Saved From What?

Text: Luke 7:36-50

Luke 7:36–50 CSB

Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!” Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said, “Say it, teacher.” “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” “You have judged correctly,” he told him. Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Opening:

Here we see Jesus eating a formal meal with some of the Pharisees at Simon’s house. We know that it is a formal meal because of the statement “recline at table.” These meals were usually set aside for specific purposes and showed the importance of each member there according to where they reclined. (See Picture)

In the first century, a common way of dining was to recline at the table. Each person would rest his left elbow on a cushion and eat using his right hand. According to the Greco-Roman custom, a typical dining room had three couches set around a low dining table. The Romans called this kind of dining room a triclinium (Latin from a Greek word meaning “room with three couches”). Although this arrangement traditionally accommodated nine people, three to a couch, it became common to use longer couches to accommodate even more people. Each position in the dining room was traditionally viewed as having a different degree of honor. One couch was the lowest place of honor (A), one was the middle (B), and one was the highest (C). The positions on the couch differed in importance. The person dining was considered to be above the one to his right and below the one to his left. At a formal banquet, the host typically sat at the first position (1) on the lowest couch. The place of honor was the third position (2) on the middle couch. Although it is not clear to what extent the Jews adopted this custom, it appears that Jesus alluded to it when teaching his followers the need for humility.

Houses at this time were not closed up like we are accustom to, remember A/C had yet to be invented. So most likely this dinner was taken place in a courtyard at Simon’s house. These dinners also were in public so people that were passing by could spectate this activity. Since it was in public anyone was able to attend but not all could partake. A prostitute comes inside searching for Jesus. It was considered an abomination for a prostitute to come across a Pharisee let alone come onto the property of one. We also know that this prostitute was planning on coming and had heard that Jesus was going to be there because she brought along a jar of perfume with her. Her coming took great courage, and reveals the desperation with which she sought forgiveness. Her weeping showed that she was repentant of her sins.

Simon had invited Jesus to his dinner party and didn’t extend the courtesy of friendliness that is typically shown to others when invited into their homes. Simon didn’t offer to wash Jesus’ feet, He didn’t show the respect of another by kissing his head and anointing it with oil. Simon probably was curious about who Jesus was because of all the other things that he had been doing. When the woman came into the home home Simon was disgusted. When she started to touch Jesus Simon was so disgusted that he thought to himself, “see Jesus isn’t a prophet like he claims. If he were her would’ve known that this woman was so disgusting that he wouldn’t want her to touch him.” Here is the kicker. Jesus replied to Simon’s thoughts not his words! This clearly shows Simon that he is a Prophet!

Then Jesus responds to Simon in a Parable. This parable is one that would teach both teach Simon and the woman about forgiveness. The lesson of the parable is about how neither person in debt could afford to payback his debts. Simon says the one who had the bigger debt loved the creditor more because of the great debt that he had. Which was the correct answer to Jesus’ question, however there is another point to this parable that Jesus was making. He was also stating that those who think they have nothing to be forgiven for will not love the one forgiving thinking that it was no big deal.

Jesus looked at the woman and told her that her sins were forgiven, her debt was paid. But it was a slap in the face to Simon saying that he didn't even show him the common courtesy of hospitality when inviting Jesus to dinner.

For us there may be times when we seem like we are stagnate in our relationship with God. Most of the time we are forgetful of the sinfulness of our ourselves.

There is a song that I absolutely hate from a country artist named Jelly Roll. The song is called Need a Favor and here are some of the lyrics, minus the cussing.

I only talk to God when I need a favor And I only pray when I ain't got a prayer So, who the ____ am I, who the ___ am I To expect a Savior, oh If I only talk to God when I need a favor? But God, I need a favor.

We tend to treat Jesus as a genie in a bottle and only rub the lamp when we need something from him. We do our own thing thinking that we are in control of our lives and when something goes wrong we want to use the magic genie to relieve us of the all the crap that we got ourselves into. This is not how Jesus works or even thinks. I don’t know where we got that thinking from! Here is the reality of it.

Every human is 500 denarii in debt. The point of the parable is that we tend to feel that we are only 50 denarii in debt. The more obvious a big sin is, even though there are no bigger sins then others, the more readily and more eager for a deliverance of that sin. The less obvious the less eager we are to seek that forgiveness. However, all of us are in deep deep debt with no way to pay it off, but we only think we are only a little in debt.

One reason our spiritual growth grinds down is that we gradually lose a heart sense of the profound length to which Jesus went to save us. When we were running full speed the other direction, he chased us down, subdued our rebellion, and opened our eyes to see our need of him. We were not drowning, in need of a life-preserver; we were stone-dead at the bottom of the ocean. He pulled us up, breathed new life into us, and set us on our feet-and every breath we now draw is owing to his full and utter deliverance of us in our helplessness and death. Jesus saves!

Oh how we have forgotten the length and depth that Jesus went for us to redeem us. We need to constantly be reminded of that and to draw near to him every day. Jesus is our redeemer and we treat him like some magic wizard.

Corrie Ten Boom once wrote, “God buries our sins in the depths of the sea and then puts up a sign that reads, “No fishing.” Meaning that we need to not go back and try and dig up what God has already redeemed you of. That doesn’t meant that shouldn’t be mindful of the sins that we once had. It means that we shouldn’t go back to it. Do not be like a dog that goes back to it vomit.

God forgave a huge debt for those who put our trust in Him. We need not forget that and to continue to walk closer to him. I was listening to a sermon yesterday from Southwestern Seminary and the speaker was speaking on Loving God and Loving People. He has a passion for helping others out of addictions. He told a story that was powerful to me. He said that he would call his mentor to seek advice for something going on. The mentor would ask two questions. Have you prayed about it? and What does the Word of God say about it? He said if either of the answers to those was No he would hang up the phone.

This woman came seeking Jesus, giving her all, and understood the power that he had. Do not forget what Christ has done for you.

Closing:

What drives your time with, devotion to, and experience with Jesus? Do you come to church for social connection? Do you read your Bible out of duty? Because you have to? Do you pray in boredom? Do you serve others for what you can get in return? If so, you have forgotten your sin before God and the cross of Christ that cancels all debt. Don’t lose sight of how much you’ve been forgiven. Drink the truth of the Gospel, and it will drive you to a deep love for Jesus that spurs you to worship him with passion and serve others sacrificially.