Larger Thought Unit
The larger unit at the beginning of chapter 7 includes today’s pericope (found only in Luke) which serves as an introduction to the questions coming from the disciples of John the Baptist regarding Jesus as the “coming one.” The Gentile Centurion’s unwavering faith and confession is similar to that of Peter’s earlier in chapter 5. With the raising of the widow’s son, Luke is clearly showing Christ as the coming one referred to in Isaiah and in the Elijah/Elisha cycle of miracles.
Notes
Chapter 7 starts with two pericopes implementing the command of being merciful as God is (see the last’s Sunday reading Lk 6:31-36). In the first (Lk 7:1-10) we see Jesus having mercy on a centurion’s son, whom he heals, and here on a widow’s son, whom he resurrects. In both cases, the underlying element is the power of Jesus’ word: “For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (v.8); “And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’” (v.14b). As such, both pericopes introduce Jesus’ teaching about prophecy and God’s power being enacted through a messenger who carries His ‘word’ (vv.24-28), whether it is John the Baptist or Jesus (vv.31-35). Thus the essential thing for us is to put our trust in God’s teaching as set in the scriptures. Otherwise, even raising someone from the dead, as Jesus does here, will be of no avail: “He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’” (16:31) Indeed, “God visits his people” when “a prophet arises among us” (7:16) and a prophet is someone who repeats God’s words as they stand in the scriptures (vv.22-23).
Further resource
Paul Nadim Tarazi, New Testament Introduction, Vol.2: Luke and Acts, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, Crestwood, NY, 2001; p.64.