconceived idea about Jesus - as a man, or as less than any prophet (e.g. people in Nazareth, Pharisees, those who perceived the Lord as a temporal deliverer of Israel)
  • Those who do not take offense at Jesus for what they think He should be, but who recognize His true identity as the Son of God, and accepted His miracles as signs of His authority, and believe in His mission to announce the Kingdom - These are the children of God; the citizens of the Kingdom of God.

²⁴ When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is he of whom it is written:

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

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.”

• Why did the Lord wait until the two disciples departed before praising John? Why not praise him in their presence?
  • The Lord refrained from praising John in their presence lest He be accused of flattery or hypocrisy
• He praises John as a man of God
  • John did not live for his own comfort or the approval of others
  • John is steadfast, not shaken easily like a reed, but firm in his message of repentance
  • He was not like a reed swayed by the wind of secular society - people say this, so he follows them. He was stable.
  • He lived a disciplined life not a life of luxury. He wore coarse camel hair for his garment
• He praises John as a prophet
  • John was a prophet - everyone knew that. John came after hundreds of years without a prophet - so many people came to hear him and be baptized by him.
  • The Lord says he was much more than a prophet because he came to prepare the way of the Lord Jesus Christ
  -
  • The children that played the Forerunner.mourning Heand sawgrieving part represent John the MessiahBaptist and baptizedhis Him!disciples Sowho hepreached wasthe greaterdoctrine thanof anyrepentance
  other
  • The prophetchildren beforewho him.refused to join both groups are the Scribes and Pharisees who were not pleased with either one
• HeThey praises John as one prophesied about
  • The Lord quotes from Malachi
  • Malachi 3:1 - "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me."
  • Centuries ago, the mission ofcondemned John the Baptist wasfor foretoldhis asceticism and describedsaid by"He has a demon."
  • They condemned the prophetLord Malachi
  Jesus
  Christ
for
• His tenderness and said "He praisesis Johna asglutton theand greatesta amongwinebibber, thosea bornfriend of womentax collectors and sinners"
  • This versedoesn't confusesmean many scholars
  • How isthat the leastLord inwould theget kingdomdrunk... ofit Godwas greatera thanfalse John?accusation
    just
    • John is the greatest of the Old Covenant Prophets
    • Butas John the Baptist did not seehave thea comingdemon.
    • "Friend of thetax Kingdom.collectors and sinners" - in their mind they meant that He sawparticipated thein Kingdomtheir comingsins. butThis is also a false accusation.
    • In reality, He was truly their friend in that He loved them and did not seedespise howor push them away. Rather, He wanted them to change and abandon the Kingdomsinful life and consecrate themselves to the Godly life. He wanted to rescue them from the guilt, shame, power and penalty of Godtheir wassins.
    fulfilled
    through
  the
  • Wisdom Crucifixionis andjustified Resurrectionby ofall ourher Lordchildren Jesus
    Christ.
    • The Throughwise openingman theis gates of Paradise and transferring the righteous from Hadesproved to Paradise.be Johnwise theby Baptist,his himself,wise went to Hades when he died.actions
    • The humblestwise childperson ofis the Newone Kingdomthat isaccepted superiorGod's towill the greatest prophet of the Old Testament.
    • Why?by:
      • NowRepenting we can be united with Christ throughat the Eucharist
      • When we die, we don't go to Hades, but to Paradise.
      • The Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified, but now you are the templehand of God and the Holy Spirit abides in you.
      • Among those born of women, there is no greater than John the Baptist - but the members of the Church of Christ, who are born of water and spirit, are greater than John the Baptist
    • Rejoicing
  • St John Chrysostom and St Augustine and some other fathers had difficulty in accepting this explanation
    • They suggest that "the least inat the Kingdommessage of God" refers to the Lord Jesus Christ
    because
    He
  was
  • In youngerour thancontemporary Johntime, those who are opposing the Baptistteachings byof sixthe monthsScripture andare sonot "less"children refersof tothe Himselfwisdom butof inGod. age.
  They
  • Thatare like the contentious children of Israel that the Lord wouldsaid sayto thisthem because"You someare peoplelike esteemedchildren Johnsitting in the Baptistmarketplace asand greatercalling thanto Himone another, saying: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep.'
    • Let us study and examine ourselves:
      • Are we the children of wisdom or not?
      • Are we attending to the commandment of God?
      • Are we attending to the Mysteries of the Church?
      • Are we following the glad tidings of the Gospel of Salvation?
      • Or are we like the Scribes and Pharisees rejecting the will of God toward ourselves?

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

17:03

• The story of the sinful woman who went to the house of Simon the Pharisee is about repentance and the relationship between forgiveness and love, so we pray it every day as the gospel of the Midnight Hour

³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

⁴¹ “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” ⁴⁴ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; 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. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

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