Pastor Nam Park.
Simple Question: Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?
A: You might think "of course." But the question of affection is not as simple as turning on/off. Affections rise and fall; they grow and shrink at particular moments. Here, Jesus suggests the key to affection is proportional to how much we were forgiven.
Forgiven much = love much.
Luke 7:36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Himat His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
Parable of Two Debtors
40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
When we think upon this unnamed woman, might it remind us that we are not so different. Help us to grow in that love and affection for You. Remind us of your majestic grace. Amen.
This woman was not identified by name. Most likely she is not Mary of Bethany (House of Simon the Leper and occurred during the passion week). The passage here in Luke is in the House of Simon the Pharisee (in Galilee, not Bethany) and occurred early in Jesus' ministry. "Sinful woman" is the only name we can attach to her.
The disciples were reclining at the table, allowing them to discuss interesting matters casually. At a setting like this, the doors were left open so that the uninvited had access to come in and listen to the message of the teacher (Jesus).
Luke 7:37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume
Luke 7:37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume
- Her title was "sinner" as an occupation. Tax Collectors and Tanners (worked with unclean/dead animal skins) were also known synonymous with being "sinners." Most likely she was a well-known harlot/prostitute.
- When she LEARNED it was Jesus and that He was at the Pharisee's house, she acted. Thus, of all the places to honor Jesus, she was going to walk into "the Lion's den."
- The vial of perfume might have been the most treasured thing that she had (being a harlot).
- Her motive was Courageous Devotion for her Savior.
She breaks out in tears. The weight of everything, the guilt of her sin. The fact that even someone like her (perpetually unclean) can come to faith, causes her to weep. She began to tear, to cry out. She also uses her hair to wipe his feet (allowing herself to be scandalized) in order to bring honor to Jesus. She debases herself and is willing to kiss His feet. Deep humility. A kind and humble demonstration of affection for her Lord. She did everything out of a heart to appreciate who Jesus was.
She gave what was most precious in her possession to honor Jesus.
R.K.Hughes
Consider her tears. Guilty sinner, she had been given a virgin heart and felt pure and washed.
Consider her hair. Her hair was her womanly glory and she had loosed that to wipe her Savior's feet.
Consider her kisses. An act of pure adoration. She is here because she loved the Lord.
Dr. Mark Tatlock.
You can take all the benefits of Salvation: Forgiveness of Sins. Our Righteous standing before a Holy God. Sanctified and Glorified one day... But if you remove the Fatherhood of God and the doctrine of Adoption, it's not Personal, it's just Kind.
- That's a HUGE difference. Because of adoption, we can call on Him as OUR FATHER. Affection, that is the kind of God He is.
- The affection that comes by way of the divine nature/benevolence towards us. If rightly understood, encourages us towards sanctification. Paul in Romans says that it's a "A kindness that leads us to repentance."
- At some point, our love for Him is of such a nature that we want to stop sinning. Not because we have to. But because I want to. At some point, you don't want to sin against love.
And for the redeemed of all time, we should be able to look back on these verses and nod, "I totally get that." If we don't get like that, that should speak volumes of shame upon us. Have we gotten so "sanctified" that we don't have this sense of adorability of Him? There is no one as sinful as ourselves.
Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
- Did he say this under his breath? More likely, he said it to his own soul.
- Suggests that Jesus couldn't be a prophet, because Jesus didn't know who this woman was.
Luke 7:40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
- Answered as if in directly response to what Simon has thought in his heart.
- "Say it, Teacher." Not impolite but a bit distracted.
50 denarii = approximately 50 days of wages (1.5 months)
500 denarii = approximately 500 days of wages (1.5 years; 10 times the first man.)
They both owed. They both were INSOLVENT: unable to pay.
Luke 7:42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
- Simon says "I suppose..." with reluctance.
Luke 7:47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
- This is not about objective but about subjective debt.
- It depends upon their estimate of how much has been remitted to them instead of the actual amount.
