Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Luke 7:36-50
Transcript
- 0:00Let's look at Luke's Gospel, chapter 7, verse 36.
- 0:05We'll start reading.
- 0:07One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him,
- 0:11and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
- 0:15And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner,
- 0:19when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house,
- 0:24brought an alabaster flask of ointment,
- 0:26and standing behind him at his feet, weeping,
- 0:30she began to wet his feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair of her head
- 0:37and kissed his feet and anointed him with the ointment.
- 0:41Now, when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this,
- 0:45he said to himself,
- 0:46If this man was a prophet,
- 0:49he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
- 0:54for she is a sinner.
- 0:57And Jesus answering said to him,
- 1:00Simon, I have something to say to you.
- 1:03And he answered,
- 1:05Say it, teacher.
- 1:07A certain moneylender had two debtors.
- 1:10One owed 500 denarii and the other 50.
- 1:14When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both.
- 1:18Now, which one of them will love him more?
- 1:21Simon answered,
- 1:23The one, I suppose,
- 1:25for whom he canceled the larger debt.
- 1:28And he said to him,
- 1:29You have judged rightly.
- 1:31Then turning toward the woman,
- 1:32he said to Simon,
- 1:34Do you see this woman?
- 1:35I entered your house,
- 1:37and you gave me no water from my feet.
- 1:40But she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
- 1:46You gave me no kiss.
- 1:48But from the time I came in,
- 1:50she has not ceased to kiss my feet.
- 1:53He did not anoint my head with oil,
- 1:55but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
- 1:59Therefore, I tell you,
- 2:01her sins, which are many,
- 2:03are forgiven.
- 2:04For she loved much.
- 2:07But he who is forgiven little,
- 2:09loves little.
- 2:10And he said to her,
- 2:12Your sins are forgiven.
- 2:14Then those who were at the table with him
- 2:16began saying among themselves,
- 2:18Who is this who even forgives sins?
- 2:21And he said to the woman,
- 2:24Your faith has saved you.
- 2:25Go in peace.
- 2:29So,
- 2:30again,
- 2:31a very familiar text.
- 2:34I hope
- 2:35will speak to you in a fresh way.
- 2:37I tried to really avoid
- 2:38looking back at
- 2:40commentaries and previous messages
- 2:43just to avoid
- 2:44following a familiar outline
- 2:46and just
- 2:46really ask God
- 2:48to kind of say
- 2:49these are some things
- 2:52that he pointed out
- 2:53to me in this text.
- 2:55So,
- 2:56we all know
- 2:57kind of what's going on.
- 2:58Jesus had just sort of started
- 2:59his earthly ministry
- 3:01and
- 3:02he's invited
- 3:04by one of the Pharisees
- 3:06to come and
- 3:08basically hang out
- 3:09and have a meal with them.
- 3:10And I don't think
- 3:11it was really out of love
- 3:12or hospitality,
- 3:14more out of intrigue
- 3:15and want to take a closer
- 3:17look at this guy.
- 3:19Having meals with people
- 3:20like as today,
- 3:21but especially back then
- 3:22was a way of showing
- 3:23covenant with someone,
- 3:25friendship with someone,
- 3:27a very,
- 3:28you know,
- 3:28safe context
- 3:29to get to know somebody.
- 3:31And,
- 3:31but I really just think
- 3:32they want to take
- 3:33a closer look at him.
- 3:34And I don't need to go
- 3:35on a long spiel
- 3:36about
- 3:36who Pharisees are.
- 3:39You definitely know that.
- 3:40But
- 3:40just the term Pharisee
- 3:43means separated
- 3:44ones.
- 3:45So just keep that
- 3:45in your head.
- 3:46It's like this idea
- 3:47of they
- 3:47are completely
- 3:50devoted in their mind
- 3:51at least to
- 3:52the law
- 3:53and the book of Moses
- 3:54and
- 3:55following all the laws
- 3:57and the rituals.
- 3:58And so
- 3:59dinners
- 4:00back then as well,
- 4:03meals with very
- 4:04well-known people,
- 4:05dignitaries,
- 4:07famous people,
- 4:08they were kind of
- 4:09put on display
- 4:09and people
- 4:10at times
- 4:11would actually come
- 4:11and watch
- 4:12the dinner.
