The Faith of the Centurion (Matthew 8:5–13; John 4:43–54)
1 UST After Jesus finished saying all these things to the people who were listening, he went to the town of Capernaum. BSB BSB: When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
2 UST In that town there was a centurion in the Roman army who had a slave who was dear to him. This slave was so sick that he was about to die. BSB BSB: There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.
3 UST When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his slave. BSB BSB: When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant.
4 UST When they came to Jesus, they earnestly asked him{ to help the centurion’ s slave}. They said,“He deserves to have you do this for him, BSB BSB: They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,
6 UST So Jesus went with them{ to the officer’ s house}. When he was almost there, the officer sent some friends to give this message to Jesus:“Lord, do not go to the trouble{ of coming here}, since I am not worthy to have you come into my house. BSB BSB: So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.
7 UST That is why I did not feel that I was worthy to come to you in person. I knew that you could heal my dear slave just by speaking{ a command}. BSB BSB: That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 UST { I know that you can do this} because I myself am a man who must obey the orders of my superiors. I also have soldiers who must obey my orders. When I say to one of them,‘Go!’ he goes. When I say to another one,‘Come!’ he comes. When I say to my slave,‘Do this!’ he does it.” BSB BSB: For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
9 UST When Jesus heard what the officer had said, he was amazed at him. Then he turned to the crowd that was with him and said,“Let me tell you, I have not met any Israelite who trusts me as much as this Gentile does!” BSB BSB: When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
10 UST When the friends who had come from the centurion returned to his house, they found that the slave was in good health again. BSB BSB: And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son 11 UST Soon after that Jesus traveled to the town of Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him. BSB BSB: Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.
12 UST As Jesus came near to the town gate, he saw a large crowd coming out of the town. A man had just died, and they were carrying him out to bury him. His mother was in the crowd. She was a widow, and he had been her only son.{ He had taken care of her while he was alive.} BSB BSB: As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
13 UST When Jesus saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her,“Do not cry!” BSB BSB: When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
14 UST Then he came close{ to them} and touched the stretcher{ on which the body was lying}. The men carrying it stood still. He said,“Young man, I say to you, get up!” BSB BSB: Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”
15 UST Then the man who had died sat up and began to talk! And Jesus led him back to his mother. BSB BSB: And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 UST Everyone there was awestruck. They praised God and said{ to each other},“A great prophet has come among us!” and“God has come to care for his people!” BSB BSB: A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
17 UST Then this news about{ what} Jesus{ had done} spread throughout the region of Judea and all the other areas nearby. BSB BSB: And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.
John’s Inquiry (Matthew 11:1–6)
18 UST The disciples of John the Baptizer told him about all these things. So John called for two of his disciples and told them to go to the Lord and ask him:“Are you the one whom God promised would come, or should we be expecting someone else?” BSB BSB: Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things.
20 UST When those two men came to Jesus, they told him,“John the Baptizer sent us to ask you,‘Are you the one whom God promised would come? Or should we wait for someone else?’” BSB BSB: When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’”
21 UST At that same time Jesus was healing many people from sicknesses and serious diseases, and he was delivering them from evil spirits. He also gave many blind people the ability to see again. BSB BSB: At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
22 UST So he answered those two men,“Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard. People who were blind are now seeing. People who were lame are now walking. People who had skin diseases no longer have them. People who were deaf can now hear. People who were dead have come back to life. I am proclaiming good news to poor people.” BSB BSB: So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
23 UST { And also tell him,}“God will bless anyone who{ sees what I do and hears what I teach and} continues to believe in me.” BSB BSB: Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”
Jesus Testifies about John (Malachi 3:1–5; Matthew 11:7–19)
24 UST When the men whom John had sent left, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said,“What did you go into the wilderness to see? A thin stalk of a plant shaken by the wind? BSB BSB: After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?
25 UST But what did you go out to see? A man wearing fancy clothing? Listen, those who wear splendid clothes and who have the best of everything live in kings’ palaces. BSB BSB: Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.
26 UST Then what did you go out there to see? A prophet? Yes{, that is who John is}! But I tell you that John is more significant than an ordinary prophet. BSB BSB: What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
27 UST He is the one about whom the prophet wrote long ago:‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare people for your coming.’ BSB BSB: This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 UST I tell you that of all the people who have ever lived, there is no one greater than John. Yet the most insignificant people whose lives God is ruling are greater than John.” BSB BSB: I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 UST When all the people whom John had baptized heard what Jesus said— including the tax collectors— they agreed that God had done the right thing{ by sending John}. BSB BSB: All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.
30 UST But the Pharisees and the experts in the Jewish law, whom John had not baptized, rejected God’ s will for them. BSB BSB: But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.
31 UST { Then Jesus also said,}“{ I will tell you} what you people living in this time period are like. BSB BSB: “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like?
32 UST You are like children playing games in an open area. They call out to each other, saying,‘We played happy music for you on the flute, but you did not dance! Then we sang sad funeral songs for you, but you did not cry!’ BSB BSB: They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’
33 UST Similarly, when John came to you and did not eat ordinary food or drink wine, you{ rejected him and} said,‘A demon is controlling him!’ BSB BSB: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’
34 UST But when the Son of Man came to you and he ate{ ordinary food} and drank{ wine as others do}, then you{ rejected him and} said,‘Look! This man eats too much food and drinks too much wine, and he associates with tax collectors and other sinners!’ BSB BSB: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’
35 UST But those who are wise themselves recognize that what John and I do is also wise.” BSB BSB: But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus (Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:1–8)
36 UST One day a certain Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to the man’ s house and reclined at a table to eat. BSB BSB: Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 UST There was also a woman in that city who had a bad reputation. When she heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’ s house,{ she went there,} bringing a stone jar that contained perfume. BSB BSB: When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 UST { As Jesus was reclining to eat, the woman stood behind him at his feet.} She was crying, and her tears fell on Jesus’ feet. She continually wiped his feet with her hair. She kept kissing them and anointing them with the perfume. BSB BSB: As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
39 UST When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw{ what the woman was doing}, he thought,“If this man really were a prophet, he would have known who this woman is who is touching him. He would have known what kind of person she is, that she is a sinner.” BSB BSB: When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
40 UST In response, Jesus said to him,“Simon, there is something I want to tell you.” He replied,“Teacher, what is it?” BSB BSB: But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.
41 UST { Jesus told him this story:}“Two people owed money to a man who had a business lending money. One of these people owed him 500 silver coins. The other one owed him 50 silver coins. BSB BSB: “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 UST Neither of them was able to pay back what he owed, so the man very kindly said that they both did not have to pay back anything. So, which of those two men will love that man more?” BSB BSB: When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43 UST Simon replied,“I assume that the one who had owed him the larger amount will love him more.” Jesus said to him,“You are correct.” BSB BSB: “I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 UST Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon,“Think about what this woman has done! When I entered your house{, you did not do what hosts usually do to welcome their guests.} You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But this woman has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair! BSB BSB: And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 UST You did not greet me with a kiss. But from the moment I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet! BSB BSB: You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
46 UST You did not anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with fragrant perfume. BSB BSB: You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
47 UST So I tell you that God has forgiven her many sins, and that is why she loves me very much. But a person who thinks that God has only had to forgive him for a few sins will love me only a little bit.” BSB BSB: Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 UST Then Jesus said to the woman,“I have forgiven your sins.” BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 UST Then those who were eating with him said among themselves,“Who is this man who says that he can even forgive sins?” BSB BSB: But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 UST But Jesus said to the woman,“Because you have believed in me, God has saved you. May God give you peace as you go!” BSB BSB: And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”