Jesus and the Parables "THE TWO DEBTORS" (Worship)

Jesus and the Parables 7 (Last sermon)

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As we have seen throughout the series Jesus tells these stories for us to better understand the Kingdom of God.

Things we have already unpacked from Jesus’ parables

the great value of the Kingdom, (Treasure in the field & Pearl)

importance of stewardship, (Talents)

The Father’s great love for us, (Lost Sons) (Prodigal Son)

walking in forgiveness, (Unforgiving Servant)

the action of love, (Good Samaritan)

Persistent Prayer, (Unjust Judge)

Now as I unpack the final sermon in this series,

we are going to see Jesus demonstrate the response of worship,

As he tells us the story about Two Debtors.

Context...

Luke 7:36–40 ESV

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

1. Misunderstood by Man

Worship is something that I am very passionate about.

Worship is a lifestyle, a day to day walk with Christ.

Worship is what we do,

not just songs we sing on a Sunday morning.

With that said worship in the form of leading a congregation in songs has been a very big part of my life.

When I was 9 years old my mom began to teach me guitar

and it was shortly after that I was able to play on the church worship band.

I eventually became the worship leader at my parents church

and later moved away to take a position as a worship and youth leader at a church.

What I found in my years of leading worship is that people have a very wrong understanding of what worship is

and why we come together and sing songs corporately.

Worship has become a gene of music instead of a lifestyle one lives each in every day.

And Because of this misunderstanding we have become consumers of worship songs,

instead of active participants.

Pastor Francis Chan

Not entertainment

It is important to understand that worship is a response to God and is to be directed to Him.

Sometimes I get the idea that we think that worship corporeally is only for our edification.

That the songs we sing should be only for our benefit.

Now I want to say that worshiping God will bring edification and will minister to us as the worshiper.

But the goal of worship should not be for what I can receive,

but rather for what I can give. Amen!

When worship is misunderstood

and members of the church become consumers instead of active worshipers,

the consumers of the church will misunderstand those who are actively engage in worship to God.

This is what I believe is happened with Simon the Pharisee.

He has invited Jesus over as a consumer instead of a worshiper of God.

And what happens is that as Simon is trying to consume knowledge about God,

in walks this women of the city who is identified as a sinner

It is not much of a stretch to say that this women probably has come from a life of being a prostitute.

She comes in and disrupts Simon’s plans

as she begins to make a scene in front of not only this Pharisee Simon

but also his distinguished guest.

She sits at Jesus’ feet and begins to pour expensive perfume on his feet.

She is weeping and kissing Jesus’ feet and then wipes his feet with her hair.

She does not care about what others thinks of what she is doing,

all this women cares about is pouring out this offering of worship at her Master’s feet.

Simon I am sure is horrified...

This women has hijacked his evening...

And Simon begins to think to himself,

if this Jesus was a true prophet,

he would know what kind of women is at his feet right now.

If he was a prophet he would give this prostitute a kick to the curve.

It seems pretty clear that Simon does not see a women here

but rather sees only a sinner.

identify people by their sin

instead

someone created in the image of God

Reading long time ago… Jesus cast out demon...

Simon is in no way concerned about the women...

But Jesus… He saw things much differently.

Jesus response to Simon's thoughts and says is it ok if i tell you a story Simon.

Luke 7:41–50 (ESV)

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

500 denarii was a year and half to two years worth of debt

50 denarii 2 months debt

43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?

(How can I not see)

I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

1. Misunderstood by Man

2.Understood by God

Story Man worship zealously.

This women women who was known to be a sinner. ) V37

Even Jesus acknowledges her sinful past. (V47)

This women who was known by her reputation...

But her past was not what defined her in the eyes of Jesus. (Your past does not define you)

There was no question who she was...

but Jesus did not identify her with her past.

It was her extravagant worship that defined who she was in the eyes of Jesus

It was her passionate worship at the feet of Jesus that defined her.

as she clanged to the feet of her Savior.

As she clung to the feet of her savior...

She did not care what it looked like....

All she could see was Jesus

(No good reputation to loose)

Simon may have misunderstood this women and I am sure his guest probably equally misunderstood her.

The people who misunderstood her were the one’s who identified her has a sinner.

But Jesus.... He saw the women not as a sinner but as one who was forgiven.

Jesus saw a women who knew the power of God’s saving grace.

A women who experienced the power of forgiveness.

Jesus saw a women who’s response was absolutely appropriate

because her response of passionate worship

was from a place of knowing the freedom that God’s grace was bringing her. Amen!

Jesus uses the story of the two men who are forgiven to highlight the difference between Simon the Pharisee and the Women who was known as a sinner.

Simon did not think he needed much forgiveness. love little

The Women knew she needed much forgiveness. love was great

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

When we understand the magnitude of how much we have been forgiven

and the price that was paid so we may receive forgiveness,

our life of worship will never be the same.

But if we do not understand the magnitude of how much we have been forgiven,

and we do not understand the great price that was paid on the cross,

we be just like Simon the Pharisee and criticize others who passionately worship.

CATEGORIZE SIN....

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

ALL sin leads to Hell...

Jesus said...

Matthew 7:13–14 NLT

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

I say all this to tell so you realize that everyone of us was on a path of distruction.

Everyone of us falls tremendously short of God’s standard.

And it is only through Jesus’ blood that he shed on the cross that we may be saved from destruction.

Knowing what God has done for us

how can our worship be anything but passionate unto God.

How can we not respond to God’s forgiveness with a lifestyle of worship and praise.

Worship with zeal (get exited)

I don't care if I am misunderstood

All I see is Jesus

New Testament 7:36–50—The Pharisee and the Loose Woman

7:38. Jewish people did not consider perfume sinful, but because this woman is a “sinner” and uses the perfume as a tool of her trade, Jesus’ acceptance of the gift of perfuming would offend religious sensitivities.

That which was once used as an instrument of sin was redeemed to be an instrument of worship.

Example

Goliath’s Sward was used to kill God’s children

God later redeemed that sward.

Later that same sward was used in the hands of David to defeat the enemy.

As she begins to pour out this expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet she is misunderstood by Simon the Pharisee.

He does not say wow what a great moment of extravagant worship.

Rather he says if Jesus only knew who this women was he would not allow her near him.

It is interesting that because Jesus allows this women to worship him at his feet,

Simon the Pharisee concludes that Jesus is not a prophet because a true prophet would know these kind of things.

As Simon is thinking these things about Jesus,

Jesus answers his thoughts by saying can i tell you a story Simon....

Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus (Second Edition) Adapting the Parable > The Two Debtors (Luke 7:41–43)

Particularly in white North American culture, people are taught to guard against emotion in their responses, but nothing great happens without emotion.