Question 1

What does Luke 7:50 mean?

Accepted Answer

Luke 7:50 records Jesus telling a woman that her faith has saved her and instructing her to go in peace. This verse highlights that it was the woman’s trust in Jesus, not her actions or status, that brought her salvation and a sense of well-being. In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a woman who had shown him great humility and devotion, while others at the table had judged her. By saying, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace," Jesus affirms that her belief in him is what made the difference, offering her both assurance and dignity in front of others.

Question 2

The Greek behind Luke 7:50

Accepted Answer

πίστις (pistis, "faith"): This word means trust or confidence. Here, Jesus points to the woman’s personal trust in him as the reason for her salvation, not anything she did to earn it. σῴζω (sōzō, "saved"): This word often means to rescue or deliver, and in this context, it carries the sense of being made whole or restored—spiritually and perhaps socially. εἰρήνη (eirēnē, "peace"): This Greek word means more than just the absence of conflict; it suggests a deep sense of well-being and wholeness. Jesus is sending her away with a blessing of inner and outward peace.

Question 3

Why Luke 7:50 matters

Accepted Answer

Luke 7:50 clarifies that faith, not social standing or ritual, is what Jesus responds to, which would have been surprising in a culture focused on outward religious observance. The verse shows Jesus publicly affirming the woman’s value and dignity, countering the judgmental attitudes of the others present. This moment connects to the wider theme in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus welcoming and restoring those who are marginalized or looked down on by society.

Luke 7:50 (KJV)