"Seeist Thou This Woman?"

INTRO: The Culture:

There is a section of a letter I want to read you written by someone who served in the Middle East. It said this, ​The point that really struck me about Jesus’ response to the woman was its complete departure from what was socially acceptable. I’m not sure if one can really begin to grasp how shocking it was unless one has spent enough time in the Middle East for its attitudes to start melding with his own. The worst sin a woman can commit here is to lose, or appear to have lost, her virginity outside of marriage. The most important asset she has as a woman is her reputation. The whole honor of the family hangs on the reputation of its women. If a woman has nothing but her reputation as a chaste woman, she always has a chance to succeed; if she has everything but her reputation she is lost before she begins. And in some parts of the Arab world, all it takes for a woman to lose her reputation is to be seen speaking to a man who is not a relative. If a man, particularly a religious man, is known to have even spoken with such a “lost” woman, his reputation will follow hers down the drain. It is a hard system and it crosses religious lines. Now consider that same system but take it back 2000 years to a less forgiving time. Then think about Jesus’ encounter with the sinful woman. Shocking, isn’t it?​

PLEASE STAND FOR THE READING OF GOD’S WORD

The New King James Version Chapter 7

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

The Parable of the Two Debtors

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

PRAY!

The Setup

Two Very Different Hearts

The woman:

A Prostitute

She knew she had a desperate need

She surrendered in complete humility

Letting down one’s hair in public was shameful and even a ground for divorce, but in her deep gratitude toward Jesus the woman forgot social propriety and used what was available to wipe Jesus’ feet—her hair.

Robert H. Stein

She gave Jesus her most precious possession

She never said a word

1 John 3:18 “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

Talk about actions speak stronger than words

The Pharisee:

Self Righteous

Simon was conscious of no need and therefore felt no love, and so received no forgiveness. Simon’s impression of himself was that he was a good man in the sight of men and of God.

He felt he was better than most

He didn’t think he needed forgiveness or repentance

Showed very little respect to Jesus

No water to wash, No Kiss, No oil

He expected Jesus to be like him

Proverbs 21:2 “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.”

Matthew 6:1 ““Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Take Homes:

1. It is not through works or self-righteousness that one is saved, but through faith in Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Titus 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”

Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”

2. You must come to Christ with humility and a contrite heart

.Highlight how recognizing our own sins and need for forgiveness is crucial in transforming our relationship with God. If you understand the forgiveness and grace that Jesus gives, it will make you radical

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.”

Isaiah 66:2 “But on this one will I look: On him who is humble and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.”

James 4:6 “Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

3.Have Heartfelt Repentance

 = sincere regret or remorse

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. (NIV)

4. Confirmed Forgiveness and Peace

Luke 7:47–48 “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Your sins are forgiven is a glorious thing to hear your Savior say (7:48). If you are putting your faith in Christ as your substitutionary sacrifice, then he says those same words to you. Those who heard him questioned how it was that Jesus could offer forgiveness of sins (7:49), and the answer is that he can’t—unless he is more than a mere man. Then the Son of God commended the woman for her faith and sent her away in peace (7:50)

Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

God doesn’t hold our sin against us anymore, it’s forgotten, but you know who does? Satan and he’ll remind you of them all the time, don’t go there, it’s a trap

Ephesians 4:31–32 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

If you are praying and praying and wonder why God isn’t answering your prayers, I want you to consider this

Matthew 6:14–15 ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Could it be that your unforgiveness is blocking the answer to your prayers

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IN CLOSING:

If we’ll examine our hearts closely I’m afraid we’ll find we are more like Simon the pharisee than we may think..

the woman's past does not define her future

like this woman, you too can experience peace and a new life through faith in Christ.

PRAY!