5 Who Loves More?

Introduction

Review – Build on sand = my way = hear and not put into practice = foundation of destruction.

Build on the rock = Jesus Christ = hear and put into practice = solid foundation. Dig deep. Transformed heart rather than following rules.

Today we’re answering the question Who Loves More? Parable of the Moneylender

Read passage Luke 7:36-50

Intro info:

Quick recap of 36-40. Pharisee invites Jesus, recline at table, sinner woman enters,

Compare The Pharisee and the Sinner Woman

The parable – Who are the moneylender, deep debtor and little debtor? What is the debt?

Application of the parable to The Pharisee and the Sinner Woman

Identify and compare the two debtors in the parable. Pharisee = self-righteous, Sinner Woman

Compare: Pharisee Sinner Woman

Man woman

Top rung bottom scum

Hosts dinner Crashes dinner

Why invite Jesus? Doubts/Suspects Jesus Worships Jesus

(If this man were a prophet, he would know…)

(2Kings 6 I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes.

Repulsed at woman Ignores the stares

“She’s a sinner”

Jesus Response: Jesus showed He not only knew what kind of woman she was, but what kind of man the Pharisee was.

Parable - Jesus tells story to illustrate. Pharisee - I suppose...

“Do you see this woman?”

I’m in your house intruder

Comparison to story no water to wash tears and hair

No kiss to greet kissing feet

No Olive oil for head (least) expensive perfume

Loves little Loves much

Forgiven Much, Love Much

Conclusion Many sins, Forgiven much

Forgiven little

Was sinner woman forgiven because of the love she showed?

Jesus knows she has many sins, (“which are many”) but they are forgiven and she loves because of the great debt canceled

No faith in Jesus Saved by faith in Jesus

To the sinner woman, Jesus speaks forgiveness, saved by faith, dismissed.

The world changed for sinner woman that day. Do you think she lived differently?

Forgiven Little, Love Little

Jesus also knows the Pharisee has great sin in his heart.

Putting himself above the woman, but also above Jesus - “if he were really a prophet” (John the Baptist - unworthy)

Why did the Pharisee not love Jesus much at all? (forgiven little)

Why was he forgiven little?

Did Jesus refuse to forgive him?

Did the Pharisee not sin much, so not much to confess?

Was little love the cause or the result? not forgiven because didn’t love

Pharisee loved little because he was forgiven little because he confessed little because he didn’t believe or wouldn’t admit he was a sinner.

Should we sin more so we can be forgiven more and love more?

Apostle Paul - was asked, sin more to receive more grace? absolutely not!

Repentance and Forgiveness result in outward Expression of love!

Jesus speaks forgiveness, saved by faith, dismissed. Go into peace.

Your Faith Has Saved You

Jesus is saying that the woman did all these things out of much love showing that she recognizes her many sins were forgiven.

The Pharisee did not even do the honorable/customary/least thing, let alone lavish love, so it is evident he has not received forgiveness.

We are all sinners, we have chosen our own way.

Romans - all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The amount of debt is not directly the amount of sin, but the amount of recognition of guilt.

Are we so broken over our sin that we weep?

Men, we don’t cry publicly often, but we can weep over our brokenness.

If we claim we have no sin we deceive ourselves 1 John 1

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Have you turned from your own way, cried out to Jesus, put your faith in Him?

Big Idea: The one who is forgiven much, loves much.

Did the Pharisee really sin less than the sinner woman?

I am forgiven only as much as I am willing to look inward, confess the sin inside, give it to Jesus, and receive His grace.

This is not passive although stated that way. Forgiveness means repentance, confession, action.

Can not, must not hide sin. Confess it.

What About You?

Are you like the sinner woman? Recognize the sin inside and confessed, forgiven?

Are you like the Pharisee? Don’t see that your behavior is so bad?

Just like in all we have looked at so far, it is about the heart. Where is your heart?

How much do we love Jesus? How far are we willing to go for love of Jesus?

Individually we must confess our heart of sin, receive forgiveness, and allow Holy Spirit to fill us.

Collectively as well, we may have things to confess.

Do we look down our noses at others? A critical or proud spirit? Are we excluding others, pushing them away, or ignoring them?

We have come through a pruning season. Sometimes Jesus prunes the dead branches that don’t produce fruit.

Sometimes He prunes the good branches so they will produce even more fruit.