Explain 4 Gospel accounts; Different emphasis, different perspective, different theological approaches, same main character, same life, same central ministry.

Timelines were less important to the gospel writers than concepts. Often the stories are not chronological, but theological. They follow a rough timeline over a three year period, but when you zoom in, and read passage by passage, the timeline becomes less important and the concept is clarified.

For example, Matthew is concerned with proving to the Jews that Jesus is the promised messiah. This is why he begins with a genealogy, tracing Jesus back through David to Abraham. This proved that He was in the legal lineage of David, a necessary fulfillment for the Jewish Messiah.

On the other hand, Luke is concerned with the connection of that Messiah to the whole world. He has an underlying theme of equality and universal appeal. Luke is another one that has a genealogy, in chapter 3, but if you read his record, he traces the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Adam. Where Matthew's audience is primarily Jewish, Luke's emphasis Jesus' offer of salvation to the whole world.

Each of the writers have their own emphasis, they cover events in the life of Jesus that lend themselves to the theological point they are trying to make.

This story found in all 4 gospels. Some scholars debate wether all four are the same, however, I think the similarities are close enough to conclude it is the same set of events, told from different perspectives.

2 Reasons I tell all this: 1) I don't want you to go home and read up on this, and see the debate about this, and become confused, and wonder if I know what I'm talking about. I know there is a debate, and now, so do you. 2)

This story is found in John 12, Matt 26, Mark 14, and Luke 7. Each one shares important details for this concept to make sense.

Because of the different details in each Gospel, I will read the one which has the most pertinent details, and fill in the blanks from the other Gospels

Luke 7:36–40 NASB95

36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

Title

I Have Something to Say…

Context

House of Pharisee

Probably in Bethany

Several tenants including 12 disciples, Lazarus, and two sisters.

Then there’s this woman…

We aren’t given the name of the woman by the author of Luke. He simply includes her description.

The other gospel writers may include a name, in fact one of them calls her Mary and it’s debated whether it is Mary the sister of Lazarus or Mary Magdelaine or someother Mary, but Luke only includes a description of her.

It is interesting because Luke’s account includes a description of the woman, but the title of the Pharisee.

He doesn’t inlcude the name of the Pharisee until the very end of our reading when Jesus addresses him as “Simon.”

John includes in his account a description of the man, but not his title, so John doesn’t call him a pharisee, john calls him “Simon the Leper.”

Now we know that if he were still a leper he would not have been allowed back in his house, so it’s possible that he has been healed of his leprosy and is now hosting Jesus in his home because Jesus healed him.

We don’t know all the details, but we do know Simon is known as a leper, but holds the title of pharisee.

Simon faces a situation where we often find ourselves, in having been healed, but he gets caught up in the issues of others.

He is so concerned with the sins of the woman, he forgets that the same power that healed him can deliver her.

So the woman comes in and it is unclear as to whether she had been invited, or if she crashed the party, but from the reaction of simon and the disciples, from the moment she entered the room she disrupts their plans.

Luke 7:39 NASB95

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

He said to himself… He privately scorned the woman. Secretly ridiculed her because she had a reputation.

Not only was she not perfect, she was known. She had a reputation. These weren’t just secret sins she engaged in, everyone knew the kind of person she was…

Until…

Until she met the man who changed everything. He turned her around. She went from kissing for profit to kissing his feet.

Something had happened to this woman that turned her whole world upside down. And now she was there to show adoration to the man who delivered her from her.

But simon…

Simon the pharisee… Simon who was no longer a leper… Simon who thought himself as having earned some sort of position by hosting a dinner party…

Simon privately ridiculed the woman…

Have you noticed, there’s a certain type of person who wants to privately ridicule? They will say “to themselves”

Can I rephrase how this usually sounds… “Now this is just between us...” “I wouldn’t say this to them but...” “Well I have my opinion that I’ll keep to myself, but suffice to say...”

Secret scorn. Secret scorn… He said to himself… He said it to himself, but the biblical author knew… He said to himself…

Here’s what I want you to notice… Simon thought to himself in v. 39 and he gets an answer to his own monologue in verse 40…

Luke 7:40 NASB95

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

And the woman come unglued.... And the woman’s friends stood up for her… And the woman gave simon a piece of her mind…

Well it’s a good thing I wasn’t there because I would have…

The woman didn’t speak. The disciples didn’t speak.

