“SHOWING LOVE.” LUKE 7: 36-50.
LUKE 7: 36-38, 39-40, 41-46, 47-50.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO LUKE 7.
During the month of October we will look at five lessons on “Looking at Change.” People have a variety of attitudes toward change. When things are going well, most people see change as a threat. When we are aware of needs in our lives, we are more open to changes for the better. All people need the kinds of change that only Jesus can bring to their lives. Some people resist and reject the changes Christ offers, and in so doing, they miss the salvation and life He offers. Fortunately, others allow Jesus to change them.
This five-lesson study gives examples from the Gospels of people who resist and people who accept the changes Jesus offers. The first lesson, “Showing Love,” is based on Luke 7:36-50, the story of the sinful woman whom Christ had forgiven and who expressed her love and gratitude by anointing His feet. Her love was in contrast to Simon the Pharisee, in whose house the anointing took place.
The title “Looking for Change,” reminds us that life is all about change, on both a large and small scale. Just think how much life has changed in the last l00 years. If we should take the rest of the hour we would not be able to list all the changes that have taken place in our life’s time.
The good LIFE has never been better, yet people continue to be restless and unfulfilled. In spite of all that we have obtained, we are still haunted by the ultimate questions of life: “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “What is my real purpose?” “Does anybody really care?” “Where will I go when I die?”
People continue to look and long for change. The change they need is a change of heart. Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world to bring about change. He came to change sinners into saints, enemies into friends, those who hurt into those who are whole.
Jesus came to show love to the lonely, hope to the helpless, direction to the lost, and healing to the diseased. Paul stated in 2 Cor. 5: 17 that being in Christ means we are new creatures---which implies new purposes, new perspectives, new passions, and new possibilities.
The lessons in this study theme are about people who were looking for change and found it through a personal encounter with Jesus. People looking for real and meaningful change will not be disappointed with Jesus.
The Bible Question in today’s lesson is, “How can I show my love for Jesus.” Jesus came into the world “to seek and to save the lost.” However, before people can be saved they must first understand that they are lost, separated from God because of sin. Jesus was identified as “a friend to tax collectors and sinners.” This also brought with it the accusation that He was “a glutton and a drunkard.”
Jesus listened to the accusations but kept right on doing what He had come into the world to do. Did He reach out to the tax collectors? He certainly did: just look at Zacchaeus. Did Jesus reach out to sinners? Yes, He did. Just look at the unnamed woman in Luke 7 who felt the touch of His grace and received the salvation and peace that comes when a person comes to Jesus in faith.
PLEASE READ LUKE 7: 36-38.
As we look at this beautiful story of Jesus’ transforming love, we must not lose sight of its message. Everyone knows that it is easier to say something like “I love you” than it is to show that love in tangible ways. Words come easy but it is what we do in life that often shows whether we truly love someone or not. It is easy to talk good words about Jesus and how we love Him, but how we live our lives is how we truly show how we truly love Him.
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus into his home to eat with him, and Jesus accepted the invitation. The invitation was not cordial, but uncouth. Curiosity is usually polite. It was hostility that prompted this invitation. He wanted to watch Jesus, to see if anything happened in his house upon which he could fasten, and he found it.
I am amazed that Jesus accepted such an invitation. I forget that Jesus loved Simon as much as He loved that woman. I’ll tell you something more amazing. It is that that He came to a world like this. But He came because “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whomsoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The city where this happened is not named. The last city named by Luke in this chapter is Nain where Jesus raised a widow’s son from death to life. I am inclined to think that after the discourses in vs. 18-35 Jesus returned to Capernaum, the place where He had made the base of His operations. Gordon says that today’s lesson probably took place in Capernaum in Galilee during the later half of Jesus Galilean ministry, probably about AD 28.
This is really not important; the thing that is important is the sharp contrast of the two people addressed by Jesus.
The Pharisees were the largest and most influential religious party of Jesus’ day. They also held significant political influence. Josephus wrote that there were approximately 6,000 Pharisees before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70.
The word Pharisee means “separated ones,” and the word may indeed describe the ethical and moral lifestyle of the group. They often opposed Jesus because He rejected their additions to and interpretations of the Law of Moses. They were highly esteemed and respected by the
common people, who viewed their rigid adherence to their traditions as evidence of their righteousness.
This Pharisee named Simon was apparently, at least in some sense, attracted the ministry of Jesus. Unlike many of his party, Simon was willing to entertain Jesus in his home for a meal, a sign of goodwill and hospitality.
Jesus entered Simon’s house and reclined at the table. Reclining was the normal way to eat a meal in that day. The guests would lean on their elbows as they reclined, with their heads near the tale. It would also be customary to have the feet of the guest washed before the meal. Simon neglected this act of hospitality, a significant oversight or perhaps an intentional slight against Jesus. Some believe Simon invited Jesus into his home only to debate or even to trick Him, but Luke did not reveal Simon’s motives.
