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Luke 7:36-50

Sunday Morning Bible Study

August 30, 2015

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die?  Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Regular:  2900 words    Communion: 2500 words  Video=75wpm

In two weeks we will be having our annual Baptism extravaganza.  We will start with lunch at 12:30pm.  There will be a bounce house and giant waterslide for the kids.  We will start the Baptism around 1:15. 

If you have not been baptized since you became a believer, come and be baptized.

Luke was a doctor and a travelling companion of the apostle Paul.

He wrote this book while Paul was in prison.

In writing his book, Luke made use of other older documents like the Gospel of Mark, as well as extensive eyewitness accounts.

Jesus’ ministry has begun, and the people have been amazed not just at the things He’s been teaching, but the things He’s been doing.

Jesus has been gaining a reputation of being a “friend of sinners”

One of the twelve disciples was a former “tax collector”, someone considered the worst of sinners.  After Jesus had first met Levi (also known as Matthew), Levi threw a party for Jesus and invited all of his tax collecting friends.

(Luke 5:30–32 NKJV) —30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

We’re going to see another social gathering, but this one at the home of a Pharisee, when an uninvited sinner shows up to the party…

7:36-50 The Sinner Woman

:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.

:36 He went to the Pharisee’s house

The Pharisees were the strict ultra orthodox religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

We usually think of them as the “bad guys”, the guys wearing the black robes.

But Jesus spent time with them as well.  He’s having dinner at the home of a Pharisee.

:36 sat down to eat

anaklino – to lean against ; to lay down; to make or bid to recline

Dinner tables were low to the ground in those days, and the guests would lay around the tables, generally leaning on their left elbow while using their right hand to eat with.  Their heads were closer to the table with their feet pointing away from the table.

:37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

:37 a woman … who was a sinner

sinnerhamartolos – devoted to sin, a sinner; not free from sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked

This was a gal with a reputation.  A bad reputation.

:37 broughtkomizo – to care for, take care of, provide for; to take up or carry away in order to care for and preserve; to carry away, bear off

:37 alabaster flask

alabastron – a box made of alabaster in which ointments are preserved

Alabaster is a translucent form of gypsum and was considered the best material to make containers to store oils and perfumes.

Breaking the box probably means breaking the seal of the box.

:37 fragrant oilmuron – ointment

The word is related to the Greek word smurna, or, “myrrh”, the same kind of perfumed oil that Jesus was given at His birth and anointed with at His burial (Mat. 2:11; John 19:39)

(Matthew 2:11 NKJV) And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

(John 19:39 NKJV) And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

:38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

:38 stood at His feet

The woman is standing alongside Jesus’ feet, behind Him.

:38 weeping … wipe … kissed … anointed

A little grammar here helps with the story.

The first verb “weeping” is a present tense.

This woman is continually weeping through this entire story.

The verbs “wipe”, “kissed”, and “anointed” are all imperfect tenses, meaning a continuous action in the past.

The idea is that the gal started weeping, and while she was weeping she began to wipe Jesus’ feet, kiss them, and anoint them with oil.  Even after she finished doing these things, she continued to weep.

:38 weepingklaio – to mourn, weep, lament; weeping as the sign of pain and grief. 

Present participle, continual action.

The verb is a present tense, meaning continual action. 

The verbs “wipe”, “kissed”, and “anointed” are “imperfect” in tense, meaning a continual action in the past, while this one (and “weeping) are in the present tense. 

The idea is that she was wiping, kissing, and anointing for awhile, but her tears flowed the whole time, sprinkling Jesus’ feet, even past the time when she stopped wiping, kissing, and anointing.

:38 washbrecho – to moisten, wet; to water with rain, to send down like rain.

I kind of get the idea that this woman was standing behind Jesus when the tears began to flow.  Then she noticed that the tears had been dripping down on Jesus’ feet, so she began to wipe them off with her hair.

:38 wipeekmasso – to wipe off, to wipe away. 

Imperfect tense, continual action in the past.

:38 kissedkataphileo – to kiss much, kiss again and again, kiss tenderly. 

Imperfect tense, continual action in the past.

:38 anointedaleipho – to anoint.

This isn’t a “sacred” or “holy” type of anointing (chrio), just the act of putting oil or perfume on another person. 

Imperfect tense, continual action in the past.

:38 she kissed His feet and anointed them

Matthew and John record a similar incident where Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive spikenard oil.

But that was a different incident, one that took place during the last week of Jesus’ life before being crucified. (Mat. 26:6-13; John 12:1-8)
Mary may have been inspired by this event when she anointed Jesus’ feet.