- 4:13So you can imagine
- 4:14that
- 4:15like just
- 4:15they think
- 4:16that you're so awesome
- 4:17that people would come
- 4:18and watch you
- 4:19eat your food.
- 4:20So
- 4:20but that's kind
- 4:22of what it was.
- 4:23It was a social
- 4:24custom to be
- 4:25permitted
- 4:26even for the needy
- 4:27people to visit
- 4:28such a banquet
- 4:29to receive leftovers.
- 4:30So there's a
- 4:31few points
- 4:32just
- 4:32that really felt
- 4:34would be good
- 4:35to convey
- 4:35from this text.
- 4:37But
- 4:37one,
- 4:39number one,
- 4:40is
- 4:40there is no
- 4:42sinner too
- 4:43great
- 4:43that forgiveness
- 4:44in Christ
- 4:45cannot be found.
- 4:48There's no
- 4:49sinner too
- 4:50great
- 4:50that forgiveness
- 4:51in Christ
- 4:51cannot be found.
- 4:54And
- 4:54most of us
- 4:56would say,
- 4:57yeah,
- 4:57we know that.
- 4:59But I really
- 5:00want you to
- 5:00examine your own
- 5:01heart and think
- 5:02about people
- 5:03that you've
- 5:03interacted with
- 5:04that you may
- 5:04think this
- 5:05not true of.
- 5:06And
- 5:07we see this
- 5:08in verses
- 5:0937-38.
- 5:10So first you
- 5:11have the
- 5:12identity of
- 5:13the woman
- 5:13that Luke
- 5:14doesn't fully
- 5:15disclose
- 5:15exactly who
- 5:17she is.
- 5:18But
- 5:19it's very
- 5:20clear that
- 5:21she has a
- 5:22very stained
- 5:22reputation
- 5:23and
- 5:24more than
- 5:25likely
- 5:26was a
- 5:27prostitute.
- 5:27We don't
- 5:27know that,
- 5:28but it
- 5:29comes across
- 5:30that way.
- 5:31And
- 5:31she could
- 5:34just be
- 5:35sleeping with
- 5:35men
- 5:36because she
- 5:36enjoys it
- 5:37and that's
- 5:37a way
- 5:37for her
- 5:38to make
- 5:38a living.
- 5:40That's
- 5:41definitely
- 5:41it.
- 5:42So some
- 5:42women,
- 5:43though,
- 5:43however,
- 5:44can be
- 5:46forced into
- 5:46prostitution
- 5:47when they
- 5:47have no
- 5:48one to
- 5:48protect
- 5:49them or
- 5:49provide
- 5:49to them.
- 5:50That
- 5:50happens
- 5:50in other
- 5:50places
- 5:51in the
- 5:51world
- 5:51even
- 5:51today.
- 5:52So we
- 5:53don't
- 5:54really know
- 5:54which one
- 5:54it was,
- 5:55whether she
- 5:55was forced
- 5:56into it
- 5:56or it
- 5:57was just
- 5:57kind of
- 5:57voluntarily.
- 5:59But what
- 6:01Simon actually
- 6:01says of her
- 6:02is like,
- 6:02if this
- 6:03man was a
- 6:03prophet,
- 6:04he would
- 6:04see what
- 6:04sort of
- 6:06woman this
- 6:06is.
- 6:07And that
- 6:08idea of
- 6:09what sort
- 6:10carries this
- 6:11idea of
- 6:11what kind
- 6:11of dirt
- 6:12she comes
- 6:13from,
- 6:13what kind
- 6:14of absolute
- 6:15filth she
- 6:16comes from.
- 6:17And the
- 6:18term sinner
- 6:18in this
- 6:19text denotes
- 6:21a heinous,
- 6:23habitual
- 6:23sinner known
- 6:25for being
- 6:25devoted to
- 6:26specific sins.
- 6:27sins.
- 6:28So her
- 6:29presence there
- 6:30would have
- 6:30been a
- 6:31great insult
- 6:31to some
- 6:32degree for
- 6:32her to
- 6:33kind of
- 6:33not just
- 6:34be a
- 6:34spectator,
- 6:35but for
- 6:35her to
- 6:35actually come
- 6:36up to
- 6:36Jesus,
- 6:37who was
- 6:37the guest.
