Luke 7:36-8:3
Jesus anointed by a sinful woman
“Who …. forgives?”
THE EVENT
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
THE WOMAN
37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
SIMON
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Simon’s reasoning is most illuminating. It went something like this:
Premises:
- If Jesus were a prophet, he would know people’s character
- If Jesus knew this woman was a sinner, He would have nothing to do with her
Conclusions:
- Since Jesus has accepted this woman, He does not know her character
- Since Jesus does not know this woman is a sinner, He cannot be a prophet
- Since Jesus is not a prophet, I/we can reject Him, His message & ministry
https://bible.org/seriespage/23-wordless-worship-unnamed-woman-luke-736-50
JESUS
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
THE OTHER GUESTS
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
APPLICATION
Who is the bigger sinner in this text?
Seems like ( on face value ) Jesus goes along with Simon’s assumptions/thoughts/ arguments
Jesus’ illustration – 500 days wages vs 50 day wages. @ 100/ day = $50,000 vs. $5000
Look at vs. 47again… – what is the focus?…
If you had to put a $ number on Hitler’s sins;
Put a dollar value of weight of their sins
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L9O8j9QPZc8
Mother Theresa’s ?
What’ s the point of the text?
Do you see your gratitude to Jesus as making fool of yourself in public, CONTINUALLY kissing the feet of Jesus?
Or are you a Simon – cool and collected in public, willing to judge others based on reputation, their actions, their looks? – all the while seeing yourself as a smaller debtor.
What’s the measure of your gratitude for the cross of Jesus Christ & what he did for you?
THE OTHER GUESTS
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”