In the other stories, the event takes place in the home of a man named Simon the leper in the town of Bethany

(Matthew 26:6–13 NKJV) —6 And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. 8 But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” 10 But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. 11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. 12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
(John 12:1–8 NKJV) —1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. 7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
In both Matthew and John’s accounts, Mary does anoint Jesus’ feed with expensive perfume, but there’s no record of her weeping or washing His feet with her hair.

:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

:39 he spoke to himself

Literally, “in himself speaking

Simon is only thinking these thoughts, but watch how Jesus will respond to Simon’s unspoken thoughts.

:39 what mannerpotapos – from what country, nation or tribe; of what sort or quality (what manner of)

:39 woman … who is touching Him

who is touchinghaptomai – to fasten one’s self to, adhere to, cling to

The religious Jews were careful not to “touch” certain things that would make them unclean.  “Touching” a sinner was forbidden.

:40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

:40 Jesus answered and said to him

answeredapokrinomai – to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer; to begin to speak, but always where something has preceded (either said or done) to which the remarks refer

Remember that Simon had only been “speaking to himself”, but Jesus answers him.

Even now, God knows what you are thinking.  He can answer your questions.

Lesson

God’s answers

Sometimes God speaks and answers the questions we only think about.
I think that happens sometimes on Sunday mornings when we are studying the Scriptures together.

I don’t plan my messages based on what you’re going through, I plan my messages based on what today’s text says.

And yet God has brought you to church to hear an “answer” to a question you’ve been thinking of.

I think this will happen in your personal life when you learn to read the Bible every day.

Follow a reading plan and don’t just reread your favorite passages.

You will find God answering questions you’ve only thought about.

:41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

:41 debtorschreopheiletes (“to lend” + “to a debtor”) – a debtor

:41 creditor daneistes – a money lender, creditor

:41 owedopheilo – to owe; to owe money, be in debt for

:41 One owed five hundred denarii

The denarius was a Roman silver coin in the time of Jesus.

It was roughly equivalent to a day’s wages (Mat. 20:2-13)

It’s like saying that one man owed the loan shark $60,000 while the other fellow owed $6,000.

denariidenarion – “containing ten”. 

A Roman silver coin in NT time. It took its name from it being equal to ten “donkeys”.
After 217 B.C. the value increased to sixteen (about 3.898 grams or .1375 oz.).
It was the principal silver coin of the Roman Empire.
From the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Mat. 20:2-13), it would seem that a denarius was the ordinary pay for a day’s wages.
(Matthew 20:1–13 NKJV) —1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
So, one debtor owed the man five hundred days’ wages, while the other owed fifty.
If you think of a present day laborer earning $120/day, then the first debtor owed the creditor $60,000, while the second debtor owed the creditor $6,000.

:42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

:42 they had nothing with which to repay

repayapodidomi – to deliver, to pay off, discharge what is due; a debt

Notice that neither had enough to repay their debt.

It’s like humans and our debt to God.
We are all sinners. 
The debt we owe to God is “death”.
Some might sin worse, owing more than others
But none of us can repay the debt we owe.

:42 he freely forgave them both

freely forgavecharizomai – to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to; to show one’s self gracious, kind, benevolent; to grant forgiveness, to pardon; to give graciously, give freely

This is the verb form of the word for “grace” (charis)
He gave “grace” to both debtors.
Jesus used a word that not only speaks of financial debts, but spiritual debts as well.

:42 which of them will love him more?

Jesus suggests that a person’s love toward God might be related to how much grace they’ve received.

:42 loveagapao – of persons; to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

It is interesting that we usually think of agape love being an unconditional love, yet Jesus is posing a situation where agape could be greater because of greater grace (forgiveness).

:42 morepleion – greater in quantity; greater in quality, superior, more excellent

:43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

:43 supposehupolambano – to take up in order to raise; to take up in the mind; to assume, suppose

:43 forgavecharizomai – to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to; to show one’s self gracious, kind, benevolent; to grant forgiveness, to pardon; to give graciously, give freely

:43 rightlyorthos – rightly

from – orthos – straight, erect; upright; not crooked

:43 judgedkrino – to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose; to approve, esteem, to prefer; to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion; to determine, resolve, decree; to judge

:44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

:45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

:46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

:44 washedbrecho – to moisten, wet; to water with rain, to send down like rain.

:44 wipedekmasso – to wipe off, to wipe away. 

:44 water for My feet

It was customary for a host to provide water to wash his guests’ feet.  People walked the streets in open toed sandals, and their feet were filthy dirty when they came over for dinner.

