Luke 7:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

NIV: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don’t cry."

NASB: When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her and said to her, 'Do not go on weeping.'

CSB: When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, "Don’t weep."

NLT: When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. 'Don’t cry!' he said.

KJV: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

NKJV: When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

A widow is in the funeral procession for her only son when Jesus and His disciples meet them. Luke introduces Jesus to the situation through His compassion. Undoubtedly, the procession includes professional mourners who weep and wail to create an appropriate atmosphere. A "considerable crowd" (Luke 7:12) is with the woman, lending support in the face of her newfound powerlessness and, likely, destitution.

Jesus has compassion (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32) and values compassion (Luke 10:33; 15:20). He doesn't tell the widow to stop weeping because He disapproves of mourning. He tells her this because He can make her happy again. Like Jesus told His followers, "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh" (Luke 6:21). The woman's situation is about to change. It is time for hope, not weeping. It is unsuitable to cry when the Son of God is about to turn death into life again. Like Naomi, who entered Bethlehem with no husband and no sons, the woman will soon have a son back in her arms and her friends will glorify God (Luke 7:15–16; Ruth 4:13–16).

Christ followers who lose loved ones can feel the same. If those who have died are also believers, we can be assured we will see them again, reunited for eternity. We still mourn while we are separated. Yet, as Paul said, we do "not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

When people in the Gospels do not understand Jesus' identity as Messiah, "Lord" is a title of respect, like "sir" (Luke 5:8, 12). Luke, of course, knows Jesus is the savior and uses the word to show his readers that Jesus' authority to raise the dead is a clear sign that He is the Christ.

Luke 7:11–17 is the story of Jesus in the village of Nain. There, Jesus raises to life the only son of a widow. The people are terrified, but praise God. The mother parallels the sinful woman caught powerless in a male-dominated society (Luke 7:36–38); the boy is like the demoniac who cannot ask for healing (Luke 8:26–39). Luke again ties Jesus to Old Testament prophets, specifically Elijah, with the healing of the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–24), and Elisha, who raised the Shunammite woman's son (2 Kings 4:18–37).

Luke 7 presents a chiasm: a set of themes mirrored around a reflection point. The humble centurion (Luke 7:1–10) contrasts the legalistic Pharisee (Luke 7:39–50). The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and the sinful women (Luke 7:36–38) have nothing to offer but gratitude for Jesus' blessings. In the center are John the Baptist and his disciples who struggle to trust that Jesus is worth following (Luke 7:18–23), then the sinners who do choose to follow Jesus and the religious leaders who refuse (Luke 7:24–35).

Luke 7 continues Jesus' mission primarily to the people of Galilee expressed as a series of pointed events and teachings punctuated by calls to follow Him. He has finished teaching the rigors of discipleship (Luke 6:17–45) and invited the crowd to place their faith in Him (Luke 6:46–49). Here, Luke describes different reactions to Jesus' miracles and message. Next, Jesus will reveal the mechanics of and reactions to His call (Luke 8:4–21) before showing His great authority over nature, demons, sickness, and worldly powers (Luke 8:22—9:17). After a final call to the disciples to deepen their faith (Luke 9:18–50), Jesus will turn toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.