INTRODUCTION TO SERMON
Jesus has just finished the Sermon on the Mount. He and his Disciples and Apostles begin to travel from Galilee to Capernaum.
On the way they ran into the Centurions servants, where Jesus heals one of them.
This is where we begin this morning.
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 7:36 – 50 Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and 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.
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 men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[d] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"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—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
I. PHARISEE INVITES JESUS TO DINNER
a. Simon the Pharisee
i. Jesus may have been invited, but the scriptures tell us “He went into the Pharisees house, and reclined at the table.”
1. Invited, but was not seated.
2. Not given a place at the table (insult at that time)
b. Inviting Jesus into your house
i. Have you invited Jesus into your home?
ii. Have you given Him a place, a seat of honor?
iii. How about in your heart?
II. THE SINNING WOMAN
a. Heard of Jesus and went to Him
i. We are told she is a sinner, nothing more.
ii. She heard Jesus was going to be at the Pharisees.
1. She was determined to see Him.
2. She prepared to see Him.
b. Purchased perfume
i. Not just any perfume, but perfume in an alabaster box.
1. Shows she was a woman with money.
2. Shows her money did not satisfy the hunger and thirst in her heart.
a. Rich Young man was sorrowful at the thought of giving up his wealth to follow Jesus.
b. You could have all the riches of the world, yet if you do not have Jesus, you have nothing.
c. You could have nothing of this world, yet if you have Jesus, you have everything!
c. Wept at Jesus’ feet
i. This signified repentance.
ii. What will you do when you are in the presence of the Lord?
1. Will you stand and boldly proclaim your deeds?
2. Or will you fall to the floor, and weep because of your sin against the Lord?
iii. She had heard the Lord’s Word, and it found a place within her heart.
iv. She wept at His feet.
1. Tears of sorrow for she was repentant, and tears of joy because Jesus was the one who could forgive those sins!
2. Kissing His feet was a custom among the Jews, Greeks and Romans. It was a sign of affection and reverence.
3. She then anointed His feet with the perfume.
What just took place?
† A woman heard the Word of God, and realized she was a sinner.
† She knew Jesus could forgive those sins.
† She searched Jesus out, and went to Him.
† She was repentant and fell at the feet of Jesus.
† She gave Jesus reverence.
III. JESUS’ PARABLE
a. Part of a Prophet
i. How did the Pharisee react to this?
1. He spoke in his heart.
a. First against Jesus – “If this man were a prophet…”
b. Against the woman – “she is a sinner!”
2. The Pharisee was actually a greater sinner than the woman this day.
a. He was not repenting of his sin, the woman was.
b. He was not seeking Jesus for forgiveness, the woman was.
c. He did not believe Jesus was the Lord, the woman did.
b. Law of Love
i. The Holy Spirit revealed Simons thoughts to Jesus.
ii. Jesus tells Simon He has something to say to him.
iii. And Jesus tells a parable.
c. Sin, Faith, Forgiveness & Salvation
i. Two men borrowed money.
1. About $20,000 & $2,000
ii. Neither could repay, and both were forgiven.
iii. Jesus asks, “Tell me, which one would love more?”
iv. Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven more”
Jesus answers Simon in verse 47 with:
“Her sins which are many, are forgiven.”
She loved much, because she understood she was sinful and needed Jesus.
Jesus then states, “But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Every believer must realize that he has been forgiven MUCH, and as a result, you will LOVE JESUS MUCH.
The guiltiest who believe upon Jesus Christ shall receive Salvation and the conscious forgiveness of sin.
IV. CONCLUSION
a. Your Faith has saved you
i. Jesus does not say “your love has saved you”, or “your tears have saved you”, BUT her Faith!
God gave us His 10 commands 6,000 years ago.
These commands are God’s standard. To show us our sin against Him.
The Law justifies no man, but shows our sin.
Like the woman, we must hear the Word of God and realize we are sinners.
We must also be doers of that Word!
Our actions (or works) can not save us, but our Faith without Works is dead!
If the woman who had the Faith that Jesus could forgive her sins, yet did not ACT on that Faith, she would not have been forgiven by Him!
† She searched Jesus out, and went to Him.
† She was repentant and fell at the feet of Jesus.
† She gave Jesus reverence.
This is Faith WITH WORKS. Or Faith in Action!
Without these Works, her Faith would have been dead because NOTHING WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.
We too need to realize how great a debt our sin is. We OWE our eternal souls.
But Christ paid that debt for us.
But we must seek Him.
We must sorrowfully repent.
And Jesus will forgive, and we will walk away JUSTIFIED before the Lord!
When you stand before Christ on Judgment day, will you be Justified, or will you still have an unpaid debt?
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