Jesus Cares For Repentant Sinners

Luke chapter 7 has provided us with some very busy scenes of Jesus’ life and ministry in Galilee. Scenes which we’ve studied reveal the caring character of our Lord. He cares for the outsiders, lonely, and doubters. Of course these are not the only people Jesus cares about, but again are the ones that our study in have revealed. While all of us may not immediately identify with being an outsider, lonely, or in sincere doubt, we all identify with this next scene because it shows how Jesus cares for repentant sinners. Praise GOD!

Womans’s Sin and Repentance

This scene takes place in the house of a Pharisee named Simon. Although the group of Pharisees gave Jesus the most opposition, some were reasonable to deal with (i.e. Nicodemus in ). Simon had been requesting for Jesus to come over and have dinner, and Jesus finally accepted his invitation. The tables for meals were low to the floor and people would lay on their left side, with their heads close to the table and their feet away (hence the word reclined). Everybody’s chilling. Then Luke wants to get our undivided attention again because he says “Behold!” There’s a woman who just entered the house! Now according to Jewish customs, a banquet for a Rabbi was open to the public who weren’t invited, and they would observe the conversation and activity of those invited. That explains how she had access. But Luke wants us to know that this woman had a sinful reputation throughout her city. She was definitely known. With all of Jesus’ fame, she heard that he was at Simon’s house so she came. It took a lot of courage for her to enter a religious leaders house knowing her own reputation. But she had bigger intentions regarding Jesus. She brought a vial of perfume, which was more expensive than the common olive oil. But before she could use the perfume, her emotions took over as she walked up and stood at Jesus’ feet. She’s crying hard and can’t stop! So hard that Luke uses the word typically used for rain to describe her tears! Seeing how much she has wet his feet, she wouldn’t stop wiping them with her hair and kissing them at the same time. The custom of kissing then was not the same as now. Where it is primarily associated with erotic or romance today, that was secondary then. Rather, it was primarily associated with love, honor, and respect for family and friends. Thus she was showing how much she loved Jesus! Then she opens the vial and massaged his feet.

it was primarily associated with love, honor, and respect for family and friends. Thus she was showing how much she loved Jesus! Then she opens the vial and massaged his feet.

Application:

Application: Paul says that Godly sorrow brings repentance. It is clearly evident she is sorrowful about her sins and the reputation she has because of the overflow of tears. Have we become this sorrowful about our sins? We cry about many things that affect us, but are our sins included? Have we become so disgusted and tired of that habit or those habits that we feel like breaking down in Church? Have we developed the courage and contrition that we would cry in front of everybody regarding our sins because we’re seeking GOD at the feet of Christ!

Condemnation

Pharisees’ Condemnation and Blindness

Now Simon is shocked. Although there’s no evidence that he invited Jesus for the typical Pharisaic motive of trapping and testing Jesus, he still has other prominent Pharisaic characteristics. He starts talking to himself, and whispers somewhat of a syllogism to himself. (A syllogism is two or more logical propositions from which a conclusion is drawn, whether true or not) A. If Jesus were really a prophet he would know who and what kind of woman she is. B. If Jesus knew what kind of woman she was he would not let her touch him. C. Jesus is letting her touch him. Conclusion, he must not be a prophet. This conclusion is evident because he says “If”, which means he didn’t believe he were a true prophet. His view was ceremonial uncleanness, because to allow someone so sinful to touch him would make him unclean.

Application: Now the question is how do we view the sins of others? Are we more disgusted than we thought of ourselves? If a known murderer, pornstar, rapist, pedophile, terrorist, mass shooter, homosexual, gang member, or thief uninvited came into this religious building, what would we say to ourselves? Beyond that, what would we whisper to others? How would we treat them? If they came and knelt down, in response to the Word, would we think they need to be up there after all that they’ve done? Often because we’ve heard so much about their misbehavior, we recoil and warn everybody to “watch out for them!” They might want to do good, help, give, or serve on worship. Would you want them standing before the congregation to pray or giving your family a handshake?

Jesus’ Forgiveness and Peace

Whatever your thoughts or answers to those questions are, know for sure that Jesus knows your mind. Just as he reveals he knew Simon’s mind without him saying a thing “Simon I got a message for you”. He gives him a parable. Two people were in debt to a moneylender, but each owed him a different amount. One 50 denarii and the other 500 denarii. Both were bankrupt, but the loaner showed them grace by no longer requiring what they owed. Which will love him more? Simon answered correctly “supposing” the one owing more. He was right!

Application: Everyone think of what you get paid in 2 months. Now think about what you get paid for 2 years. Now imagine you owed someone 2 months of your pay, and another person 2 years of your pay. Then imagine they both had mercy realizing you were bankrupt and cancelled what you owed them. Which would you appreciate more? Of course 2 years. The pharisees held a mindset that one could compensate for bad deeds with good deeds. The reality is that no one compensate for the wrong they’ve done. Everybody is bankrupt. The problem is that Simon only sees this woman’s bankruptcy, but sees little to none of his own. Often this is exactly how we see what we consider the grossest sin versus our own.

Jesus then turned to this woman but speaks to Simon to make the application from his parable. I came into YOUR house, you religious leader of the Jews, and you didn’t show an ounce of common hospitality to wash my feet or have your servants do so, after I’ve walked dusty roads. But this sinner has sinner has went above and beyond washing them with her tears. YOUR house and no love or affection in greeting me with a kiss. But this sinner lady has shown much love in kissing my feet. YOUR house and no common honor of rubbing my forehead with olive oil. But this sinful woman has humbled herself and treated me like royalty by massaging my feet with expensive perfume. No wonder, she shows much love because she she recognizes how much of her sins have been let go. That’s the idea, not that her love produced forgiveness. Rather because she recognized and was contrite about her sins that were forgiven. She must’ve been a convert of John or Jesus’ ministry. There were other critics in the room, because they couldn’t understand how he can claim that the account of her sins has been cancelled. But he’s GOD in the flesh and GOD is not holding on to it any longer. All of this is a result of her faith, shown in love (). And now she can live for the future knowing she is at peace with GOD.

Application:

Application: When you and I firmly recognize what we are forgiven of, it’s to that degree that we will adore GOD and Christ. What sins or how many of them classify as a great sinner? Are known and visible sins worse than sin in the mind? Jesus reveals he knows she has many, but further reveals Simon’s blindness to himself. The fact of the matter is that all are need of much forgiveness. But when we think little of our sins, we won’t show great affection and appreciation for the grace of GOD and will see so many others worse than ourselves. Some only see and criticize ones past. Jesus sees and forgives our past when we repent and have faith, and furthermore Jesus gives grace and brings peace for our future!

Do we really really recognize how much grace we need! Your faith in Christ will bring forgiveness and peace for your future. You will still struggle, might have a bad reputation, but know that you are forgiven through faith and it can give you peace. Then we will love Christ and others to a higher degree.