- 6:38So it
- 6:39was a
- 6:39title
- 6:39given,
- 6:40a title
- 6:40particularly
- 6:41given to
- 6:42tax collectors,
- 6:44prostitutes,
- 6:44drunkards.
- 6:46And it
- 6:47says, I
- 6:47don't know,
- 6:47this was
- 6:48something that
- 6:48just sort
- 6:48of I
- 6:49thought
- 6:49about,
- 6:49but it
- 6:51said that
- 6:51she was a
- 6:52woman of
- 6:52the city.
- 6:53And if
- 6:55you think
- 6:55about those
- 6:57of us who
- 6:57come from
- 6:58small towns,
- 6:59small communities,
- 7:00there's kind
- 7:00of an added
- 7:01burden of
- 7:01shame when
- 7:03you live in
- 7:04such close
- 7:04quarters with
- 7:05people and
- 7:05everyone knows
- 7:06who you are.
- 7:07You can't
- 7:07just kind of
- 7:07disappear into
- 7:08a crowd.
- 7:09And it's
- 7:10like an
- 7:10extra guilt,
- 7:11extra shame
- 7:12that a lot
- 7:12of us don't
- 7:13really feel.
- 7:14And some
- 7:16people that
- 7:17I've met
- 7:18in the past
- 7:18have done
- 7:19such shameful
- 7:19things that
- 7:20they're even
- 7:20scared to go
- 7:21out in the
- 7:21public.
- 7:23And maybe
- 7:25even ashamed
- 7:25to kind of
- 7:26go show up
- 7:26in a church
- 7:27building or
- 7:27a church
- 7:28service.
- 7:29And that's
- 7:29very sad,
- 7:30but just a
- 7:31fear of
- 7:32man that
- 7:33drives them
- 7:34away.
- 7:35And so
- 7:35no doubt
- 7:37she felt
- 7:37great guilt
- 7:38and great
- 7:38shame for
- 7:39the sin
- 7:40that she
- 7:40had committed.
- 7:42Sin is not
- 7:43just an
- 7:44action.
- 7:44It defiles
- 7:45us and
- 7:46makes us
- 7:47unclean.
- 7:49If you think
- 7:50about some
- 7:50things that
- 7:51you've done,
- 7:52how it's
- 7:52brought immensely
- 7:53guilt,
- 7:54there's a
- 7:55verse in
- 7:56Ezekiel that
- 7:57I really
- 7:58saw a good
- 8:00while back.
- 8:00It just
- 8:00really nails
- 8:01it.
- 8:01It's Ezekiel
- 8:0320,
- 8:03verse 43.
- 8:05And it
- 8:05says,
- 8:06this is the
- 8:06Lord talking,
- 8:07and there
- 8:08you shall
- 8:08remember your
- 8:09ways and
- 8:10all your
- 8:11deeds with
- 8:12which you
- 8:12have defiled
- 8:13yourselves.
- 8:15And you
- 8:16shall loathe
- 8:16yourselves for
- 8:18the evils that
- 8:18you have
- 8:19committed.
- 8:19sin has a
- 8:25way to
- 8:26defile us
- 8:27and cause
- 8:27us to
- 8:28loathe
- 8:28ourselves
- 8:28because of
- 8:29the things
- 8:30that we
- 8:30have done.
- 8:31And so
- 8:32she really
- 8:32has this
- 8:33on her
- 8:34shoulders.
- 8:35And so
- 8:36she comes
- 8:37before Jesus,
- 8:38she kind of
- 8:38crosses the
- 8:39boundary,
- 8:40so to speak,
- 8:41into the
- 8:41actual dinner
- 8:42that's taking
- 8:42place as
- 8:43he's reclining
- 8:44at the
- 8:45table.
- 8:45And she
- 8:46takes this
- 8:46alabaster
- 8:47flask,
- 8:48which was
- 8:49a really
- 8:50soft stone
- 8:51used frequently
- 8:52to put
- 8:52perfume in
- 8:53particularly,
- 8:55probably one
- 8:55of the most
- 8:56valuable
- 8:56possessions
- 8:57she had.
