Luke 7:16
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!"
A great prophet
The phrase "a great prophet" reflects the people's recognition of Jesus as a significant figure in the tradition of the Old Testament prophets. In the Greek, the word for prophet is "προφήτης" (prophētēs), which means one who speaks forth by the inspiration of God. Historically, prophets were seen as God's messengers, delivering His word to the people. The crowd's declaration acknowledges Jesus' authority and divine connection, reminiscent of prophets like Elijah and Elisha, who also performed miracles. This recognition is significant as it shows the people's growing awareness of Jesus' divine mission, even if they do not yet fully understand His identity as the Messiah.

has appeared among us
The phrase "has appeared among us" indicates the physical presence and manifestation of Jesus in their midst. The Greek word used here is "ἐγήγερται" (egegertai), which can mean to rise or to appear. This suggests not only a physical presence but also a divine intervention in their lives. The historical context is important here, as the Jewish people were longing for a deliverer during Roman occupation. The appearance of a prophet was seen as a sign of hope and divine favor, echoing the times when God sent prophets to guide and deliver Israel.

God has visited His people
This phrase is deeply significant, as it implies a divine visitation and intervention. The Greek word for "visited" is "ἐπεσκέψατο" (epeskepsato), which means to look upon in order to help or benefit. This is a powerful acknowledgment of God's active role in the lives of His people. In the Old Testament, God's visitation often brought deliverance or judgment. Here, it signifies God's mercy and compassion, as Jesus' miracles and teachings bring healing and hope. This phrase also foreshadows the ultimate visitation of God through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who came to redeem humanity.

They were all filled with awe
The phrase "They were all filled with awe" captures the reaction of the people to the miraculous events they witnessed. The Greek word for awe is "φόβος" (phobos), which can mean fear, reverence, or respect. This response is typical in biblical accounts of divine encounters, where the presence and power of God evoke a profound sense of wonder and reverence. This awe is not just fear but a recognition of the holy and the divine at work, prompting the people to glorify God. It reflects a moment of spiritual awakening and acknowledgment of God's majesty and authority.

and glorified God
The phrase "and glorified God" indicates the people's response of praise and worship. The Greek word "ἐδόξαζον" (edoxazon) means to honor or magnify. This response is a natural outcome of witnessing God's power and mercy. In the biblical context, glorifying God is an act of acknowledging His greatness and giving Him the honor due to His name. This phrase highlights the appropriate response to divine intervention—praise and worship. It serves as a reminder for believers to continually recognize and glorify God for His works in their lives, fostering a spirit of gratitude and reverence.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
Central figure in the passage, performing miracles and teaching, demonstrating His divine authority and compassion.

2. The Crowd
Witnesses to Jesus' miracle, they respond with awe and glorification of God, recognizing Jesus as a great prophet.

3. Nain
The town where the event takes place, highlighting Jesus' ministry in Galilee and His outreach to various communities.

4. The Widow of Nain
A grieving mother whose son Jesus raises from the dead, showcasing His power over life and death.

5. The Raised Son
The young man who is brought back to life, serving as a testament to Jesus' divine power and authority.
Teaching Points
Recognition of Divine Authority
The crowd's reaction underscores the importance of recognizing Jesus' divine authority and His role as a prophet and more.

God's Compassion and Presence
The miracle illustrates God's compassion and His active presence among His people, offering hope and restoration.

Response of Awe and Worship
The appropriate response to witnessing God's work is awe and worship, acknowledging His greatness and glorifying Him.

Faith in God's Power Over Life and Death
Believers are encouraged to have faith in God's power over life and death, trusting in His sovereignty and timing.

Witnessing and Testifying
Like the crowd, believers are called to testify to God's work in their lives, sharing the good news of His presence and power.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the miracle in Luke 7:16 compare to the miracles performed by Elijah and Elisha in the Old Testament, and what does this reveal about Jesus' identity?

2. In what ways can we cultivate a sense of awe and glorification of God in our daily lives, similar to the crowd's reaction in this passage?

