So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said,
Parallel translations
- WEB When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,
- KJV And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
- BSB They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this,
- NKJV And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving,
- NASB When they came to Jesus, they strongly urged Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The elders earnestly urged Jesus to help, declaring the centurion worthy. Their plea highlights the man's good reputation among the Jews.
Overview
The Jewish elders advocated warmly for the centurion, judging him deserving of Jesus' help. Their reasoning rests on his merit, a striking contrast to the centurion's own later confession of unworthiness. The account gently exposes how human estimates of worthiness differ from the humble faith God honors.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 10:37–38He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
- Rev 3:4Nevertheless you have a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
- Luke 7:6–7Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.
- Matt 10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.
- Luke 20:35But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.
- Matt 10:13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 7:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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