Luke 7:36-50

36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him,
so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When
a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus
was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of
perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she
began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her
hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to
himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is
touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a
sinner."

40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the
money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now
which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt
cancelled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you
see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any
water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped
them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman,
from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You
did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-for she
loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this
who even forgives sins?"
50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
NIV

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 A Wrong view of Forgiveness
Luke 7 36-50

Waterloo Hall Sunday 13 February 2000

This story has many echoes in the N.T. – there are several
occasions when a woman came to anoint the Lord Jesus. It is not
always easy to tell which account is which.

This one is distinctive. Luke says it took place at the house of

Simon the Pharisee.

Simon’s meal was notable for a number of things : Jesus was

present, Simon seems to have forgotten some of the manners of
his time, and the party was gate-crashed by the woman.

It is a story about attitudes to Sin and Forgiveness.

Observe then:

 Sin and Failure

 Sin and Debt
 Sin and Jesus

The obvious contrast is between Simon and the woman. It is a

contrast which eloquently demonstrates

The danger of double standards

The debasing of love and devotion
The denial of the power to forgive

A. Sin and Failure

Who had lived a sinful life............................... v37
What kind of woman she is............................. v39
Her many sins................................................. v47

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If this man were a prophet he would know...... v39
I suppose......................................................... v43
You did not...................................................... v44
You did not...................................................... v45
You did not...................................................... v46

There is no doubt at all as to who had lived the most sinful life that
day. The woman was – or had been a well known sinner of the
town. There can be little doubt about how she was regarded by all
the guests.

Simon was undoubtedly a respected citizen.

He had sufficient means to open his house to Jesus and invite
Him.

He had clear views about morality and forgiveness – based upon

the received wisdom and traditions and the back-to-basics
philosophies of the time!

He knew what kind of woman she was – and he had a certain

expectation of how she should be treated – and recognised.

Yet for all his social standing and sense of moral outrage HE HAD
FAILED

- Failed to accord to Jesus the courtesies he deserved

- Failed to recognise true devotion – seeing only “sin”
- Failed to love – because he knew so little about forgiveness!

Which description best fits us?

We will not have the notorious background of the woman –

But do we have her open attitude to it?

Do we come as willingly to express our devotion to the One who

has secured our forgiveness?

Or is it easier for us to see the sins of others – whilst unaware of

our own failures. Failures to give to Jesus the courtesies – the
honour due to Him?

We do not gather at Simon’s house – we stand beneath the Cross.

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B. Sin and Debt
The woman recognised her indebtedness.

Like Mary she brought a jar of perfume – doubtless precious.

She ignored convention

Criticism
Cynical onlookers

She lavished on her Lord the devotion of a heart that had known sin
and been forgiven.

She knew what DEBT was – she felt the great indebtedness of one
who has been forgiven much.

She rendered the debt of love.

Simon, however, though he was doubtless a man of both integrity

and substance –

- Misunderstood her actions

- Did not see the work of forgiveness for her
- Needed a lesson in debt (vv 41-43)

So Jesus had “something to tell him” v 40

A story of freely CANCELLED DEBTS and evident LOVE

He also had a debt to Jesus – a small indebtedness for a man who

felt little need of forgiveness.

“You did not … did not … did not …”

How do we see our debt to Jesus?

Are we willing to endure the criticism in order to show Him how much
we love Him?

Are we willing to come right up to Him and weep and wipe and care?

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 Or only willing to listen
Criticise
Fail ?

C. Sin and Jesus

The woman saw Jesus as the focus of her attention – her love – her
devotion.

She recognised in Him the source of the needed forgiveness – and

the One who deserved all her devotion!

Simon saw what he thought was the failure of Jesus to recognise the
woman’s sinful reputation.

He saw a great display of devotion and interpreted it as improper.

More importantly – he did NOT see Jesus as the True Prophet and
the Forgiving Lord.

Simon had no need for the Jesus that the woman revered – for he
saw no need of forgiveness and so no need of adoration.

He failed to see the Saviour as the source of a needed forgiveness.

I would like to think that, having been reminded of his failure to

provide the common courtesies of the host – he would apologise.

I would like to think that later he would understand his own need of
forgiveness – then he might himself be able to welcome the woman
as a fellow forgiven believer.
How do we see our sin and Jesus?
How much do we love?

For love is not only the source of forgiveness – it is the outcome of

forgiveness.
As those who stand at the foot of the
How do we rate Failure Cross rather than sit in the house of
Debt Simon.
Jesus? As those who know that Jesus came
to die for them.