JESUS ANSWERED…

Simon’s private ridicule cause a public response from Jesus…

She didn’t have to do it, she didn’t have to scheme it, she didn’t have to tell everyone about it…

JESUS ANSWERED…

It would have been better for Simon if the woman had spoke up…

If she had tried to bring vengeance herself or exact revenge or tell him off, or rebuke him publicly, it would have kept Jesus from responding, but because she held her tongue, Jesus stepped in…

Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say…”

I believe if the woman had said what she wanted, that’s all that would’ve been said, but because she didn’t say it, Jesus did..

Romans 12:19–20 NASB95

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

This is the pattern throughout the scriptures…

God is with His people, but repays the proud with ashes and lamenting…

David said in the 31st psalm:

Psalm 31:23 NASB95

23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer.

The ESV says he “ABUNDANTLY REPAYS” the one who acts in pride…

If we will humble ourselves, God will step in and say, “I have something to say...”

Caleb and Joshua

Numbers 14:8–12 NASB95

8 “If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 “Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? 12 “I will smite them with pestilence and dispossess them, and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they.”

They were going to stone them because they chose to believe that God had something greater…

They were going to silence Caleb and Joshua, but the Glory of the Lord appeared…

God stepped in.... “I have something to say...”

If we were to fast forward 40 years, God held good to His promise and it was only Caleb and Joshua who survived from that generation to enter into the promised land…

Caleb and Joshua didn’t have to lift a finger in revenge. They didn’t have to plead their defense… They didn’t even have to hire an attorney.

God stepped in with something to say…

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was another who was put to shame by those around him…

Jeremiah 20:7–10 NASB95

7 O Lord, You have deceived me and I was deceived; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me. 8 For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction, Because for me the word of the Lord has resulted In reproach and derision all day long. 9 But if I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. 10 For I have heard the whispering of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!” All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: “Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him And take our revenge on him.”

But look what Jeremiah says in the next verse…

Jeremiah 20:11 NASB95

11 But the Lord is with me like a dread champion; Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.

Jeremiah was backed into a corner, but God had something to say…

Joseph

Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers, but rather than get bitter and attempt his own vengeance, Joseph kept his mouth shut and God had something to say…

God used his brother’s betrayal to put Joseph in the King’s seat, so that by the time they realized what was happening it was they who were bowing to Joseph, begging his forgiveness, and in need of HIM.

God had something to say…

Job

When Job was going through his trial, his friends spoke against him, whispered about him, said he must have sin, or that he had fallen because of his pride, but it was Job who had to pray for them in the end

Job 42:7–8 NASB95

7 It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. 8 “Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”

Job did not have to prove himself to his friends, God showed up and had something to say…

The woman in our text in Luke 7 said nothing, but Jesus answered… “Simon, I have something to say...”

When the disciples were upset and talking, when the pharisee leper was whispering, when the whole town considered her trash to be thrown out, she never said a word! She just stayed at the feet of Jesus.

She didn't stand up, rebuke anyone, she didn't give him a piece of her mind, she didn't back bite, she didn't call a group of her friends and ask them what they thought.

The scripture doesn't record her saying a single word! She just stayed close to Jesus. Kept her eyes on Jesus. Stayed at the feet of Jesus.

When your enemies, or your neighbors, church people, secular people, when folks talk about you and slander you and put you down, DONT SAY A WORD! VENGEANCE IS MINE SAYETH GOD!

HOLD YOUR TONGUE and see what God will do!

Isaiah 40:28–31 NASB95

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

You can’t soar with the eagles and be worried by the affairs of chickens…

Wait for it and see that God doesn’t step in with a word…

I Have Something to Say!

Let us follow the example of the woman and quietly stay at the feet of Jesus....

I’ll close with this scripture from David:

Psalm 31:11–24 NASB95

11 Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many, Terror is on every side; While they took counsel together against me, They schemed to take away my life. 14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. 16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your lovingkindness. 17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. 18 Let the lying lips be mute, Which speak arrogantly against the righteous With pride and contempt. 19 How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! 20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the Lord, For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city. 22 As for me, I said in my alarm, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried to You. 23 O love the Lord, all you His godly ones! The Lord preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer. 24 Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.

Nevertheless, you hear the voice of my supplications when I cried to you…

Can we follow this example and cry out to God rather than my gossip group? Can we cry out to God rather than “just the two of us”

Let’s rise above by staying low… Humble ourselves enough to not need to prove a point… Stay at the feet of Jesus…

Let God handle our haters, because He will have something to say…

Altar Call:

I’m going to open these altars, or you can make a place to pray right where you are, but just for the next few minutes can we humble ourselves before God, cry out to Him, and see if He doesn’t speak into our lives?