Luk 7 | MHCC | e4.org | 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.

‏ Luke 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!