- 8:58And you
- 8:59see her
- 9:00gladly
- 9:01poured out
- 9:02on the
- 9:03feet of
- 9:04Jesus.
- 9:05And
- 9:05almost
- 9:07picturesque
- 9:08of her
- 9:09almost pouring
- 9:09out her
- 9:10spirit to
- 9:10Christ.
- 9:12And with
- 9:13her tears,
- 9:14she washed
- 9:15Jesus'
- 9:15feet and
- 9:16wiped them
- 9:16with her
- 9:16hair,
- 9:18which is
- 9:18amazing.
- 9:19Because you
- 9:20know my
- 9:20footophobia,
- 9:21I can't
- 9:21stand feet,
- 9:22and this
- 9:23idea that
- 9:24she not
- 9:24only went
- 9:25that far,
- 9:26that's a
- 9:26great expression
- 9:27of love.
- 9:27So if I
- 9:27ever do
- 9:28anything for
- 9:29your foot,
- 9:30it means I
- 9:30really love
- 9:31you.
- 9:32But she
- 9:34cried
- 9:35tears of
- 9:37just brokenness
- 9:38to Jesus
- 9:39on his feet
- 9:40and then
- 9:40wiped them
- 9:41with her
- 9:41hair.
- 9:42Both this
- 9:43idea of
- 9:44thankfulness,
- 9:44just in
- 9:44reverence,
- 9:45just for
- 9:46who Jesus
- 9:46is,
- 9:47and through
- 9:48herself in
- 9:49humility,
- 9:49just at
- 9:50his mercy.
- 9:52And we
- 9:53know this
- 9:54is just so
- 9:54symbolic of
- 9:55what Jesus
- 9:55has said
- 9:56about those
- 9:56who are
- 9:57broken and
- 9:57poor in
- 9:58spirit.
- 9:59In Matthew
- 9:595,
- 10:00blessed are
- 10:00the poor
- 10:01in spirit,
- 10:01for theirs
- 10:02is the
- 10:02kingdom of
- 10:03heaven.
- 10:04Blessed are
- 10:04those who
- 10:05mourn,
- 10:05for they
- 10:06should be
- 10:06comforted.
- 10:08And
- 10:08recognizing our
- 10:10great spiritual
- 10:11bankruptcy before
- 10:13God,
- 10:14nothing to
- 10:15bring to
- 10:15him at
- 10:16all,
- 10:16how it's
- 10:16really an
- 10:18awareness of
- 10:19our need,
- 10:20our mourning,
- 10:20and our
- 10:21brokenness.
- 10:21And this
- 10:22woman definitely
- 10:22has this on
- 10:23her mind.
- 10:25So,
- 10:26does the
- 10:27weight of
- 10:27your sin and
- 10:28shame hinder you
- 10:29from coming to
- 10:30Christ for
- 10:30mercy,
- 10:31even as a
- 10:31believer?
- 10:32Do you tend to
- 10:33kind of stay at a
- 10:34distance sometimes
- 10:34before you've
- 10:35done enough
- 10:35acts of
- 10:36penance,
- 10:38where you
- 10:38make yourself
- 10:39feel worthy
- 10:40to come
- 10:41to Christ?
- 10:43But,
- 10:43there is no
- 10:44sinner to
- 10:45great.
- 10:45There just
- 10:46isn't.
- 10:47This leads to
- 10:48number two,
- 10:51which we see
- 10:52in verse
- 10:5239.
- 10:55Beware of
- 10:56having higher
- 10:57standards of
- 10:58righteousness
- 10:58than Jesus.
- 11:01Beware of
- 11:02having higher
- 11:02standards of
- 11:03righteousness
- 11:03than Jesus.
- 11:04and we
- 11:06see that
- 11:07Simon
- 11:08definitely
- 11:09has in his
- 11:09mind,
- 11:10as well,
- 11:10a lot of
- 11:11the other
- 11:11Pharisees at
- 11:12this time,
- 11:13that there
- 11:13are just
- 11:13good people
- 11:14and there
- 11:14are bad
- 11:14people.
