Woman of Sin Discussion

Matthew 15:8 (ESV)

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

How might this verse apply to us today?

The Religious Man

Luke 7:36 (ESV)

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.

Why do you think Simon invited Jesus to his home for supper?

Why do you think that Simon did not offer the proper etiquette to Jesus to honor hims as his guest (Greeting with a kiss, washing his feet, and anointing him with oil.)

Can we learn anything about the way that Simon views Jesus by the way that Simon left Jesus ignored and insulted?

Don’t miss the irony of this moment:

· Simon has spent his life studying the Scriptures.

· By the time he was 12 he had the first 12 books of the Bible memorized.

· By the time he was 15 he had memorized the entire Old Testament.

· He had committed to memory more than 300 prophecies about the coming Messiah.

Yet, he doesn’t realize it is the Messiah who now sits at his table with a hand that hasn’t been kissed, feet that haven’t been washed, and a head that hasn’t been anointed.

He knew all about Jesus, but he didn’t know Jesus.

How can we confuse knowledge about God and a relationship with God?

Which one is easier to have out of the two: Knowledge or a relationship?

What is the difference between the two?

What does it look like to have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

How do we differentiate in our lives if we have a relationship or knowledge? Matthew 22:37–38 (ESV)

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.

The Sinful Woman

Notice the woman doesn’t speak, but her actions speak volumes!

Luke 7:37–38 (ESV)

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.

Many Theologians take this to believe that she was a known prostitute in the village.

Her reputation would be that of a whore by social status, contagious in her impurity.

This woman likely prostitutes herself because she has very few options available to her.

This was not the life that she wanted, she hated the life that she had.

What do you think life was like for this woman?

What caused her to gather the strength to go to the home of Simon the Pharisee?

What do you think she wanted to accomplish by going to find Jesus?

Once the woman comes into the dinner party, what does she do?

Why do you think she begins to wash the dirty feet of Jesus with her tears and hair?

Why does she anoint Jesus with her perfume?

The Oblivious Response

Luke 7:39 (ESV)

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.”

Why do you think that Simon responds the way that does?

Do you think that we might respond in the same way if we saw these events transpire in front of us?

What can we learn from Simon’s critical response in the way that we view/treat others?

The Savior of The World

Luke 7:40–43 (ESV)

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

What is the point that Jesus is getting across with this parable?

How can this parable apply for our lives?

Luke 7:44–47 (ESV)

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.”

Who are the people who think they have been forgiven little?

Who are the people who think they have been forgiven much?

If you feel like you have been forgiven little how does it affect the way you live and respond to Jesus?

Can you think of some Biblical examples of each?

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.”

In closing lets do a compare and contrast:

What are some similarities between the woman and the pharisee?

What are some differences between the woman and the pharisees?

How can we make sure that we are more like the woman in the story than Simon?

Why is it so easy to lose our love and excitement over what the Lord has done for us?