Intro.
A. I want you to think of a situation where you were really made uncomfortable being around worldly, sinful people.
1. Once went to open the door of the building in Upper Manhattan. A woman, obviously a prostitute was sitting on the front step.,
a. Thought of Jesus. Tried to be polite. Wondered if I should invite her in for our study as I do with others who I see hanging around.
b. How embarrassing if she wanted to come in and study!
B. Something similar to that happened in Luke 7
1. Sometimes we need to be uncomfortable to learn needed lessons.
2. Have you ever realized how Jesus used several uncomfortable situations like this to teach great truths?
C. Analyzing the text
1. Vs. 36 Let’s talk about Simon the Pharisee (Jesus called him by name in vs. 40)
a. Even though Simon doesn’t look too flattering here, doubt he was a "bad guy."
b. He invited Jesus to visit in his home. A good example. Invite good people to your house!
c. His actions very reserved and careful all through this story. He knew Jesus was controversial, and knew his Pharisee friends were watching. If he showed too much outward enthusiasm, he would have been criticized. Therefore, he was reserved, careful in dealing with Jesus.
i. How do you respond when you know critical brethren or people are watching?
ii. A sense in which discretion is good, and yet, sometimes I feel maybe I’m overly concerned with what Pharisaical brethren will think. Don’t want to rock boat with them. Am I being like Simon?
2. Vs. 37. 38 A woman with a bad reputation. A prostitute? Maybe. It was not Mary Magdalene, Nor is it Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus. Her anointing occurred later.
a. Why would she have wanted to come in? Had heard of Jesus? Seen Him? She was confident He would accept her.
b. Alabaster flask of perfume (NAS). Much more expensive than common oil.
c. She showed a lot of emotion: Crying, kissing his feet, touching Him.
d. You can easily imagine the discomfort of the people to what they would have considered an embarrassing outburst.
i. uncomfortable silence
ii. eyes rolled upward. Simon thinking, "Why in my house?"
iii. And yet as most in the house cringing with discomfort, Jesus calmly accepted this display of emotion and affection as something acceptable and appropriate.
3. Vs. 39 Simon's critical thoughts. Is he just going to let her go ahead with this disgusting display?
4. vs. 40-43 A simple illustration which Simon understood
a. Notice how Jesus taught. Here, a simple illustration. I think He considered Simon sincere, worthy of this simple yet profound illustration.
b. May God help us to learn to teach that way!
c. Simon saw the point in theory. His problem was applying that point practically!
d. That’s the way we are many times.
i. We see the concepts of humility and service that Jesus taught in lessons such as the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the woman taken in adultery, tithing mint, anise and cumin, "weightier matters of the law," "mercy not sacrifice," etc.
ii. Our problem is applying these principles in our own lives.
e. Question is not whether we understand Christ’s teaching in theory, but how well do we put it into practice?
5. Vs. 44-48 Imagine the silence as Jesus said this words. Awkward situation, all ears on him, you could have heard a pin drop.
a. His words had one basic point that we would do good to understand – Sincere, unabashed love that comes from a true appreciation for forgiveness, is worth more to God that a long list of obeyed rules. A broken heart is worth more than a good checklist!
6. Vs. 49,50 postscript
a. More murmuring and criticism. Most of them then, just as many today, just didn’t get it.
i. Doesn’t say that Simon was among them.
ii. I would like to think that Simon was letting this lesson sink in. Maybe he eventually, "got it."
b. Of all the dozens of people crowded into that house, one went away forgiven. Who?
i. The ones who had faithfully attended synagogue many years, never missed service?
ii. The ones who strove all their lives to interpret the law correctly? Doctors, professors, knew the law from cover to cover?
c. The one forgiven, was the one with the bad reputation, the sinful woman!
d. That’s the way it often is today!
APPLICATIONS –
* The most common application from this story is about our need to follow the example of the sinful woman and honor others who are worthy. I want to focus on four other applications that aren't discussed as much.
I. If we are like Christ, sinners are generally going to feel comfortable with us.
A. They were comfortable with Jesus. Look at the accusation in vs. 34
1. That’s why the sinful woman approached Jesus with confidence.
B. Are sinful people comfortable around us? Do we try to be comfortable with sinful people.
1. A few Christians very successful! Rosa, has introduced me to all koinds of people for Bible study. Alejandro, a very holy man, but very "down to earth" and wins confidence of most rough people in his factory.
C. Why do sinners sometimes feel uncomfortable with us? Tough question to analyze, but I’ll try.
1. We focus too much on ourselves, not on reaching out to the lost. Inward focused, not outward
a. When we think of our work, think too much of what we do here at building. We consider spiritual activity is what we do in this building, not on highways and biways.
b. Concerned with "brotherhood issues." Some preachers, constantly at computer analyzing web sites to analyze latest brotherhood controversies. Doubt they seldom sit across table from lost person, to explain the gospel in simple terms to the lost.
c. They are the modern equivalent of Simon the Pharisee!
2. Do we feel superior to "all those lost people out there? Does it make us standoffish? Let’s be honest.
a. "All those crazy people in denominations." "Shallow, trashy people in the world."
b. If we feel that way, it shows, we can’t hide it. Doubt Simon’s friends could hide it.
c. It's so easy to be a 21st century Pharisee if we're not careful.
3. Hypocrasy - If we don't live what we claim to be, the lost won't feel comfortable with us.
D. How to do better?
1. Take time to talk to lost people around us! Good examples: Rosa, Alejandro, Xiomara
2. Show genuine interest in them – Ask about family, small acts of kindness and service..
a. Don’t laugh at their dirty jokes, might not want to sit with them at lunch.
b. Just do something nice for them.