- 11:15And the
- 11:16truth is,
- 11:17there's not.
- 11:17There's only
- 11:18bad people
- 11:18and then
- 11:19Jesus.
- 11:20That's it.
- 11:21And we
- 11:23tend to
- 11:23gauge people
- 11:24by that
- 11:24sometimes.
- 11:26And they
- 11:28even look at
- 11:30Jesus and
- 11:30don't really
- 11:31see the
- 11:32righteousness
- 11:32in him
- 11:33at all.
- 11:34And they
- 11:34think that
- 11:35they are
- 11:35far above
- 11:36this woman.
- 11:36This woman
- 11:37should not
- 11:37even be
- 11:38around.
- 11:39If anybody
- 11:40has a right
- 11:40to be around
- 11:41another righteous
- 11:42person,
- 11:42it's just
- 11:42one of them.
- 11:44And previously,
- 11:46just for sake of
- 11:47time,
- 11:48I may not
- 11:48read all this,
- 11:49but just in the
- 11:50previous verses
- 11:51leading up to
- 11:51this text in
- 11:52Luke 7,
- 11:54they're talking
- 11:55about John
- 11:55the Baptist.
- 11:57And Jesus
- 11:57basically tells
- 11:59them,
- 12:01it doesn't
- 12:01matter who
- 12:02God sends,
- 12:03you're going
- 12:04to reject
- 12:04him if
- 12:05he's actually
- 12:05speaking the
- 12:06truth to
- 12:06you.
- 12:07Because John
- 12:08came and
- 12:08he had this
- 12:09very strict
- 12:10religious
- 12:11lifestyle.
- 12:12Very strict.
- 12:13He took the
- 12:14Nazarite vow.
- 12:15He did all
- 12:17these things that
- 12:17just set him
- 12:18apart.
- 12:19It's like very,
- 12:19I don't know,
- 12:22strict and
- 12:22religious.
- 12:24And more
- 12:27than them,
- 12:28probably.
- 12:29Then you have
- 12:29Jesus'
- 12:30ministry that
- 12:31was kind of
- 12:31characterized by
- 12:32more of a
- 12:33joyous ministry.
- 12:34So you have
- 12:35both someone
- 12:35who's very
- 12:36strict and
- 12:37very disciplined
- 12:38characterizing
- 12:40John's ministry,
- 12:41if you would,
- 12:42versus Jesus'
- 12:42ministry.
- 12:44And they're
- 12:44rejecting both
- 12:45of them and
- 12:45just kind of
- 12:46saying,
- 12:46like,
- 12:47we don't
- 12:48believe.
- 12:49We think that,
- 12:50and Jesus calls
- 12:51them out for
- 12:51being childish
- 12:52in the previous
- 12:53verses.
- 12:53We've done all
- 12:54these things for
- 12:55you and you
- 12:55still don't
- 12:55listen.
- 12:56And so,
- 12:57a small lesson
- 12:58inside of this
- 12:59is some
- 12:59people,
- 13:01no matter
- 13:01what you do,
- 13:03you can jump
- 13:04through all
- 13:04their hoops,
- 13:05answer all
- 13:05their questions,
- 13:06but the problem
- 13:06is at the end
- 13:07of the day,
- 13:07they just have
- 13:08a wicked,
- 13:09depraved heart,
- 13:10and the problem
- 13:11is their unbelief,
- 13:12not that they
- 13:12haven't been shown
- 13:13enough evidence
- 13:13of who God
- 13:15is.
- 13:15And so,
- 13:16Jesus already
- 13:17has his
- 13:17reputation for
- 13:18looking,
- 13:19for hanging
- 13:19out with
- 13:20gluttons,
- 13:21tax collectors,
- 13:22and sinners.
- 13:23So they have
- 13:24this idea
- 13:25about Jesus,
- 13:25so they
- 13:26really think
- 13:26that they
- 13:27are above
- 13:27him in
- 13:28some ways.
- 13:30So,
- 13:30beware of
- 13:31like sin
- 13:32becoming
- 13:34academic.
- 13:35That's a
- 13:36new word
- 13:36I've been
- 13:37appreciating
- 13:37lately.
