Luke 7:36-49

Go on and turn to our text for the evening, Luke 7. There are many subjects about which I know very little if anything. I don’t know anything about astrophysics. I don’t keep up with paleontology. It just proves what Will Rogers said is correct:

Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.

There many areas that I don’t read about, have never studied and don’t know anything. There’s another area I know nothing about and don’t plan on researching and that subject comes up in our passage tonight in Luke 7. The subject is prostitution. The passage doesn’t actually use that word. In the Greek, Luke only says that the woman was a sinner. However, in that context there is only one sin for which she would have received that designation – prostitution. Since I don’t think I need to do much research on this subject I’m going to rely on the research another preacher, Skip Heitzig, did in his preparation for preaching on this passage.

We may not know much about the subject but the Bible mentions prostitution more than seventy times. It is flatly condemned throughout the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments. However, Jesus said that prostitutes were among those who came to hear John the Baptist, repented and were baptized by him. Then Jesus said told the Pharisees that those prostitutes would get into heaven before they would.

I’m sure you know that there are two prostitutes mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus: Tamar (who slept with her father-in-law while acting like a prostitute) and Rahab (who hid the two spies when they came to Jericho). Rahab is even mentioned in both Hebrews and James as an example of faith for us to follow.

Prostitution is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession. I don’t k now if that’s true but it is still a huge money making enterprise today. Worldwide, prostitution brings in 186 billion dollars annually. The international average – and it’s the same in the US – is that 10% of all men will buy sex.

Prostitution is also one of the deadliest professions in the world. Studies show the average mortality rate for different professions per 100,000 people. In the US the average mortality rate across all professions is 3.5 for every 100,000. You wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the rate is higher for police officers, which is 18. For deep sea fishermen is shoots up to 75 per 100,000 that will die each year. But for prostitutes it’s 204. That’s because 95% are threatened with a gun in their face. Over half will be assaulted or raped.

But the heartbreaking numbers are that the average age a girl first gets involved in prostitution is between 12 and 14 years old. It doesn’t make sense how a girl that young could or would get involved in that lifestyle until you look at some more numbers. It’s estimated that one out of every ten kids will run away from home before they turn eighteen. The majority of them will be girls. These girls, who have left home because for whatever reason they don’t like their home life, will need food, clothing, and a place to live. Most of them feel like they are not loved at home. So, it won’t take showing them much attention to win their trust. Within 48 hours they will be approached by someone to enter into this lifestyle. Heitzig therefore suggests that before we judge those who participate in the immoral lifestyle that we consider how they got started and how their lives may be threatened.

Let’s get to our text.

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. (Luke 7:36)

A Pharisee named Simon (we’ll be given his name later in the story) invited Jesus over to his house for dinner. That seems rather odd considering the disdain Pharisees had for Jesus. Remember the importance of meals in that society. Meals were a very intimate social interaction. Part of it was due, as Luke described, to the fact that they reclined while eating. Resting on their left elbow, they would eat with their right hand with their feet extended out from the table. In that culture you did not eat with anyone you didn’t like. In fact, to eat with someone was a sign of friendship. But as we’ll see in the story, Simon was not necessarily very friendly towards Jesus. So why would he have invited Jesus over to eat? Since we’re not told we can only guess and there have been several speculations. William Barclay offers three possible reasons Simon might have offered the invitation to Jesus.

1. It’s possible that Simon was an admirer of Jesus and a sympathizer. Not all the Pharisees were against Jesus. The most notable example was Nicodemus. But Luke tells us there were more.

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” (Luke 13:31)

These Pharisees were trying to help Jesus by warning him of the threats against his life. Maybe Simon had some questions about whether Jesus really was the Messiah. However, the atmosphere of discourtesy shown to Jesus before the meal makes it highly unlikely that Simon was interested in learning more about Jesus.

2. It could be that Simon had invited Jesus with the deliberate intention of enticing him into some word or action which could be used as a charge against him. We see several examples of this in the gospels. For example, in the previous chapter Luke said this is what they were doing.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. (Luke 6:7)

It’s not very likely that this is what Simon was doing considering how he respectfully gives Jesus the title, Rabbi.

