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Luke 7:11-17

11. And it happened, when he departed, that he went into a city, which
was called Nain, and many of his disciples, and a great multitude, went
along with him. 12. And as he was approaching to the gate of the city,
there was carried out a dead man, the only son of his mother, and she
was a widow: and a great multitude from the city was with her. 13. And
when the Lord saw her, he was moved with compassion towards her, and
said to her, Weep not. 14. And approaching he touched the coffin, (and
they who were carrying it stood still,) and said, Young man, I say to
thee, Arise. 15. And he who was dead sat up, and began to speak, and he
gave him to his mother. 16. And fear seized all, and they glorified
God, saying, A great Prophet hath risen up among us, and God hath
visited his people. 17. And this report concerning him was spread
throughout all Judea, and all the neighboring country.


Luke 7:11. And it happened, that he went into a city. In all the
miracles of Christ, we must attend to the rule which Matthew lays down.
We ought to know, therefore, that this young man, whom Christ raised
from the dead, is an emblem of the spiritual life which he restores to
us. The name of the city contributes to the certainty of the history.
The same purpose is served by what Luke says, that a great multitude
from every direction followed him: for Christ had many attendants along
with him, and many persons accompanied the woman, as a mark of respect,
to the interment of her son. The resurrection of the young man was
beheld by so many witnesses, that no doubt could be entertained as to
its truth. There was the additional circumstance of its being a crowded
place: for we know that public assemblies were held at the gates. That
the dead man was carried out of the city was in accordance with a very
ancient custom among all nations. Jerome says that, in his time, the
city of Nain was still in existence, two miles below Mount Tabor, in a
southerly direction.

12. The only son of his mother. The reason which induced Christ to
restore the young man to life was, that he saw the widow bereft of her
only son, and had compassion on her: for he did not withhold his favor
till some one requested it, as he did on other occasions; but
anticipated the prayers of all, and restored the son to his mother, by
whom nothing of this sort was expected. We have here a striking emblem
of his freely bestowed compassion in raising us from death to life. By
touching the coffin he intended perhaps to show, that he would by no
means shrink from death and the grave, in order to obtain life for us.
He not only deigns to touch us with his hand, in order to quicken us
when we are dead, but, in order that he might raise us to heaven,
himself descends into the grave.

14. Young man, I say to thee. By this word Christ proved the truth of
the saying of Paul, that God calleth those things which are not, as
they were, (Romans 4:17.) He addresses the dead man, and makes himself
be heard, so that death is suddenly changed into life. We have here, in
the first place, a striking emblem of the future resurrection, as
Ezekiel is commanded to say, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord,
[37:4.] Secondly, we are taught in what manner Christ quickens us
spiritually by faith. It is when he infuses into his word a secret
power, so that it enters into dead souls, as he himself declares,

The hour cometh, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God, and they who hear shall live, (John 5:25.)

16. And fear seized all A sense of the divine presence must have
brought fear along with it: but there is a difference between the kinds
of fear Unbelievers either tremble and are dismayed; or, struck with
alarm, murmur against God: while devout and godly persons, moved by
reverence, willingly humble themselves. Fear, therefore, is here taken
in a good sense, because they gave the honor which was due to the power
of God which they had beheld, and rendered to God not only homage, but
thanksgiving.

God hath visited his people I understand this to refer not to every
kind of visitation, but to that which would restore them to their
original condition. Not only were the affairs of Judea in a depressed
state, but they had sunk under a wretched and frightful slavery, as if
God were not looking at them. The only remaining hope was, that God had
promised to be their Redeemer, after they had endured very heavy
calamities. I have no doubt, therefore, that they were excited by the
miracle to expect an approaching restoration to prosperity: only they
fall into a mistake as to the nature of the visitation Though they
acknowledge and celebrate the unwonted grace of God in this respect,
that a great Prophet hath risen up among us, yet this eulogium comes
very far short of the dignity and glory of the promised Messiah. Hence
it appears that the faith of that people was, at this time, exceedingly
confused, and involved in many unfounded imaginations.