E. If we never talk with this lost, if we wrap ourselves up in comfortable cocoon, the church...
1. Something is missing! The love for the lost Jesus had, His mercy, His Spirit
2. Even though we meet for services every Sunday, know how to analyze the Bible, give a good summary of all the hot brotherhood issues, Greek words on 1 Corinthians 11.
3. If we don’t show love for the lost, reach out to them, so that they feel comfortable with us, we’re still missing something. We’re still missing something very important.
II. The importance of trying to see the good in people
A. When the sinful woman entered the house, what did most there see?
1. "There’s a sinful woman," "horrible reputation," "Oh no."
2. What did Jesus see?
a. A soul that needed help and could change
b. Wasn’t ignorant of the evil in her. He knew all her defects
c. Chose not to reject her because of them, in spite of all the ugly looks he must have been receiving from others around.
B. That’s the way Jesus was with others
1. Peter – Could have seen him as big mouthed braggart without much self control.
2. Instead he saw someone who could learn to die for him, influence millions of others.
3. He didn’t overlook defects, but didn’t allow them to turn him off. Worked with Peter to overcome them.
C. That’s the way we want Jesus to be with us
1. We are a mixture of good qualities and areas in which growth is needed.
2. Do we want Christ to only look at defects? Turn us off because of them?
a. We want him to focus on our desire to serve Him, patiently work with us on defects.
3. If Jesus dealt with our defects as we deal with others, how would we be?
a. Luke 6:36-38
"Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.. Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
4. If we look for good in others, don’t allow their flaws to turn us off. God will be that way with us!
D. May God help us to see the good in others like Jesus did!
1. Not being naïve about their flaws. Avoid contamination as we work to help… (Jude 22,23)
2. Focus first on good possibilities. Anticipate the best as much as possible
3. Barnabas with John Mark
a. John Mark abandoned Paul and him in Acts 13.
b. Acts 15, Paul had no desire to take him with them again. "We’ve tried before."
c. Barnabas right. Focused on good – results? Matthew, Mark….
4. To be an imitator of Jesus means worked to be an optimist
a. Some brethren so pessimistic. See all the flaws, zero in on them, talk constantly of them.
b. Followers of Christ try to "believe all things," "hope all things."
c. Jesus did with that sinful woman. May God help us to follow his example
III. Forgiveness extended on basis of humble heart, more than lack of visible sin
A. Compare the two:
1. Simon – How many visible sins? Very few! A respectable man!
2. Sinful woman – known for her sins.
B. Which forgiven? She was forgiven
C. Again we see from Jesus’ teaching that salvation is not a matter of having a good checklist
1. baptized
2. Lord’s supper every Sunday
3. Every service except when sick
4. No instrumental music
5. etc.
D. Although all those matters important….
1, Don’t anyone leave here saying Gardner said Lord’s Supper not important.
2. It was important that Simon tithe, offer sacrifices, etc.
Although L.S. baptism extremely important…
3. They, in and of selves, do not save
4. They should never become an end in and of themselves.
E. You’ve got to start with a humble and contrite heart!
1. The woman had it! Simon hadn’t yet learned. Pharisees never learned. Many baptized today haven’t learned it. Evidence, brotherhood squabbles.
2. If you don’t start with that, nothing else matters.
E. Someone might have asked Jesus
1. When is she going to offer sacrifices for her sin?
2. What synagogue is she going to meet in?
F. I’m sure Jesus would have encouraged her to do these things later. The important thing is that she showed at that moment, before all those people, a humble heart of repentance that they lacked.
G. Maybe you feel pretty satisfied because you’ve got a pretty clean life, no sins very evident
1. Before feelings so good, look at your heart. Is it as humble and contrite as this woman’s. Do you easily confess your sins and short comings?
2. Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart- These, O God, You will not despise."
H. The most important question for you..
1. Not – Do you attend every Sunday? Avoid beer? Hope you answered "yes" to both questions.
2. But - Do you have an easily broken spirit before God? Do you confess often and humbly?
3. If you have that, the rest will take care of itself over time.
IV. Two different ways to approach Christ
A. These two individuals: Simon the Pharisee, and the woman represent two ways to approach Christ.
1. Simon – approach through sense of obligation, courtesy mixed with concern for what others think
2. The sinful woman- hunger and thirst for forgiveness, great love for His mercy
B. We see these two forms represented today
1. those like Simon
a. "I’m a Christian, have to go to services," etc.
b. Worship, life in general is all gone through on the basis of obligation, becomes routine
c. this attitude is seen often among second, third generation Christians
2. Those like the woman
a. hunger and thirst for righteousness, give the best to the Lord – time, money, energy
b. Service is a joy because of love
i. Gen. 29:20 "Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her."
ii. Simons complain of how much time have to serve God. Those like woman, wish they had more time to give.
C. Which are you like? How do you approach God?
D. The main difference between the two approaches:
1. Simon hadn’t realized how much he needed Christ.
a. He felt like a righteous man, good reputation, no practicing sinner
2. She – realized she was nothing with Christ and His forgiveness
a. She was truly "poor in spirit" (Matt. 5:3)
b. Realized she was spiritually bankrupt.
c. Kingdom is made up of people like her.,
3. Simon, with all his good works, missed the key to true spirituality.
E. If we want to approach Christ like the woman, we must constantly consider our need for Him.
1. We are spiritually bankrupt without Him.
2. Even though we’ve been baptized, attend services, know issues, when we compare ourselves with Christ, we are nothing.
3. Song in Spanish, "if it hadn’t been for the Lord, .... my soul would have been lost."
4. May God help us to realize our need for Christ.
Concl.
A. Let us now anoint the feet of Jesus. Focused on Him, so that we don’t worry about all the Pharisees round about, affairs of this world.
B. Leave behind pride, self sufficiency, self righteousness. Imbibe the spirit of Christ