Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 7:13

"And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not." — Luke 7:13 (ASV)

And when the Lord saw her.—The words are noticeable as being one of the comparatively few instances in which the term “the Lord” is used absolutely instead of Jesus. As far as it goes, it confirms the view suggested in the previous Note, that the narrative came from those who had a profound reverence for the Master they had followed, and at a time when they had learnt to speak of Him in this way. (Compare the language of Mary Magdalene in John 20:2; John 20:13.) It may be noted further that this use of “the Lord” occurs more frequently in St. Luke and St. John than in the other Gospels.

Compare Luke 7:31; Luke 10:1; Luke 11:39; Luke 12:42; Luke 17:5–6; Luke 19:8; Luke 22:61; John 4:1; John 6:23; John 20:18; John 20:20; John 20:25; John 21:7; John 21:12. The last three or four references show that the disciples habitually used the same mode of speech, but it would not follow that on their lips it necessarily meant more at first than our “Sir,” or “Master.” After the Resurrection, doubtless, it rose to its higher meaning, as in the exclamations of St. Thomas (John 20:28), and of St. John (John 21:7).

He had compassion.—Note, in this instance, as in so many others (e.g.,Matthew 20:34; Mark 1:41), how our Lord’s works of wonder do not spring from a distinct purpose to offer credentials of His mission, but from the outflow of His infinite sympathy with human suffering.