Lesson 22 Luke 7:31- 45- The State of Things Today

The Current Generation 7:31- 35

English Standard Version (Chapter 7)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is telling them that they are a part of the generation that is not responsive to what He and John were trying to convey. There was no way of pleasing this crowd. Criticism was on every corner. He likened them to children hearing music playing but could not respond to the dancing. Perhaps their headphones were stuck in too far? They could not even weep at funeral music (the dirge.) That is simply unconcern. It’s not like they wanted to respond, it is more like they would not. Jesus said because “you did not dance,…and you did not weep.”

This is not a perceptive generation. In verse 33, Jesus says John the Baptist has come cutting carbs and alcohol out of his diet and this generation says he has a demon. That is a lie. But it is stated as truth. And now the Son of Man arrives with food and drink and they say He is a glutton and a drunk, plus a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Their assessment of the individual is all messed up spiritually. Verse 35 tells us that these kids provide their own justified wisdom. They, as children, are not accountable to anyone else, only to themselves. They have set themselves up as the authority, while at the same time, they have no authority. Yet their critical spirit shows us that they believe they are the authority. Christ has been rejected. It’s who they are.

Taking stock of their generational markers, let’s state the obvious that Jesus has pointed out:

Childish and immature(vs. 32-”like children.”

Unable to react appropriately to music.(vs.32)

Indifferent to trauma.(vs 32 we sang a dirge and you did not weep at death.)

Critical spirits.(Vs. 33 You say…)

Does not know right from wrong. (vs. 33-34)

Wrong assessment of relationships( Also can be thought of: associates with the wrong crowd, or maybe does not play well with others- Vs.43- Is it a bad thing that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners?)

They are a self-authority. Jesus nor John are over them.

These are the markers of a society or a people who are on the road to ruin or destruction.

The Alabaster Ointment 7:36- 40

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.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 7:36–40.

Jesus spent quite a lot of His ministry meeting with people over food. He did do even after His resurrection. He liked to meet people face-to-face. In this instance the Pharisee named Simon, had asked Jesus to come to his house. It is here the sinner approaches the Lord Jesus Christ with an alabaster flask/jar/box of ointment. As she wept at Jesus’ feet, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped those tears from His feet with her hair. Then at last, she kissed His feet and anointed them with oil. Immediately the Host, Simon said to himself “ if Jesus were the real thing, He would have known what sort of woman was touching him.” She was a common sinner. In this moment, Jesus speaks to Simon the Pharisee and says, “We need to talk!” Simon says, Talk on Teacher! Simon has not called Him Lord yet.

Forgiving Much, Loving Much. (7:40-50.)

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?” 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? 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.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Luke 7:41–50.

Jesus tells Simon, and anyone else who heard about the moneylender who had a man who owed him a year and a half of wages. The other man owed him 50 days wages(7 weeks and a day). Neither scenario is anything to sneeze at. Let’s say none of us could afford to lose two months of wages/retirement benefits. Both of them get their debt cancelled. Who is going to love the man more? The answer by the Pharisee was right. The man who had the most forgiven.

The next scenario is about the lady/sinner who anointed his feet with oil and kissed his feet. Jesus tells Simon that she who has had many sins forgiven loved much, yet Simon has done nothing since Jesus arrived to show his love to the Savior. The spiritual truth behind the scene is, those who are forgiven much, love much. Those who are forgiven little, loves little. The statement that followed from the others at the table was from another mindset. Who is this who even forgives sin?

Her love was the real proof her sins had been forgiven but Jesus needed to say this because He has the right and the ability. He is the real authority in contrast to the current generation who have set themselves up as the authority. the things that this generation failed to do, He has come to do and to fulfill the will of the Father, all the way to the cross. Jesus last words in this paragraph are the same we live by today. For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of Christ Jesus our Lord and it is not of works. Romans 5:1 tells us that Jesus is the only one who can give us the peace that is promised:

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

In light of a generation who is missing this, it makes our task even more important for the days ahead. We must press on.