3. How does the account of the widow of Nain encourage us to trust in God's compassion and presence during times of personal loss or grief?

4. What are some practical ways we can testify to God's work in our lives, as the crowd did after witnessing the miracle?

5. How can we strengthen our faith in God's power over life and death, and what other scriptures can we turn to for encouragement in this area?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 17:17-24
The account of Elijah raising the widow's son, which parallels Jesus' miracle and reinforces the recognition of Jesus as a prophet.

2 Kings 4:32-37
Elisha raising the Shunammite's son, another Old Testament miracle that prefigures Jesus' power over death.

John 11:1-44
The raising of Lazarus, further demonstrating Jesus' authority over life and death and His identity as the resurrection and the life.

Acts 2:22
Peter's sermon at Pentecost, where he speaks of Jesus as a man accredited by God through miracles, wonders, and signs.
The Saviour of Sick and DeadR.M. Edgar Luke 7:1-17
A Bereaved MotherDu Chaillu.Luke 7:11-17
A Risible SermonLuke 7:11-17
Christian Attendance At a FuneralTschupik.Luke 7:11-17
Gospel for the Sixteenth Sunday After TrinityG. Calthrop, M. A.Luke 7:11-17
Jesus and the Widow of NainR. V. Pryce, M. A. , LL. B.Luke 7:11-17
Power of SympathyH. W. Beecher.Luke 7:11-17
Silent SympathyVictor Hugo.Luke 7:11-17
Sixteenth Sunday After TrinityJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Luke 7:11-17
The Compassion of Mankind a Sign of the Compassion of Mankind's Head and LordT. Hancock.Luke 7:11-17
The Funeral of a YouthW. Jay.Luke 7:11-17
The Miracle At the Gate of NainDr. Talmage.Luke 7:11-17
The Miracle of NainJ. Burns, D. D.Luke 7:11-17
The Power of Christ's VoiceThe late Dean of Ely.Luke 7:11-17
The Raising of the Widow's SonH. Macmillan, LL. D.Luke 7:11-17
The Story of NainStopford Brooke, M. A.Luke 7:11-17
The Voice of a FuneralC. H. Spurgeon.Luke 7:11-17
The Widow and Her Dead SonT. B. Dover, M. A.Luke 7:11-17
The Widow of NainBishop Samuel Wilberforce.Luke 7:11-17
The Widow of NainW. J. Gordon.Luke 7:11-17
The Widow's Son of NainA. Mackennal, D. D.Luke 7:11-17
Visit to NainNorman Macleod, D. D., N. P. Willis.Luke 7:11-17
Weep NotJ. O. Dykes, D. D.Luke 7:11-17
Young Man, AriseW. Hay Aitken.Luke 7:11-17
Young Man, Arise!J. Thain Davidson. D. D.Luke 7:11-17
Young Man, is This for You?C. H. Spurgeon.Luke 7:11-17
Christ Visiting and AbidingW. Clarkson Luke 7:13-16
People
Jesus, John, Simon
Places
Capernaum, Galilee, Judea, Nain
Topics
Amongst, Appeared, Arisen, Awe, Awe-struck, Fear, Forgotten, Glorified, Glorifying, Glory, Gripped, Hold, Praise, Praised, Prophet, Raised, Risen, Saying, Seized, Visited
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Luke 7:16

     1432   prophecy in NT

Luke 7:11-16

     2012   Christ, authority
     5285   cures

Luke 7:11-17

     5743   widows

Luke 7:12-17

     2318   Christ, as prophet

Luke 7:14-16

     5962   surprises

Library
June 10 Evening
As Christ forgave you, so also do ye.--COL. 3:13. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.--I forgave thee all that debt; shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive,
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