A wealthy man would have one of his servants perform the task, otherwise it was usually assigned to the person at the bottom of the ladder, like the youngest child.

:45 kissphilema – a kiss

The kiss with which, as a sign of fraternal affection, Christians were accustomed to welcome or dismiss their companions in the faith

Simon called Jesus “Teacher” (vs.40), but he seemed to have no affection for Him.

:45 ceaseddialeipo – to interpose a delay, to intermit, leave off for a time something already begun

:45 has not ceased to kiss

 kataphileo – to kiss much, kiss again and again, kiss tenderly

It was customary to greet your guests with a kiss. 

Some European people still greet each other with a peck on the cheek.

Jesus was just looking for a peck on the cheek from Simon, but He got none.  This woman has continuously lavished kisses on Jesus’ feet.

:46 anointedaleipho – to anoint.

This isn’t a “sacred” or “holy” type of anointing (chrio), just the act of putting oil or perfume on another person. 

:46 fragrant oilmuron – ointment (the Greek word could possibly related to myrrh)

:46 anointed My feet

Another customary greeting of guests was to put a little dab of perfumed oil on their heads, kind of a way of refreshing them as they came into your house.  Kind of made everything smell nice too.

Usually the oil went on the head, but this woman could only bring herself to anoint Jesus’ feet.

Lesson

Unashamed Love

Just as Simon the Pharisee was aware that this woman was a notorious “sinner”, I’m sure this woman knew that she was in the house of an obvious Pharisee.
And yet she does not hesitate to display deep passion towards Jesus.
She is weeping openly before these people.
She is bending down to wipe Jesus’ wet, dirty feet with her hair.
She kisses His feet.
She is sparing no expense in anointing Jesus’ feet with costly, sweet smelling perfume.
The first half of our service we set aside for what we call “worship”.  You might think of it as the music part.
Some of you might get uncomfortable when others around you begin to lift their hands during worship, and I want to put you at ease and give you some instruction about this.  Or better yet, I’ll let Tim Hawkins to the instruction.
Video:  Tim Hawkins – Hand Raising
Back to our story.  When you entered church this morning and we began to worship Jesus through music, which of these two people best described you in worship?
Were you like this sinner woman who didn’t care what people thought, as long as she could express her adoration to her Savior?
Were you like Simon the Pharisee who was more concerned with what people were doing in the room than He was with Jesus?
Or perhaps you are like neither because you made sure you didn’t get to church until the music was over?
Friends, our “music” is not meant to entertain you.
Our music is not the “warmup” for the preacher.
Our music is intended to be an opportunity for you to express your unashamed love to your Savior.
Whether you raise your hands or not.

:47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

:47 forgiven, for she loved much

forgivenaphiemi – to send away; to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit. 

Perfect tense, an action taking place in the past, with results continuing up to the present.
Jesus uses a different word here than the one used in His parable (charizomai, vs.42), but it still means “forgiven”.

Lesson

Passion for God

Some people might twist this story to say that if you want to love Jesus more, you should go out and sin more so you can be forgiven more.
That is not the point.
I think the lesson has to do with us recognizing how much grace or forgiveness we actually need. More grace brings more love.
When we fall into thinking that we don’t need forgiveness because we don’t sin very much anymore, we are in a dangerous place.  We will find our own love for the Lord to be growing dim.
I think there are two elements in this story that lead to a deeper passion for God…
1. Recognize your sin
When you first became a believer, most likely this was what drove you to Jesus – realizing that you too were a sinner.

At that time the sins we thought about most were the ones most obvious, the ones on the surface that everyone could see.

After you were a believer for awhile, hopefully you found victory over those “obvious” sins.
The danger comes from thinking that having those “surface” sins dealt with made you a finished work, that you were “done” with sin.

That’s the attitude of a Pharisee.

The Pharisees only cared about what others saw.

(Matthew 23:25 NKJV) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

In reality, there is more sin that lies beneath the surface.

Some of us have worked at dealing with those hidden sins.

They are like the toxic waste buried six feet down in your back yard, or your school’s athletic field.

Illustration

Two weeks ago there was a news report about arsenic being found in a high school athletic field … in fabulous Beverly Hills…

Video:  Beverly Hills High School Arsenic

You might be tempted to think that it would be the coolest thing in the world to live in Beverly Hills.  Not so.

You might be tempted to think that something buried six feet deep won’t ever cause a problem.  You’d be wrong.

One of the things that keeps us from looking too deep into our lives is the sense of shame and guilt that it brings.

