Luke 7:49
in Luke 7But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins?
KJV
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
⋯
This verse in Luke 7
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Who is this ... - A very pertinent question. Who could he be but God? Man could not do it, and there is no wonder that they were amazed.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
It happens that, whatever state of life a man has reached, he sometimes can offer pure and devout prayer. Even in the lowliest place, where a man is repenting from fear of punishment and the judgment to come, his petitions can enrich him with the same fervor of spirit as the man, who attained to purity of heart, gazes upon God's blessing and is filled with an overwhelming happiness. As the Lord said, "The one who knows he has been forgiven more begins to love more."
He came that he might forgive the debtors much and little and show mercy upon small and great, that there might be no one whatsoever who did not participate in his goodness. As a pledge and plain example of his grace, he freed that unchaste woman from her many iniquities by saying, "Your sins are forgiven you." A declaration such as this is truly worthy of God! It is a word joined with supreme authority. Since the law condemned those that were in sin, who, I ask, was able to declare things above the law, except the One who ordained it? He immediately both set the woman free and directed the attention of that Pharisee and those who were dining with him to more excellent things. They learned that the Word being God was not like one of the prophets, but rather far beyond the measure of humanity although he became man.
And therefore let our soul put on charity, and such charity as may be strong as death; for as death is the end of sins, so is charity the end also. For he that loveth the Lord, ceaseth from sin; for charity thinketh no evil, nor rejoiceth in iniquity, but beareth all things. For he that seeketh not the things that are his own, how shall he seek the things that are another's? And there is a mortal sin, which is washed away by baptism, by which all sin is buried, and the guilt is taken away.
The Medieval Church2 voices
(ubi sup.) Behold she who had come sick to the Physician was healed, but because of her safety others are still sick; for it follows, And they that sat at meat began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also. But the heavenly Physician regards not those sick, whom He sees to be made still worse by His remedy, but her whom He had healed He encourages by making mention of her own piety; as it follows, But he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath made thee whole; for in truth she doubted not that she would receive what she sought for.
Behold, she who had come sick to the physician has been healed, but others are still sick concerning her salvation. For those reclining at table together complained, saying among themselves: "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But the heavenly physician does not despise the sick, even those whom he sees becoming worse from the medicine.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And those who sat at the table with him began to say within themselves: Who is this who even forgives sins? But the heavenly physician does not regard those who are sick, for he even sees some becoming worse from the medicine. He confirms the …
Second, as regards the perverse judgment of human impiety, there is added: And those who were reclining at table together began to say within themselves, namely by judging wrongly and despising him: Who is this, who even forgives sins? As if they were saying: since …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. Some difference there is between this story of the cure of the centurion's servant as it is related here and as we had it in Matt. viii. There it was said that the centurion came to Christ; here it is said that he sent to him first some of the elders of the Jews (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And they that sat at meat with him,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
The deeply interesting narrative contained in these verses, is only found in the Gospel of Luke. In order to see the full beauty of the story — we should read, in connection with it, the eleventh chapter of Matthew. We shall then discover the striking fact that the woman whose conduct is here recorded, most likely owed her conversion to the well-known words, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden — and I will give you rest."
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The deeply interesting narrative contained in these verses, is only found in the Gospel of Luke. In order to see the full beauty of the story — we should read, in connection with it, the eleventh chapter of Matthew. We shall then discover the striking fact that the woman whose conduct is here recorded, most likely owed her conversion to the well-known words, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden — and I will give you rest." That wondrous invitation, in all human probability — was the means of the saving of her soul, and gave her that sense of peace for which we see her so grateful. A full offer of free pardon — is generally God's chosen instrument for bringing sinners to repentance. We see in this passage that men may show some outward respect to Christ — and yet remain unconverted. The Pharisee before us is a case in point. He showed our Lord Jesus Christ more respect than many did. He even asked Jesus to have dinner with him. Yet all this time he was profoundly ignorant of the nature of Christ's Gospel. His proud heart secretly revolted at the sight of a poor contrite sinner being allowed to wash our Lord's feet. And even the hospitality he showed, appears to have been cold and niggardly. Our Lord Himself says, "You did not give me any water for my feet. You did not give me a kiss. You did not put oil on my head." In short, in all that the Pharisee did, there was one great defect. There was outward civility — but there was no heart-love. We shall do well to remember the case of this Pharisee. It is quite possible to have a decent form of religion — and yet to know nothing of the Gospel of Christ. It is possible to treat Christianity with respect — and yet to be utterly blind about its cardinal doctrines.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἤρξαντο | erxanto | began | G757 → | 85 times |
| οἱ | hoi | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| συνανακείμενοι | sunanakeimenoi | reclining | G4873 → | 7 times |
| λέγειν | legein | to say | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ἐν | en | within | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἑαυτοῖς· | he'autois | themselves; | G1438 → | 322 times |
| τίς | tis | Who | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὗτός | houtos | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| ὃς | hos | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἁμαρτίας | hamartias | sins | G266 → | 173 times |
| ἀφίησιν; | aphiesin | forgives? | G863 → | 143 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἤρξαντοbegan
erxantoG757 →85 times
οἱthose
hoiG3588 →19766 times
συνανακείμενοιreclining
sunanakeimenoiG4873 →7 times
λέγεινto say
legeinG3004 →1325 times
ἐνwithin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἑαυτοῖς·themselves;
he'autoisG1438 →322 times
τίςWho
tisG5101 →563 times
οὗτόςthis
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
ὃςwho
hosG3739 →1405 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἁμαρτίαςsins
hamartiasG266 →173 times
ἀφίησιν;forgives?
aphiesinG863 →143 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 2:7“Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
it leads to
- Luke 5:21
But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Daniel 9:9
To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him
- Micah 7:18
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- John 20:20–23
After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
- Luke 5:21
Through
Matthew 9:3On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
it leads to
- Matthew 26:65
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- Leviticus 24:16
Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he…
- John 10:33–36
“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”
- Matthew 26:65
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Luke
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On Isaac and the Soul; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 7; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 40; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 33; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Cassian, Conferences 2.9; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.