Which will Love Him Most?
=MsoTitle>Sunday Morning January 28, 2007Luke 7:36-50
Jesus was invited into Simon’s home for dinner and to provide the show. An honored guest would have been provided fresh water for the washing of his feet and the head of the house would himself have anointed the guest’s head with oil. Simon offered neither of these social niceties. That leads us to understand that he felt himself superior to Jesus and the other people around the table. When a woman began to kiss Jesus’ feet, wash them with her tears, and anoint His feet with oil, Simon’s suspicions of Jesus were confirmed in his own mind.
The woman was well known as one with loose moral behavior. By allowing her to touch His person, Jesus was ceremoniously soiling Himself in Simon’s eyes. Jesus knew Simon’s thought and chose the moment as an opportunity to teach him a valuable lesson about love, humility, and forgiveness. The Lord offered a parable to teach two important truths. According to Jesus, a certain man had two other men in his debt. One owed the equivalent of about $3,000 and the other owed about $45,000. Neither could pay what they owed and both debts were forgiven. Jesus asked Simon, “Which of the two will love the creditor most?”
Simon’s answer shows that it is possible to get the answer right and yet not get the point or understand the lesson.
1) Comparing ourselves to others is unwise. In so doing, we are comparing two imperfect beings (All have sinned…). There must needs be One ultimate Being against Whom every person is measured – that Person is Christ.
2) How well we understand this truth will determine how much we love Jesus.
The woman washing Jesus’ feet had a much clearer understanding of her condition than did Simon. He believed himself righteous and was in danger of missing salvation. She knew that but for Jesus her life would be forfeit.
I. All Are Sinners and In Danger of Hellfire
A. No person will ever be saved that is not convinced of the need
B. There are different degrees of guilt
C. The degree of guilt does not matter:
1. For forgiveness
2. For judgment
D. Repentance is not turning over a new leaf
1. The same as saying, “I can’t pay what I owe so I promise not to get into debt again.”
2. Jesus’ pardon makes all sinners equal
II. “Which Will Love Him Most?”
A. Among the redeemed; those that love little
1. May be regular in church attendance
2. Sing the songs of faith – but without the same fervor as one that really appreciates what is and what would have been
3. Can count on one hand the souls they have won to Christ
4. Feel uncomfortable in the company of those that praise God
B. Those that love Him best
1. Praise Him with abandon
2. Love to pray in His name and revel in the fellowship of the saints
3. Are often broken hearted for the lost and look for opportunities to share their faith
What causes a Christian to be overcome with love for the Lord? Not by being a great sinner but by feeling a deep sense of sin and gratitude for its forgiveness!