John Gill Commentary Luke 7:40

"And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on." — Luke 7:40 (ASV)

And Jesus answering said to him
Christ being God omniscient, knew not only the character and conversation of this woman, which were publicly known by all, that knew any thing of her, but also the secret thoughts and reasonings of the Pharisee, and makes answer to them; which shows, that he was a prophet, in the sense of this man; yea, more than a prophet:

Simon, I have somewhat to say to you ;
this could not be Simon Peter, Christ spoke to, as some have suggested; for the answer is made to the Pharisee, and he is the person addressed by the name of Simon; even he, into whose house Christ entered, and now was, as appears from (Luke 7:44) .

And he saith, Master ;
or teacher, or doctor; or as the Syriac version, "Rabbi"; which was the common salutation of doctors:

say on .
This was a way of speaking in use with the Jews, giving leave to proceed in a discourse; and as Christ was now a guest in this man's house, he asks leave of him, and he grants it to him: so we read of R. Simeon ben Gamaliel ^F26 who said to R. Ishmael ben Elishah,

``is it your pleasure that I should say before you one thing? he said to him, (rwma) , "say on".'' Again, R. Jochanan ben Zaccai said <sup>F1</sup> to a certain governor, ``suffer me to say one thing to you: he replied to him, (rwma) , "say on".''

---

FOOTNOTES:

• F26: Abot R. Nathan, c. 38. fol. 9. 2.
• F1: Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 4. fol. 183. 1.