St. Augustine. (One of the Greatest Theologians but knew that days of youth, sinned much.)
John Newton. (Wrote Amazing Grace after many sins in slave trading.)
Apostle Paul. (Sinners, of who I am the foremost.)
- If your affection for the Lord is waning remind yourself of an appropriate estimate of your own sinfulness. The impossibility of your salvation. Everyone in this room should be cast immediately into hell. But God has chosen to redeem us, to bring us into the household of God. Affection for hostility. Forgiveness for sin. And Love.
Let us grow in love, as we grow in the appreciation of the depth of the grace of God for us.
- When she LEARNED it was Jesus and that He was at the Pharisee's house, she acted. Thus, of all the places to honor Jesus, she was going to walk into "the Lion's den."
- The vial of perfume might have been the most treasured thing that she had (being a harlot).
- Her motive was Courageous Devotion for her Savior.
She breaks out in tears. The weight of everything, the guilt of her sin. The fact that even someone like her (perpetually unclean) can come to faith, causes her to weep. She began to tear, to cry out. She also uses her hair to wipe his feet (allowing herself to be scandalized) in order to bring honor to Jesus. She debases herself and is willing to kiss His feet. Deep humility. A kind and humble demonstration of affection for her Lord. She did everything out of a heart to appreciate who Jesus was.
She gave what was most precious in her possession to honor Jesus.
R.K.Hughes
Consider her tears. Guilty sinner, she had been given a virgin heart and felt pure and washed.
Consider her hair. Her hair was her womanly glory and she had loosed that to wipe her Savior's feet.
Consider her kisses. An act of pure adoration. She is here because she loved the Lord.
Dr. Mark Tatlock.
You can take all the benefits of Salvation: Forgiveness of Sins. Our Righteous standing before a Holy God. Sanctified and Glorified one day... But if you remove the Fatherhood of God and the doctrine of Adoption, it's not Personal, it's just Kind.
- That's a HUGE difference. Because of adoption, we can call on Him as OUR FATHER. Affection, that is the kind of God He is.
- The affection that comes by way of the divine nature/benevolence towards us. If rightly understood, encourages us towards sanctification. Paul in Romans says that it's a "A kindness that leads us to repentance."
- At some point, our love for Him is of such a nature that we want to stop sinning. Not because we have to. But because I want to. At some point, you don't want to sin against love.
And for the redeemed of all time, we should be able to look back on these verses and nod, "I totally get that." If we don't get like that, that should speak volumes of shame upon us. Have we gotten so "sanctified" that we don't have this sense of adorability of Him? There is no one as sinful as ourselves.
Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”
- Did he say this under his breath? More likely, he said it to his own soul.
- Suggests that Jesus couldn't be a prophet, because Jesus didn't know who this woman was.
Luke 7:40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
- Answered as if in directly response to what Simon has thought in his heart.
- "Say it, Teacher." Not impolite but a bit distracted.
50 denarii = approximately 50 days of wages (1.5 months)
500 denarii = approximately 500 days of wages (1.5 years; 10 times the first man.)
They both owed. They both were INSOLVENT: unable to pay.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Luke 7:42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
- Simon says "I suppose..." with reluctance.
Luke 7:47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
- This is not about objective but about subjective debt.
- It depends upon their estimate of how much has been remitted to them instead of the actual amount.
St. Augustine. (One of the Greatest Theologians but knew that days of youth, sinned much.)
John Newton. (Wrote Amazing Grace after many sins in slave trading.)
Apostle Paul. (Sinners, of who I am the foremost.)
- If your affection for the Lord is waning remind yourself of an appropriate estimate of your own sinfulness. The impossibility of your salvation. Everyone in this room should be cast immediately into hell. But God has chosen to redeem us, to bring us into the household of God. Affection for hostility. Forgiveness for sin. And Love.
Let us grow in love, as we grow in the appreciation of the depth of the grace of God for us.