3. Most likely, Simon just liked the idea of having celebrities in his home even if it was someone with whom he disagreed. As we will see, many people who were not part of the meal came to hear Jesus. This would make Simon look good. Barclay believes this is the best explanation given the strange combination of a certain respect with some rudeness that Jesus will point out later in the meal.

We might also wonder why Jesus would want to eat at this man’s house. He knew Simon didn’t trust him. Nor was Simon interested in hearing more so that he might come to trust Jesus. Like Herod Antipas who wanted see Jesus perform some miracles, Simon was only interested in the spectacle of thing. So why would Jesus indulge him and eat at his house? Well, for one, it would seem that Jesus loved to eat. We never see him turn down an invitation and in the case of Zacchaeus, Jesus even invited himself over to eat. It’s interesting that at the end of his letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus says:

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)

It would seem that Jesus loved eating with people and probably because of the intimacy associated with it. So, Jesus was invited to the meal but there were some other visitors who had not been invited and weren’t eating. Houses, such as the one of this Pharisee, were built around a courtyard. Weather permitting they would eat in the courtyard. When a traveling teacher stopped in everyone from the community was allowed to come and listen to what he had to say. They weren’t invited to eat, but they could listen. One of those visitors becomes the focus of the story.

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. (Luke 7:37-38)

Again, the Luke word uses to describe the unnamed woman is sinner but there was only one sin that would get her that description. In reality we are all sinners and we all need the forgiveness of God. However, not everyone is aware of their sin or if they are aware of their sins, they are not willing to admit them.

This woman brought with her a jar of perfumed oil. Because Jesus was reclining at the table she had access to his feet. She washes his feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, and anoints them with this oil.

We might wonder why she was there and why she had this response to Jesus. There were lots of people there, but she knew that because of her reputation that she would not be welcomed. Something else we should know about the culture is that for a woman to let her hair down like this in public was grounds for divorce. That probably wasn’t an issue for her. But she came and overwhelmed with emotion cries enough tears that she’s able to wash the feet of Jesus with them. What was the cause of all this emotion?

Heitzig said that he saw one prostitute who when interviewed said she didn’t know anything about love. She said:

I don’t know what real love is. I don’t know what it looks like. I don’t know what it feels like. I don’t know what it acts like. The only kind of love I ever had is the one way kind, the kind that’s paid for in goods and services and evaporates like the dew in the morning or explodes into violence in the middle of the night. I don’t know what it’s like to love and be loved.

We don’t know what this woman had gone through. We don’t know how or why she’d gotten involved in prostitution. Had her husband died or left her penniless? What we can assume is that she knew about Jesus and had probably even heard him teach. When she heard that Jesus was going to be at Simon’s house she came and she came prepared with that bottle of oil. There was something in his teaching that gave her hope. Despite what others thought about her that she came to Jesus, washed his feet, died them with her hair, and anointed them with the scented oil.

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. (Luke 7:39-40)

The term “Pharisee” comes from a Hebrew word meaning to separate. The Pharisees were a religious sect that sought to distinguish themselves by their devotion to God. The Jewish historian Josephus said there were about six thousand out of a population of a half million. Today the population of Israel is close to ten million. The Pharisees separated themselves from the common people, the people who were not as devoted to God and his law like they were. Believing that sin could be transferred from one person to another simply through touch, they avoided touching others at all cost. Tradition says that they would walk down the road with their robes held tightly to make sure their robe didn’t brush against someone else. Simon just could not understand why Jesus would allow this sinful woman to touch him like that.

Since he was allowing this woman to touch his feet, Jesus was obviously not a prophet. Simon figured that if Jesus were a real prophet he would know who this woman was and the kind of woman she is. She was unclean and by touching him she was making him unclean. Jesus couldn’t be a prophet and this proved it. However, Jesus then proves he is a prophet by knowing Simon’s thoughts. When we read that Jesus answered Simon, he didn’t answer a question Simon had asked; Jesus was answering Simon’s thoughts. In reaction to Simon’s thoughts about why this woman was washing Jesus’ feet with her tears Jesus wanted to tell him a story.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, 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. (Luke 7:41-43)

Imagine buying a car and a couple of years later being unable to make payments. The bank calls to talk to you about it and when you explain your situation you are told your debt has been forgiven. The car is yours and you don’t owe a cent. How would you feel? Would that not change your life? Or what if you bought a house and the same thing happened. You had a good job and were making the monthly payments until the economy turned and you lost your job and were no longer able to pay. What would you do if the bank just forgave your debt? I can’t imagine either of those happening but that’s what happened in to the two people in the story. The first owed about a ten year’s wages while the other owed a year of wages. Though the first was much larger, neither could pay their debt. While both are greatly appreciative, which will appreciate it more? Which will love more?