What happened next is a surprise. A woman in town found out where Jesus was. Luke did not say how she knew this or how she was able to “crash the party.” She seems to have met Jesus on some previous occasion, to have repented of her sins, and to have received from the Lord his word of forgiveness.
It was her gratitude that gave her courage to enter unbidden into the house of Simon, where Jesus was being entertained as a guest.
This gathering was probably a banquet of some kind with a number of important guests. No doubt she had not received an invitation! Jesus was a popular teacher and easily recognized. When He entered a village, He did not enter silently. He always made impressions wherever He went. This woman knew that the great teacher, prophet, and miracle-worker had entered the village and she wanted to see Him. Common courtesy permitted anyone to enter and observe. This explains how the woman was able to approach Jesus in Simon’s house. That she would brave the scorn and criticism of a Pharisee’s house marked her as desperate to see Jesus.
Luke called the woman a sinner. The Bible teaches in Rom. 3:23 that everyone is a sinner. But the term as used by Luke indicates a class of persons who were considered grievously sinful. Luke did not say what kind of sinner she was, though prostitution was the most common reason women were described in this way. At any rate she was a social outcast. Equating her with Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) or Mary of Bethany (John 12: 1-8) is unsupported.
In any case this woman was known by those in the community as a sinner, someone with a bad reputation.
The woman made her way to Jesus, bringing with her an alabaster flask of fragrant oil or perfume. Life was harsh for most people in Jesus day. Luxuries were extremely rare. One of a woman’s most treasured possessions was a bottle of perfume. The amount of the fragrant oil is not mentioned in Luke’s story, but no doubt it was a valuable and attractive gift. This woman loved Jesus, for she had likely already had a previous encounter with Him (although Luke did not mention it.) Her love for Jesus was genuine and sincere, flowing out of a heart of gratitude and worship.
Jesus reclined at the table with His feet pointing away from it. This gave the woman easy access to His feet, so she stood behind Him. Jesus did not shrink from her. He never does from any sinner. He read every one of Simon’s thoughts, and He knew what the woman was thinking. Through the work of Jesus on Calvary, God is able to forgive every sinner who comes to Him in repentance.
The woman began to weep, and Jesus feet became wet from her tears. The Greek word for weeping denotes sailing or sobbing. We might say, “She was crying hysterically or uncontrollably. She shed tears for a mixture of reasons. Probably for gratitude, and love for Jesus as well as an awareness of her own sinfulness.
Luke indicates that her tears were so plentiful that she could wash Jesus’ feet using the dampness from her tears. Her weeping was from the joy of forgiveness Jesus provided.
When the woman realized that her tears were falling on Jesus’ feet, she dried them with her hair. To use her hair in this way was quite significant. Jewish women felt it shameful to unbind their hair. But the woman’s personal honor was worth risking, to minister to Jesus. Actually, she was already despised by most of society.
The woman fervently kissed Jesus’ feet. This was no light peck but a repeated act to demonstrate her gratitude. To kiss a person’s feet could show either deep respect or gratitude. Both may be intended here although gratitude seems to predominate.
After drying Jesus’ feet, the woman broke the alabaster bottle and poured its contents on them. Every action she performed showed her great humility and unworthiness. Her actions were those commonly performed by the lowest slave in the home.
This woman did not care about social rules and norms. She did not care about saving face. She did not care about impressing the religious leaders. All she cared about was expressing her love and gratitude to Jesus. This beautiful act of worship is an example for all of us.
PLEASE READ LUKE 7: 39-40.
Luke did not tell us specifically why this woman came to Jesus and anointed His feet and washed them with her hair. Neither did he tell us why she wept so strongly that her tears were like a rain shower. It seems likely that she was motivated by joy over Jesus’ forgiveness of her sins. And perhaps she was simply overwhelmed to be in the presence of One she believed to be the Messiah: The One who could and did forgive her of all that she had ever done.
But no matter what motivated her, her actions stand in stark contrast to Simon’s reaction and response. This Pharisee responded in a typically pharisaical way to this wonderful act of love. His response smacked of pride and arrogance. He thought of himself as better than others. He believed his position as a Pharisee and the rituals he observed made him superior to the “sinners” of the world. He was also convinced that Jesus was not the great man many considered Him to be. In fact Simon questioned the credentials of our lord, only to have his thoughts thrown back in his face.
Simon watched this sinful woman displaying her great love for Jesus, and he was disgusted and appalled by what he saw. This was disgusting to him on many levels. How could Jesus, this supposed prophet, let a person like this touch Him? Simon doubted the authority of Jesus. In his thoughts Simon implied that Jesus was not a prophet.
