Love Tears Forgiveness
The Life Of Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
The theme for this year, here on Sunday mornings, has been “The Life of Christ.”
The hope has bee to draw closer to our God and his word through the “Living Word.”
Today we find ourselves in Luke 7:36-50.
We find an interesting account here of “Love, Tears, & Forgiveness.”
We can’t help but notice in Jesus’ life here on earth that he loved to eat with others.
He ate with his disciples often (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:15; John 12:1-2).
He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:29-30).
He even ate with Pharisees (Luke 11:37-54; Luke 14:1-6).
In our text, Luke 7:36-50, we read of the first time Jesus was invited to eat with a Pharisee.
A surprising turn of events took place and it gives us so much insight into God’s love and forgiveness.
Let’s examine our lesson for today.
The Petition
The Petition
Simon’s Plea.
Simon’s Plea.
In Luke 7:36 we read…
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Luke 7:36 (NASB)
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him…
The phrase “was requesting” here isn’t just a simple “asking,” no, the word in the original language suggests “urgency.”
In other words, Simon had been inviting Jesus over and over again until Jesus accepted the invitation.
Why was Simon so anxious to eat with Christ?
Maybe the Pharisee like Jesus.
Not every Pharisee hated him.
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
In light of events we will discuss, however, this seem unlikely.
Maybe Simon’s reasoning was that of his typical fellow Pharisees.
It’s possible Simon was looking for a way to trap Jesus or find some fault with him.
Whatever the case is, the reasoning is probably somewhere in between, there is little doubt Simon knew what his fellow Pharisees had been saying about the Lord.
He would have also bee aware of the popular opinion of Jesus as the time with the Jewish people.
In Nain, just a little bit before this encounter, the people had been proclaiming in Luke 7:16…
16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
Asking these questions and pondering these possibilities it leads to another question…
Why Did Jesus Go?
Why Did Jesus Go?
We know Jesus knew what the typical Pharisee thought of him and their desires for him.
Also, Jesus likely knew what would happen at the meal.
Remember, though Jesus forfeited some divine attributes when he became flesh (Philippians 2:6-7; Mark 13:32), he still could read minds (John 2:25) and to some degree foresee certain events (John 6:71; John 9:1-4).
So, why did he go?
There are several possibilities.
He knew there would be a crowd and there was opportunity to teach.
He knew going there would allow him to help this “sinner.”
He enjoyed eating with his creation.
The correct answer is probably “all of the mentioned.”
The important thing to remember is that he did in fact go to Simon’s home.
Summary
Summary
So, after Simon asked several times for Jesus to eat with him, Jesus did indeed go and eat.
There are a few things we learn about Simon in this account which let us know that was…
An Inhospitable Person
An Inhospitable Person
The Customs Of The Day.
The Customs Of The Day.
At the end of Luke 7:36 we read…
Luke 7:36 (ESV)
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
We later learn in this account what happened, or rather didn’t happen, between Jesus entering the house and reclining at the table.
In those days there were several social customs and circumstances that dictated different courtesies to guests who entered a home.
First, the host would greet the guest with a kiss, typically on the cheek.
Genesis 29:13 (ESV)
13 As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
Secondly, a bowl of water and a towel was given to the guest so that he may wash his feet.
21 So he brought him into his house and gave the donkeys feed. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.
10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
This was typically done by the servants and was done because of the sandals worn and the dirty paths walked upon.
It also kept the rugs and cushions in the home more clean.
Thirdly, though not as common, oil or ointment on the head or face was applied.
8 Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.
If the visitor had spent some hours in grueling sun, this was an expression of kindness and it was refreshing on the skin.
As I said earlier there were a few things that didn’t happen between Jesus entering the house and reclining at the table.
The reality is Jesus suffered…
A Triple Insult.
A Triple Insult.
In Luke 7:44-46 we read…
44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
When Jesus arrived at Simon’s house not a single customary amenity was done for Jesus.
He was not greeted with a kiss, nor water for his feet, nor oil for his head.
Now place yourself in Jesus’ shoes for a moment.
Simon asked you to repeatedly to come eat with him and you finally agree to it.
However, when you arrive the host insults you by greeting other guests, having other guests feet washed, and heads anointed.
The whole time you stand there ignored until it is time to eat.
Have you ever been somewhere you didn’t feel welcomed?
Went to a congregation one time and only one person said hello to me and my friend the 12 times we were there that month.
Summary
Summary
Thankfully, Jesus didn’t allow this slight to deter him from his purpose for being there.
His focus is that which is to be admired.
Now what led to us learning of Simon’s inhospitality is that a woman showed up.
Not just any woman but a…
Weeping Woman
Weeping Woman
Some Context.
Some Context.
Before we dive into this woman’s interactions with Jesus, let us examine some questions that establish the context.
What does it mean Jesus reclined at the table?
How did this uninvited guest enter the house with little difficulty?
Why did this woman throw herself at Jesus’ feet instead of his head?
First, keep in mind that when the feast was served the guests would surround a round table that was slightly off the floor.
The guests would sit on the ground and recline to their left, putting their left elbow on a cushion, which allowed them to eat with their right hand.
Their feet were bear as they left their sandals at the door and it would only be men eat at these types of events.
Women were allow at these events but only to serve the men but not eat with them.
Secondly, there would be a great commotion with these feasts.
A lot of laughter, talking, and general noise like at any large gathering.
There were also servants moving about bringing more drink, food, and whatever else was needed.
Thirdly, there was no real privacy at such events as this.
It was very common at these events for people to come by and look in to the house and even intrude on the banquet if someone of renowned was present.
So, from this we can see how this unwanted guest woman came in unnoticed and came to Jesus’ feet.
So…
What About The Woman.
What About The Woman.
The truth is we don’t know that much about this woman.
Luke 7:37 (ESV)
37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment
From this passage and that of verse 39 we find several important details.
First, this woman was a sinner whom Jesus said had “many sins” (Luke 7:47).
The word sinner here means, “immoral woman,” in other words someone who’s sins are widely known.
This has led many to say she was probably a “prostitute.”
Secondly, this woman knew who Jesus was and he had an impact on her life.
The two may have never actually met each other but she must have heard him speak at some point and turned her life around (Romans 10:17).
Maybe she heard that great invitation we talked about last week.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
The fact that she gathered the courage to come to Jesus in this setting, with these emotions, and with all these eyes on her in remarkable.
Think of her hopelessness before she learned of Christ.
The dread of each day.
The self loathing.
Then she hears Jesus teaching about love, hope, forgiveness.
As one brother put it…
Faith had replaced skepticism, godly sorrow replaced the sorrow of the world.
Her life had been changed and would never be the same again!
Apparently she lacked one thing, to show Jesus her appreciation.
38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
Now we can see the appreciation this changed woman had for Jesus, but Simon’s thoughts were different.
A sinner had entered his home and embarrassed him but doing what she was doing and Jesus allowing it to happen, which is evident by his “thoughts” in verse 39.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
Simon’s thought “either” Jesus didn’t know who she was and he isn’t a prophet or he knew who she was and Jesus wasn’t a good man then for allowing this.
Either way, to Simon, Jesus wasn’t who he was proclaiming to be.
Summary
Summary
What Simon didn’t realize is “Jesus knew exactly who she was and had done” and that was there “for the woman.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, this who our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, is.
He was willing to be humiliated on a grand stage in order to help a sinner, “sin no more” and spend an eternity with him.
When you go throughout each day we serve a God who loves each of us “sinners” as much as that woman.
Not only should we be motivated by such love in our lives but we should shout that to all the lost in the world with a shout of an arch angel!
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.