Forgiven Much, Love Much

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; Because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, To give unto them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Promise to share Urvashi’s story. I felt like today was a good day.

Introduction

Been looking forward to simply reading this text to you today.

Parable of the Brats Luke 7:32 “32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.”

We will see the contract between those the broken and the pharisees Luke 7:29-30 “29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”

Here we see the contrast of these 2 groups.

Luke 7:36–50 (KJV 1900)

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Contrasting Characters

Spend more time speaking of this women because she is represents a love that we have seen less often then the dead, religion of the pharisee

We see 10 meals in the book of Luke. Much of ministry will include a meal.

Maple Street Biscuits - what celebrity would you want to trade lives with?

Simon the Pharisee

Luke 7:36 (KJV 1900)

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

Simon the Pharisee is different than Simon the Leper in Matthew 26, Mark 14, John 12

Invitation to his home but not his heart

Notice Jesus is a friend of sinners but he is also willing to go home into the home of the Pharisee. Why? We all are sinners. We all are in need of forgiveness.

Dinner would have been in the courtyard

Simon was not courteous

No water for the feet

No welcome with a kiss

No oil offered for his head

Simon was very skeptical

Behold a woman in this city which was a sinner

Luke 7:37–38 (KJV 1900)

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Wasn’t able to stay on the sideline

The rebuke in verse 39 is not because the woman has come to the meal, but because she did not stay on the sidelines.

Appears she had already met or knew of Jesus.

Jesus had just preached to the poor.

Luke 7:22 KJV 1900

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

Said nothing was very much spoken about

The woman says nothing in this narrative, but her actions produce a wide range of discussion

forgiveness possesses transforming power.

She gave of her own resources

Luke 8:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, 2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

This is unique to Luke

Jesus ministers, he draws followers who come from a wide variety of backgrounds

Story of 3 women of diverse backgrounds

Mary Magdalene serves after having seven demons exorcised by Jesus.

Joanna, as the wife of Herod’s steward Cuza, gives evidence that Jesus’ message has reached even into the palace. Susanna seems to be connected to that name.

Then the women in this story.

Their ministry comes at two levels: personal involvement and the contribution of resources. Both levels of involvement are important to effective ministry.

Ephesians 4:11–12 (KJV 1900)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Though God may use my work on the supply line. You are the front line.

Ephesians 4:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

One so willing to serve and another so unwilling. Both is a response to who they believe Jesus is.

Jesus: The Hero of every story worth telling

when Jesus tells a story in which there are two main characters, Jesus is always the main point,

That is the hard question this text asks. Do we see sinners for who they have been or for what God can make of them?

He declared that past pardon would now yield future peace.

Luke 7:50 (KJV 1900)

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

This is how we overcome the shame

Isaiah 55:6–7 KJV 1900

6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, Call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts: And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; And to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 10:43 KJV 1900

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Lost in the moment

she was being judged by the onlookers

she got lost in the moment

The presence of God can make the trails of our life trivial in comparison

Powerful Parable

Luke 7:40–43 (KJV 1900)

Pence = days wage

The difference isn’t as far apart when you realize they both were incapable of paying.

Luke 7:42 (KJV 1900)

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Who would love the most?

“I suppose the one forgiven the most” - Simon

“I would.” - Woman

Should we go about sinning more?

If I had sinned more than I would love him more for forgiving me.

Calm down Simon lets not assume you are a 50 sinner and not the 500

If you grew up in a Christian home then let you attitude be that of Chestley in his testimony. God saved him from more sin.

You think Jesus really loved saving the really bad cases. Look at the heart of this Pharisee and look on the outward condition of this women. Don’t assume their outward sinner was more difficult for God to forgive then your silent, disrespectful rebellion

TONIGHT: I am going to help remind you that we are the one forgive much, no matter who you are

Sincerity didn’t Save

If our forgiveness is based on our expression of love we are in trouble

Luke 7:47 (KJV 1900)

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Example: for - is not cause but one of evidence

Luke 7:50 (KJV 1900)

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

It's very important for you to understand that Jesus is not saying she was forgiven because

she wept tears

she was not forgiven because she wiped His feet with her hair

she was not forgiven because she anointed Him with oil.

“It's not your love to Me which has saved you, it is because you trusted in Me. You knew that I was the only Man that could forgive you, and therefore, you loved Me.”

“Simon, very frankly, your lack of love to Me shows Me that you don't know who I am and you don't know your own heart.

This woman has something to teach us because she didn't care what anybody else in that room thought of her.

Believing is not complicated but there are cheap imitations

John 2:23–25 (KJV 1900)

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Even Jesus brothers at a time did not believe.

John 7:5 (KJV 1900)

5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

What is at the root of true belief in Jesus?

John 6:35 (KJV 1900)

35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Saving faith receives Jesus for ALL that he is inasfar as we can understand what he is.

Belief will give you sight that Jesus is our greatest treasure.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900)

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Pharisee knew Jesus existed but did not know..

He should wash his feet

He should know He was more not less than a prophet

He should have acted like the women but his mind was blinded.

All of us in here today say we believe in a historical Jesus but if we could invite Him to lunch today we would all show what it is that we believe about Him!

Woman was not aware of the teaching of James (brother of Jesus)

Faith without works is dead

James 2:17 (KJV 1900)

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

It is like a body with no breath

James 2:26 (KJV 1900)

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

It is like an energy with no effect

James 2:20 (KJV 1900)

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

If it is If there is justifying faith, it has works

James 2:17 (KJV 1900)

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

She just knew..

I was once lost but know I am found

I was once blind but now I see

He knew me completely and loved me (as the woman at the well)

He was not ashamed for me to come unto Him

He took my shame and told me to go in peace

Galatians 5:6 (KJV 1900)

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

You might express it in saying

Jesus is glorified in me when He is more precious than all that life can give or death can take.

Or you might say “Christ is Life”

Or as Selah would say “I love him more than my family but I really love my family”

Knowing you are forgiven creates a love that must be expressed!!

Conclusion

Let me reason with you today. We want you to know what is available today!

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV 1900)

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

You can hear “Go in Peace today.

Luke 7:50 KJV 1900

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Maybe you are like the man sick of palsy. Everyone but Jesus is only focused on the problem they can see. But you ready to respond to His command to be of good cheer

Matthew 9:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Don't try and justify yourself through your reputation. Throw yourself on His mercy and He will teach you the meaning of mercy in ways that you cannot imagine. No wonder she loved Him. The only question is, “Do you?”

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