Greatness in the Kingdom
'He that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.'--LUKE vii. 28. We were speaking in a preceding sermon about the elements of true greatness, as represented in the life and character of John the Baptist. As we remarked then, our Lord poured unstinted eulogium upon the head of John, in the audience of the people, at the very moment when he showed himself weakest. 'None born of women' was, in Christ's eyes, 'greater than John the Baptist.' The eulogium, authoritative as it was, was immediately
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Thwarting God's Purpose
'The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of Him.' --LUKE vii. 30. Our Lord has just been pouring unstinted praise on the head of John the Baptist. The eulogium was tenderly timed, for it followed, and was occasioned by the expression, through messengers, of John's doubts of Christ's Messiahship. Lest these should shake the people's confidence in the Forerunner, and make them think of him as weak and shifting, Christ speaks of him in the glowing
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

A Gluttonous Man and a Winebibber
'The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!'--LUKE vii. 34. Jesus Christ very seldom took any notice of the mists of calumny that drifted round Him. 'When He was reviled He reviled not again.' If ever He did allude to them it was for the sake of the people who were harming themselves by uttering them. So here, without the slightest trace of irritation, He quotes a malignant charge which was evidently in the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Worthy-Not Worthy
'... They besought Him ... saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this:... 6. I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee....' --LUKE vii. 4. 6. 7. A Roman centurion, who could induce the elders of a Jewish village to approach Jesus on his behalf, must have been a remarkable person. The garrison which held down a turbulent people was not usually likely to be much loved by them. But this man, about whom the incident
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Go into Peace
'And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace.'--LUKE vii. 50. We find that our Lord twice, and twice only, employs this form of sending away those who had received benefits from His hand. On both occasions the words were addressed to women: once to this woman, who was a sinner, and who was gibbeted by the contempt of the Pharisee in whose house the Lord was; and once to that poor sufferer who stretched out a wasted hand to lay upon the hem of His garment, in the hope of getting
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Jesus at the Bier
'And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14. And He came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.'--LUKE vii. 13-15. We owe our knowledge of this incident to Luke only. He is the Evangelist who specially delights in recording the gracious relations of our Lord with women, and he is also the Evangelist who
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

John's Doubts and Christ's Praise
'And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19. And John calling unto him two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou He that should come? or look we for another? 20. When the men were come unto Him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto Thee, saying, Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another? 21. And in the same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind He gave sight. 22. Then Jesus, answering,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

The Two Debtors
'There was a certain creditor which had two debtors; the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43. Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.'--LUKE vii.41-43. We all know the lovely story in which this parable is embedded. A woman of notoriously bad character had somehow come in contact with Jesus Christ, and had by Him been aroused from her
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions Of Holy Scripture

Forgiveness and Love.
TEXT: LUKE vii. 36-50. HOWEVER much admiration and honour was given to our Saviour by many of His contemporaries during His life on earth; however powerfully a yet greater number were struck, at least for the moment, by His exalted character; still just His greatest words and His noblest deeds often remained dark even to the noblest and best around Him, and seemed to the rest a piece of insolent pretension. When He spoke of His eternal relation to the Eternal Father, even His more intimate disciples
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 2, Etc. ; on the Three Dead Persons whom the Lord Raised.
1. The miracles of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ make indeed an impression on all who hear of, and believe them; but on different men in different ways. For some amazed at His miracles done on the bodies of men, have no knowledge to discern the greater; whereas some admire the more ample fulfilment in the souls of men at the present time of those things which they hear of as having been wrought on their bodies. The Lord Himself saith, "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them;
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, "And Behold, a Woman who was in the City, a Sinner," Etc. On the Remission of Sins,
1. Since I believe that it is the will of God that I should speak to you on the subject whereof we are now reminded by the words of the Lord out of the Holy Scriptures, I will by His assistance deliver to you, Beloved, a Sermon touching the remission of sins. For when the Gospel was being read, ye gave most earnest heed, and the story was reported, and represented before the eyes of your heart. For ye saw, not with the body, but with the mind, the Lord Jesus Christ "sitting at meat in the Pharisee's
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On Dress
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of -- wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Pet. 3:3, 4. 1. St. Paul exhorts all those who desire to "be transformed by the renewal of their minds," and to "prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," not to be "conformed to this world." [Rom. 12:2]
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Saving Faith
I. WHAT WAS IT THAT SAVED the two persons whose history we are about to consider? In the penitent woman's case, her great sins were forgiven her and she became a woman of extraordinary love: she loved much, for she had much forgiven. I feel, in thinking of her, something like an eminent father of the church who said, "This narrative is not one which I can well preach upon; I had far rather weep over it in secret." That woman's tears, that woman's unbraided tresses wiping the Saviour's feet, her coming
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874