Keep in mind that when shame keeps you silent about your sin or keeps you from dealing with your sin, it is keeping you from experiencing God’s grace, love, and acceptance.

Shame keeps you from a deeper passion for God.

Yet to be honest, even when you’ve dealt with what lies six feet down, you’re still not done yet. There’s more to do.

Jesus said that the “mark” of a true believer was “love”.

(John 13:34–35 NKJV) —34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul was the one that defined “love” for us

(1 Corinthians 13:4–8a NKJV) —4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

If the mark of a Christian is “love”, then let’s insert our own names in the passage instead of the word “love”.

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails.

Do you still think you’ve “arrived”?

We’ve all got further to go.

Paul was a believer for about thirty years when he wrote these words:

(1 Timothy 1:15 NKJV) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

Paul didn’t say he “was” once chief of sinners, but he “is” chief.

2. Find God’s grace
Some of us get stuck with that first step.

We spend our entire lives beating ourselves up for being so unworthy.

Some of us even have an excuse for it – “How could God forgive me when I’ve done this thing so many times?”
You have misunderstood the depth of the love and grace of God.
God is not surprised at your sin.

He knows just what you’re made of

(Psalm 103:14 NKJV) For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

When we try to cover up and hide our sins, we are miserable. David wrote,

(Psalm 32:3–5 NLT) —3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

It’s when we admit that we have sinned that we find grace and forgiveness.  That includes being willing to turn from our sin.

(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John says that if we confess our sins, we can count on God to forgive us.  He is faithful.

When you confess your sins, He WILL forgive you.

Video:  OneTimeBlind - Trash
We always need to admit our sin to God, and sometimes we also need to admit to others we have sinned.

(James 5:16 NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

If I’ve hurt another person, I need to learn to ask for their forgiveness.

Sometimes I get caught in certain sins that I just can’t get out of on my own – confessing to another person can be a helpful step in learning to break free from sin.

It’s when we stay current with God in recognizing our sin, and learn to receive God’s grace, that our passion for Christ returns.

:48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

:48 Your sins are forgiven

forgivenaphiemi – to send away; to let go, give up a debt, forgive 

Grammatically, the verb is a “perfect” tense, meaning it’s an action taking place in the past, with results continuing up to the present.

Jesus isn’t forgiving her at that moment, her sins had already been forgiven and are still forgiven.

She had already experienced a crisis in her conscience and had cried out to God for help before coming to Simon’s house.
Because she believed that God had forgiven her, she has come to Jesus and poured out such love on Him.
Her love for Jesus was a result of having been forgiven. 
She didn’t “earn” forgiveness by loving Jesus “much”.  Her “much love” was proof that she had been forgiven.

:49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

:49 who sat at the table with Himsunanakeimai – to recline together, feast together; of guests

:49 who … forgivesaphiemi – to send away; to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit. 

Present active indicative

:49 Who is this who even forgives sins?

The Pharisees are acting just like they did when Jesus pronounced forgiveness with the paralyzed man (Luke 5:20-21), they are having a hard time with Jesus telling her she was forgiven.

The four friends had made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down to Jesus to be healed.

(Luke 5:20–21 NKJV) —20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

forgivenaphiemi – to send away; to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit. 
Perfect passive indicative

Lesson

Proclaim forgiveness

Unlike Jesus, we don’t have the authority to forgive people’s sins when they’ve sinned against God, only God can do that.
But we do have the authority to proclaim to them what God has already promised and done.

:50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

:50 Your faith has saved you

savedsozo – to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction

The verb is also a “perfect” tense, meaning this was something that had happened in the past and the results have carried on into the present.

Lesson

Saved by faith

She wasn’t saved by weeping and anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume.
She was saved because she had believed that God had forgiven her sins.
She was saved by her faith.
What was she saved from?
She was saved from an eternity in hell, the penalty for her sin.
She was saved from the power of sin.
She was saved from guilt and shame.
Paul wrote,
(Ephesians 2:8 NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
The grace of God came to earth when Jesus died to pay for the penalty of our sins.
We receive the grace that saves us through faith.
We don’t have to “feel” forgiven, we have to “trust” to be forgiven.

If you have confessed your sin, do you “trust” that God will respond and forgive you?

Our part is to admit that we’ve sinned and turn from our sins.

God’s part is to forgive us.  He is faithful to forgive us.

Do you need forgiveness today?  Do you need to be saved today?

:50 Go in peace

ineis– into, unto, to, towards, for, among

peaceeirene – peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord; security, safety

This woman now has peace with God.

Jesus wants her to go further into “peace” with God.