Simon correctly says it is the one who has been forgiven more. Simon may not have caught on to the point of the story but we do. Jesus was comparing financial debt to the spiritual debt we all have because of our sin.

There is a version of the Model Prayer that goes, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. While trespass is one the Greek words used to describe sin, debt is really a better translation and that’s what most use. We are indebted to God because of our sin. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God but some have sinned more than others. Most, if not all of us, grew up attending church. We know we’ve sinned but we’ve never had years of rebellion against God and his commands. We’ve tried to live according to God’s commands but not everyone has. Others have deliberately tried to break all of God’s commands. But it doesn’t matter how many or how often we have sinned there is nothing any of us can do to redeem ourselves from the debt we owe. We all need God’s forgiveness.

Sadly, religion is often the biggest obstacle for people coming to Jesus. There are people who because they have been religious don’t believe they need forgiveness. They may not be five hundred denarii sinners, they may only be fifty denarii sinners, but they are still sinners in need of forgiveness. And it is those who don’t think they need forgiveness that are the worst off.

Jesus then addresses the actions or inactions of Simon as the host. There were three accepted customs that were performed when you welcomed a guest.

Washing feet: The roads were only dust tracks, and shoes were merely soles held in place by straps across the foot. So, you would have a servant pour cool water over the guest’s feet to cleanse and comfort them. If you couldn’t afford a servant to wash your guest’s feet, you would provide water so they could wash their own feet. Jesus was not even given that.

Greeting: The host would place his hand on the guest’s shoulder and gave him the kiss of peace. It was a mark of respect which was never omitted especially in the case of a distinguished Rabbi.

Anointing: Either a pinch of sweet-smelling perfume would be placed on the guest’s head.

Good manners demanded these three things and in this case not one of them was done.

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.” (Luke 7:44-46)

Simon did not perform even one of the basic common courtesies for Jesus that would be expected for any guest. But this woman who Simon considered “sinful” did. She took care of Jesus the way Simon should have. It cannot be overstated how important good hospitality was in that culture but Simon showed almost none.

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.” (Luke 7:47-48)

Now Jesus connects the dots and lets Simon know he was really talking about sin. This woman was washing his feet with her tears out of gratitude. She loved much because she had been forgiven much. Simon, on the other hand, didn’t think he had that much to be forgiven for. As a result, he loved little. Sometimes it is more difficult for good people to accept the grace of God than it is for the notoriously bad because the good people don’t recognize their need. As a result, when they are forgiven they love little.

Not everyone wants to hear that and it doesn’t seem the people present at Simon’s house wanted to heat that Jesus had forgiven this woman’s sins. They certainly wondered if Jesus was able to forgive sins.

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.” (Luke 7:36-50)

Don’t you know that those words had to have been like music to her ears, to hear Jesus say that her sins, though many, had been forgiven? Jesus wasn’t ignoring her sins or pretending they’d never happened. He acknowledged her sinful past. Speaking to Simon Jesus said:

I tell you, her sins – and they are many – have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. (Luke 7:27a, NLT)

Jesus acknowledged her sins and then declared them to be forgiven.

One woman explained that she got involved in prostitution after watching the movie “Pretty Woman” starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. The movie so positively and romantically portrayed the profession that she thought that it would be a good idea. However, what she found was drastically different than the movie. She said, “What I experienced was nothing like ‘Pretty Woman.’ It’s totally different. I have been held hostage at gunpoint, I have been raped, I have been robbed, I’ve been strangled, and I’ve been beaten up by customers.” What would it be like for her to hear that her sins could be forgiven?

Those who are forgiven much love much. Those who think there is little for them to be forgiven love little.

Do you know what it is to be burdened because of some past sin and then to be forgiven? The Bible declares that God is righteous and just and that he will forgive us our sin whether it’s a small amount of sin or a large amount of sin. We have all sinned, every one of us. And we can all have forgiveness because of the blood of Christ.