A Gracious Dismissal
THE main part of my subject will be--that gracious dismissal, "Go in peace." To her who had been so lately blest, the word "Go" sounded mournfully; for she would fain have remained through life with her pardoning Lord; but the added words "in peace" turned the wormwood into honey--there was now peace for her who had been so long hunted and harried by her sins. Rising from the feet she had washed with tears, she went forth to keep her future footsteps such as those of a believing, and therefore saved,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Go in Peace
"And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."--Luke 7:50. THERE appear to have been four stages in Christ's dealing with this woman. I know not what had preceded the narrative as we have it recorded in this chapter; I need not enter into that question now. There had, doubtless, been a work of the Spirit of God upon that woman's heart, turning her from her sin to her Saviour; but when she stood at our Master's feet, raining tears of penitence upon them, wiping them with the hairs
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 48: 1902

Liii. The Contemplation of Death.
16th Sunday after Trinity. S. Luke vii. 12. "Behold, there was a dead man carried out." INTRODUCTION.--The name of the village where the miracle was wrought which is recorded in this day's Gospel, was Nain, and the meaning of the name is "Pleasant" or "Beautiful." A sweet little village, you can picture it to yourself where you like, in the East, anywhere in Europe, here in England, it is all the same, an "Auburn" among villages, with thatched cottages, and green pastures, and the cows coming home
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

Answer to Mr. W's Third Objection.
Our author says: p. 19. By way of objection to the letter of these three miracles, Let us consider the condition of the persons raised from the dead.--Where then was his wisdom and prudence to chuse these three persons above others to that honour? p. 20. I answer, that Jesus did not ordinarily choose the subjects of his miracles, but heal'd those chiefly who earnestly implored his mercy, or who pressed on him to be healed, or importunately desired it of him by others, when they could not possibly
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

Justifying or Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying grace is defined by Deharbe as "an unmerited, supernatural gift, imparted to the soul by the Holy Ghost, by which we are made just, children of God, and heirs of Heaven." As it makes sinners just, sanctifying grace is also called justifying, though this appellation can not be applied to the sanctification of our first parents in Paradise or to that of the angels and the sinless soul of Christ. Justification, as we have shown, consists in the infusion of sanctifying grace, and hence it
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus Raises the Widow's Son.
(at Nain in Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 11-17. ^c 11 And it came to pass soon afterwards [many ancient authorities read on the next day], that he went into a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude. [We find that Jesus had been thronged with multitudes pretty continuously since the choosing of his twelve apostles. Nain lies on the northern slope of the mountain, which the Crusaders called Little Hermon, between twenty and twenty-five miles south of Capernaum, and about
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Raising of the Young Man of Nain - the Meeting of Life and Death.
THAT early spring-tide in Galilee was surely the truest realisation of the picture in the Song of Solomon, when earth clad herself in garments of beauty, and the air was melodious with songs of new life. [2625] It seemed as if each day marked a widening circle of deepest sympathy and largest power on the part of Jesus; as if each day also brought fresh surprise, new gladness; opened hitherto unthought-of possibilities, and pointed Israel far beyond the horizon of their narrow expectancy. Yesterday
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Woman which was a Sinner
The precise date and place of the next recorded event in this Galilean journey of the Christ are left undetermined. It can scarcely have occurred in the quiet little town of Nain, indeed, is scarcely congruous with the scene which had been there enacted. And yet it must have followed almost immediately upon it. We infer this, not only from the silence of St. Matthew, which in this instance might have been due, not to the temporary detention of that Evangelist in Capernaum, while the others had followed
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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