The Transforming Power of Grace

: A Story of Forgivenes

Bible Passage: Luke 7:36–50

Application: This sermon emphasizes that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It encourages believers to embrace their brokenness, seek forgiveness, and extend grace to others, demonstrating that Christ's love transforms lives.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage points to Christ as the embodiment of grace and mercy. Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus interacts with the marginalized and sinners, consistently demonstrating that redemption is available to all who sincerely repent and believe in Him.

Big Idea: True worship arises from an understanding of our sinfulness and the boundless grace we receive from Christ, compelling us to worship Him fully and offer grace to others.

1. Gratitude in Grace

Luke 7:36–38 NASB95

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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, 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.

Look how she weeps at the feet of Jesus wiping her tears to clean his feet, She is weeping because in her presence is the true Holy one who came to take the sins of the world, She acknowledges her sins she grieves over her sin

She bows before him as a slave or servant would and serves him she washes his feet

Jesus in His sermon of the mount gave us His beatitudes

One That stands out to me is

Matthew 5:4 NASB95

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

This indicates that those who experience grief, sorrow, or remorse, especially over their sins, will find comfort in God. It suggests that mourning, while painful, can lead to a deeper understanding of God's grace and forgiveness. 

Those that mourn are happy. That godly sorrow which worketh true repentance, watchfulness, a humble mind, and continual dependence for acceptance on the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, with constant seeking the Holy Spirit, to cleanse away the remaining evil, seems here to be intended. Heaven is the joy of our Lord; a mountain of joy, to which our way is through a vale of tears. Such mourners shall be comforted by their God Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), Mt 5:3.

Would we know what kind of people Christians ought to be? Would we know the character at which Christians ought to aim? Would we know the outward walk and inward habit of mind which become a follower of Jesus? Then let us often study the sermon on the mount. Let us often ponder each sentence, and prove ourselves by it. Not least let us often consider who they are that are called blessed at the beginning of the sermon. Those whom the great High Priest blesses are blessed indeed. J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 32.

The Lord Jesus calls those blessed, who mourn. He means those who sorrow for sin, and grieve daily over their own short-comings. These are they who trouble themselves more about sin than about anything on earth. The remembrance of it is grievous to them. The burden of it is intolerable. Blessed are all such! “The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite spirit.” One day they shall weep no more. “They shall be comforted.”

Her extravagant gesture of washing Jesus' feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume serves as an example of true worship. This act of humility and gratitude contrasts with the self-righteousness and judgment displayed by Simon the Pharisee. This point emphasizes the idea that genuine awareness of our brokenness draws us closer to Jesus, prompting authentic worship and adoration for His boundless grace.

2. Judgment Versus Joy

Luke 7:39–43 NASB95

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.” And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

You might demonstrate how Jesus uses a parable to reveal Simon’s lack of self-awareness and need for grace. This parable illustrates the disparity between Simon's judgmental attitude and the woman's transparent remorse. Jesus clarifies that forgiveness and love are interconnected, suggesting that the one who is forgiven much will love much. Use this to teach how an understanding of our offenses leads to a deeper appreciation of Christ’s mercy and compels us to show grace and love towards others.

3. Faith, Forgiveness, Freedom

Luke 7:44–50 NASB95

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. “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Perhaps discuss how Jesus turns to the woman and dignifies her through forgiveness, assuring her that her faith has saved her. This is not only a statement of her salvation, but also a profound rebuke to the social norms Simon had upheld. In this concluding point, focus on how Jesus as the Christ offers salvation and overturns societal expectations. This reinforces the big idea that our sinfulness, matched with His forgiveness, transforms lives and fosters true worship.

Luke 7:36–50 NASB95

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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, 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. 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.” And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 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. “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”