Love Much

The Extravagance of Love: A Sinful Woman's Bold Act

Bible Passage: Lk 7:36–39

Summary: This passage narrates the story of a sinful woman who demonstrates her profound love for Jesus by anointing His feet with expensive perfume, wiping them with her hair, and showing deep humility and repentance, while the Pharisee Simon looks on with disdain.

Application: This sermon encourages Christians to recognize their own need for grace and to respond to God's love with an extravagant love for Him, which may challenge societal norms and expectations.

Teaching: The main teaching revolves around understanding the depth of God's forgiveness, the response of love that it elicits, and the contrast between genuine worship and self-righteous judgment.

How this passage could point to Christ: In this passage, Jesus embodies the heart of forgiveness and grace, inviting all, even the most marginalized, into a relationship with Him, thereby portraying Jesus as the ultimate source of love and acceptance in the broader narrative of Scripture.

Big Idea: True love for Jesus often manifests in acts of profound gratitude and humility, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of His grace.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider exploring the cultural context of first-century Judea, particularly the significance of the woman's actions and the social implications of her status. Using Logos, delve into commentaries that address the nature of forgiveness in the Gospels, as well as the text-critical aspects of how this story has been interpreted throughout church history.

Intro- Please turn to Luke 6:

This great gospel of Luke- was writen by Dr. Luke—to assemble a narrative, of the things that were accomplished, and seen, and delivered to us.

This is an orderly account all these things. . the put a proper accout together, of the things that were seen

Notice Luke. Jesus was going to, coming from, or at a meal.

Luke wrote the book of Acts.

Luke loved Jesus sermons, and put on display Jesus compassion for the lowly.

This morning is it my goal to take us on a walk with Jesus.

Put on your walking shoes—or Sandals— and lets tag along with Jesus as he ministers powerfully.

How fast did Jesus walk. 2.5-3. 20 miles a day. Nazareth to Capernaum 20 miles. one long day

We are going from Ch. 6, to the end of chapters 7.

This will be a brisk walk in the first part of my message, and then we are going to slow down at the end.

If you just look at the bible headings- that title the paragraphs, (not Inspired BTW),

We are going to bullet point, and fly over what Luke, through eye witnesses describes.

The Lord of the Sabbath.

Man with the withered hand.

Night of prayer and selection of the apostels.

Sermon on the plain- healed them all, thought them all. Beatitude. Woes. the spec and the plank.

Bear good fruit. Build your house upon the rock.

Jesus is teaching, and healing and loving on people! Remeber he came to seek and to save the lost.

Chapter 7

The Centurions servant.

The funeral in Nain.

Jesus honoring John the Baptist.

Jesus was The Lord of all. Jesus had the power the heal-and wanted to. Jesus had the wisdom to teach- reaching into out hearts and does heart surgery with his words. Jesus was looking for faith and called it out when he found it.

Jesus asked why do you call me Lord, Lord, and don’t do what I tell you.

Hear my words. Do what I tell you. Believe what I say.

Now let’s take what we know about Jesus and slow down fro this next section. Lk. 7:36

Jesus was at a meal. Let’s read.

Jesus was at Simon’s house. Simon the Leaper.

It is likely that Simon was one of the un-named many who Jesus healed. Reclining at a meal.

Simon was a Pharisee.

A Jewish sect at the time of Jesus that was devoted to exact observance of the Jewish religion. Righteousness through rules.

But, there was another person there.

A Woman,

WE DON’T HAVE A NAME, BUT WE HAVE HER REPUTATION.

She was a sinner.

She was a Cortisone or a harlot. or a harlot.

BUT- Wait. Look at this text.

vs. 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, 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.

This, does not look like a sinner. This looks like someone who something happened to.

Maybe she heard about Jesus.

Maybe she was one who was baptised by John.

Maybe someone she knew told her.

Maybe she found out that Simon the leaper, was no longer a leaper.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

This looks like an Ex-sinner. This looks like a changed sinner.

Funny how even after we are changed, that old label sicks.

Bernard beautifully says: “Thanks to thee, most blessed sinner: thou hast shown the world a safe enough place for sinners—the feet of Jesus, which spurn none, reject none, repel none, and receive and admit all

1. Face to Face with Grace incarnate

Lk 7:36–37a

This is the moment in our morning that I want us to get something. We are face to face with Jesus in this text.

Jesus- God incarnate. 100, God 100, man. The long awaited holy one. Messiah.

Grace incarnate. If you will allow.

Grace- God’s unmerited favor.

You could start by illustrating the contrast between Simon's invitation to Jesus and the woman's bold entrance into his home. While Simon is focused on appearances, the woman understands the depth of her sin and is moved to seek forgiveness. Her actions signify a profound awareness of her need for grace. Stress the idea that genuine love for Jesus stems from recognizing our own state before Him.

2. Love Poured Out.

Lk 7:37b–38

Maybe highlight how the woman’s act of anointing Jesus' feet is an expression of extravagant love. Despite societal prejudice, she honors Jesus with costly perfume and washes His feet with her tears, signaling her deep gratitude and reverence. Her actions challenge us to love Jesus wholeheartedly, even when it defies social norms.

3. Sinner Versus Self Righteous

Lk 7:39

Perhaps focus on Simon's judgmental attitude toward the woman and Jesus. His lack of empathy is a reminder of how self-righteousness blinds us to grace. Contrast this with Jesus’ acceptance and forgiveness. Conclude by inviting listeners to embrace a Christ-like perspective that prioritizes forgiveness over judgment.

Simon was not just judging the sinful woman, he was Judging Jesus .