In vs. 39 Simon made up his mind that Jesus was no profit. One of two things must be true; either there was some guilty secret lying behind this, or else Jesus was careless of His moral nature. In Simon’s mind prophets were men of God who did not let sinners touch them. They certainly did not let sinners wash their feet. They did not let sinners kiss them. They did not let sinners pour expensive perfume on their feet. They did not behave in such a shameful and irresponsible manner. It was time to reevaluating this fellow.
And the woman? With disgust, Simon judged her in his mind: She’s a sinner. It was always a matter of distress to the Pharisees that the Lord Jesus showed such a deep interest in those who were despised and outcast because of their wicked lives. His heart went out to them. “He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus said the publicans and harlots would go into the kingdom of heaven before the hard-hearted Pharisees.
Our Lord did not turn down invitations, even though He knew there was some ulterior motive in inviting Him.
Not only did Simon reject Jesus’ authority, he insulted the woman. He was disgusted with her too. Even though guests were allowed to come into a banquet to sit along the walls and listen to a traveling teacher who was present, her presence was unacceptable. Her actions were not tolerable.
What she did was in full view of all the dinner guests. Simon was probably embarrassed about the situation and upset with this woman. She could have brought personal disgrace to Simon, and at least she had made a travesty of his banquet. The quicker he could stop this, the better things would be.
For a prostitute to intrude into the home of a Pharisee was unthinkable and particularly objectionable in the eyes lf the people. Simon was startled with the events and even questioned whether Jesus was a true Prophet.
Simon’s thoughts enlighten us regarding his true beliefs about Jesus. He welcomed Him for dinner, but did not accept Him as a Prophet. Luke does not record that Simon invited Jesus to entrap Him or at least to debate Him, but it is possible.
Simon’s reasoning went something like this. Prophets can discern the character of those around them, especially sinners like this woman. Prophets do not associate with immoral people. Thus when Jesus allowed her to minister to Him, He showed that He could not recognize the type of woman she was. Therefore, He was not a Prophet. Simon could not imagine that Jesus could be a prophet who did associate with “sinners”.
Simon thought Jesus was ceremonially defiled after this sinful woman touched Him. “Touching,” suggests “clinging.” The woman continued her public display of emotion.
In vs. 40 Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts even though the Pharisee said nothing. Jesus indicated that He wanted to say something to Simon. Jesus now responded to the unspoken criticism in Simon’s (and the other guest’s) minds.
Jesus decided to set Simon straight. Even though Simon thought these things silently, Jesus knew what he was thinking. Jesus was a Prophet after all! He is not only a Prophet, but He is God in the flesh. He decided to teach Simon that the one in the room who had God’s favor was not the religious leader, Simon, but rather the sinner, the one who showed her love for Jesus and had received God’s forgiveness.
Jesus said, “Simon I have something to say to you.” Simon’s reply should be understood in the sense of “speak on” or “go ahead.” He was not asking, “What do you have to say?” It is almost a statement of reluctance or resignation. “Master” is equivalent to rabbi and shows politeness if not respect.
Jesus rebuked Simon for his thoughts. However, Jesus was very subtle and disarming in His rebuke. Simon had no idea what Jesus was about to say, so he replied, “Teacher…say it.” Simon was willing to listen to Jesus. Jesus, as He often did, made His point with a story, a parable. This way of teaching allowed Jesus to illustrate what He was about to say even before He said it.
PLEASE READ LUKE 7: 41-46.
Jesus parable was very brief: A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii’s, and the other 50. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. Jesus loved to teach in parables. With parables He confounded the wise of His day. He flipped people’s understanding upside-down.
He did it very delicately here. He told a story about a moneylender and two men who owed him money. A denarius was worth about a day’s wage for a common laborer. This means that one man owed him pay for about a year and four months, but the other owed him pay for just a month and three weeks. Neither of these men had enough to repay the moneylender. They were stuck with no hope of paying off the debt.
Both men were in the same predicament. They had no money. What difference does it make whether you owe fifty or five hundred if you can pay neither? Their situations were hopeless. Yet the moneylender was gracious and forgiving. He cancelled both debts, and required no payment from either.
Jesus’ parable teaches that God freely forgives a person’s debts and makes no distinction between them. The creditor was a moneylender. Jewish law allowed loans but demanded that no interest be charged to those required by a person for survival.
Jesus then asked Simon a question: So, which of them will love Him more? The term love here contains the idea of gratefulness in this context. Which one would be the more grateful ---the one who owed the small amount or the one who owed the large amount? Simon knew the answer and responded, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” This was obviously the correct answer. Jesus told Simon’ “You have judged correctly.”
The problem was not Simon’s misunderstanding of the parable. Jesus meaning was self-evident. The real issue was the application of the parable to Simon and the “sinner.” No doubt Simon was not ready for the application Jesus made.
