Trinity/After Pentecost · The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Luke 7:11-17
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
September 20, 2026
Overview & Insights
“‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up and began to speak.” (Luke 7:14–15)
After the controversies of 5:17–6:11 and the collection of teaching on discipleship in 6:12–49, Luke now resumes his account of Jesus’s public activity in and around Capernaum with two instances of Jesus’s spectacular healing power. These two healings are of men, one of whom is already dead; in 8:40–56 Luke will tell of the healing of two women, one of whom is already dead. Luke often likes to balance male and female in the stories he tells. This section also brings together two stories in which Jesus responds to the needs of first a man and then a woman, each facing the loss of a loved one. Matthew’s account of the healing of the centurion’s servant (8:5–13) emphasizes the centurion’s status as a Gentile and develops that theme with a powerful saying about the universal scope of the kingdom of heaven (8:11–12), which Luke has elsewhere (13:28–29).
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Commentary
Enduring Word Bible Commentary Luke Chapter 7 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik on Jesus raising the only son of the widow of Nain at the town gate.
Luke 7:11 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators on the miracle that halts a funeral procession outside Nain.
Luke 7:11-17 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on Jesus' compassion for a widow the world overlooked.
Commentary on Luke 7:11-17 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary links Jesus to Elijah and Elisha, the Ordinary 10 reading in the Revised Common Lectionary.
Luke 7 Commentary Precept Austin
A verse by verse study with word notes and cross references on the raising at Nain.
Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Catholic Sunday Connection with reflection questions and activities on this Gospel.
Background & Word Study
Luke Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the themes and structure of Luke's Gospel.
Overview: Gospel of Luke (Chapters 1-9) BibleProject
An animated overview of the first half of Luke, where the Nain miracle sits.
Luke 7:11 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word, useful for compassion (splanchnizomai) in verse 13.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Questions preachers ask
What happens at Nain?
Meeting a widow burying her only son, Jesus is moved with compassion, touches the bier, and raises him, giving him back to his mother; the crowd glorifies God (Luke 7:11–17).
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