The whole story demonstrates a contrast between two attitudes of mind and heart. (1 Simon was conscious of no need and therefore felt no love, and therefore received no forgiveness. Simon’s impression of himself was that he was a good man in the sight of men and of God.
(2. The woman was conscious of nothing else than a clamant need, and therefore was overwhelmed with love for Him who could supply it, and therefore received forgiveness.
The one thing, which shuts a man off from God, is self-sufficiency. And the strange thing is that the better a man is the more he feels his sin. Paul could speak of sinners “of whom I am chief.” (2 Tim. 1: 15). Francis of Assisi could say, “There is nowhere a more wretched and a more miserable sinner than I.” It is true to say that the greatest of sins is to be conscious of no sin; but a sense of need will open the door to the forgiveness of God, because God is love, and love’s greatest glory is to be needed.
Jesus’ application commends the woman and criticizes Simon, honors the woman and shames Simon. In light of Near Eastern customs related to hospitality, Simon’s shame was great and inexcusable. Simon, the self-righteous Pharisee, was not acceptable before God, whereas the sinner was acceptable before God.
After turning to the woman, Jesus, speaking over his shoulder, said to Simon. “Do you see this woman?” I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.
Jesus was saying, ‘Listen Simon, this is your party and you did not even do the most basic and normal acts of courtesy toward Me when I entered your home. You did not go out of your way to make Me feel welcome. Yet this woman from the street went out of her way and at great sacrifice to let Me know of her love for Me.
You did not even see to it that My feet were washed. Anyone could have done that. In contrast she washed My feet with the tears from her eyes and then used her hair to wipe them. Further, you did not kiss Me, but she has been kissing My feet since I arrived. A kiss was a typical way of greeting someone in the ancient world. It was courteous to do so. This woman, however, had gone beyond anything anyone could imagine in her display of love and affection. Simon did not anoint Jesus’ head with oil, but the woman anointed His feet with fragrant oil.
Simon, in other words, did not even pay Jesus the common courtesies of the day. On the other hand, this sinful woman demonstrated all three of them: (1. she washed His feet. (2. She kissed Him; and (3 she anointed His feet with oil. What a contrast in honor, love, and devotion between Simon the Pharisee and this unnamed sinful woman!
4. PLEASE READ LUKE 7: 47-50.
Jesus addressed Simon with a final word of instruction about sin and forgiveness. Jesus explained that this woman’s many sins have been forgiven and that was why she loved much. Like the debtor who owed five hundred denarii’s, his woman had many sins. Jesus did not whitewash or minimize her past. Neither did He minimize God’s forgiveness.
Yes, she had many sins, but God has great forgiveness. All of her sins, each and every one, had been forgiven. Jesus seemed to indicate that this woman had previously met our Lord and that her visit to Simon’s house was in response to a previous encounter. This explains why Jesus said that the woman had already been forgiven, and this is why she treated Jesus as she did.
Her actions did not produce forgiveness. The Scriptures are clear in Eph. 2:8 that salvation is by God’s grace and through faith in Jesus Christ. But vs. 10 points out that we are saved “for good works.” This woman’s acts of love and devotion were the results of her being forgiven. Jesus reminded Simon with a gentle but direct rebuke that the one, who is forgiven little, loves little.
Those who do not recognize and acknowledge the greatness of their sins when set alongside the standard of God’s righteousness and glory will not be grateful for forgiveness. In fact the implication is that they, in self-righteousness and pride, may not even seek forgiveness. Luke did not tell us how Simon responded to this final word from Jesus.
But Jesus was not through with the woman. He told her. “Your sins are forgiven.” The perfect tense of the Greek verb Jesus used means that the woman’s sins had already been forgiven in the past. Jesus did not say that the woman’s pardon was conditioned upon her love. He meant that her love resulted from her pardon, and His words have been rightfully interpreted thus, “ I say unto thee that her many sins are forgiven, as thou mightest infer from this exhibition of her love.” The remainder of the sentence was devoted to Simon: “to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
Other guests at the table with Jesus had seen and heard everything that had happened between Him, the woman and Simon. They most likely were other Pharisees. They too questioned Jesus’ actions by asking each other, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” They could not believe their ears at this statement, for they would have considered it blatant blasphemy. Only God can forgive sins. In this they were right on target.
But how could Jesus of Nazareth claim to have the divine prerogative to forgive someone’s sins. They were not asking about the identity of Jesus. They were accusing Him of doing something that only God could do. If what He said is true, there was only one conclusion that they could draw about His identity. Jesus is God!
NEXT SUNDAY FROM MATTHEW 8: 1-13 “WE SEEK TO GET GOD’S HELP.”
A.V. DAUGHERTY altav@swbell.net www.theweeks.org/av
I WILL NOT BE SENDING THE LESSON NOTES FOR OCTOBER 10 AND 17 AS I WILL BE IN FLORIDA VISITING MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDKIDS THOSE TWO WEEKS.