- 13:39And
- 13:39academic
- 13:41means like
- 13:42you understand
- 13:43what it is
- 13:43on paper,
- 13:44and it works
- 13:45out this way,
- 13:45but reality
- 13:46is you don't
- 13:47have any clue
- 13:47at all.
- 13:48Like it's
- 13:48kind of like
- 13:49the difference
- 13:49between reading
- 13:50about something
- 13:50and experiencing
- 13:51something.
- 13:53So,
- 13:54beware that
- 13:54your sin
- 13:55is not
- 13:55academic.
- 13:55You would
- 13:56confess,
- 13:57like,
- 13:57yes,
- 13:57I know
- 13:58I'm a
- 13:58sinner,
- 13:58but like
- 13:59you don't
- 13:59really feel
- 14:00like the
- 14:01burden of
- 14:02that.
- 14:03And
- 14:03do you,
- 14:06if not on
- 14:07paper,
- 14:07but in
- 14:07practice,
- 14:08see certain
- 14:08sins as
- 14:09worse than
- 14:10others?
- 14:11And do you
- 14:12believe that
- 14:12such people
- 14:13are beyond
- 14:13the mercy
- 14:14of God
- 14:15and his
- 14:15saving power
- 14:16in Christ?
- 14:18And do
- 14:18you,
- 14:19even as a
- 14:19believer,
- 14:20focus on
- 14:20the sins
- 14:21of others
- 14:21to make
- 14:22yourself
- 14:22more comfortable?
- 14:24in your
- 14:24own
- 14:25self-righteousness.
- 14:27I do.
- 14:28I did it
- 14:28earlier this
- 14:29week.
- 14:31And great
- 14:32conviction
- 14:32followed.
- 14:33But just
- 14:34beware that
- 14:35you're not
- 14:35gazing at
- 14:37Jesus or
- 14:38anyone else
- 14:38through the
- 14:39eyes of
- 14:39self-righteousness.
- 14:42So,
- 14:43yeah,
- 14:43beware of
- 14:44that.
- 14:44Don't have
- 14:44a higher
- 14:44standard of
- 14:45righteousness
- 14:45because you
- 14:46don't.
- 14:48So,
- 14:48number three,
- 14:50point three.
- 14:50this is a
- 14:53big one.
- 14:56Our love
- 14:56for Christ
- 14:57or lack
- 14:59thereof
- 14:59is directly
- 15:00connected
- 15:01to the
- 15:02awareness
- 15:03of our
- 15:03own sin.
- 15:04Our love
- 15:05for Christ
- 15:06or lack
- 15:06thereof
- 15:07is directly
- 15:08connected
- 15:08to the
- 15:08awareness
- 15:09of our
- 15:09own sin.
- 15:11And we
- 15:11see this
- 15:12in verses
- 15:1240 through
- 15:1347.
- 15:14So,
- 15:15Jesus knows
- 15:16what's going
- 15:16on.
- 15:16He knows
- 15:17he's
- 15:18discerning
- 15:18Simon's
- 15:19thoughts.
- 15:20And he
- 15:21tells him
- 15:21this parable
- 15:22to teach
- 15:23him a
- 15:23lesson
- 15:23about
- 15:24sin
- 15:25and about
- 15:25God
- 15:26and about
- 15:26forgiveness
- 15:27and about
- 15:27who he
- 15:28is.
- 15:29And
- 15:29500 denarii,
- 15:32like both
- 15:33two money
- 15:33lenders,
- 15:33one owned
- 15:34500 and
- 15:36the other
- 15:36one owned
- 15:3650.
- 15:37500 was
- 15:38the equivalent
- 15:39of about
- 15:4020 months
- 15:40wages.
- 15:41So,
- 15:41that's a
- 15:42long time.
- 15:4450 denarii
- 15:45is about
- 15:46two months
- 15:46wages.
- 15:47So,
- 15:47a lot
- 15:48more,
- 15:48a lot
- 15:48less than
- 15:4920 months
- 15:50wages.
- 15:52So,
- 15:52but it's
- 15:52meant to
- 15:53depict the
- 15:53reality that
- 15:54unconditional
- 15:55forgiveness
- 15:56was expressed
- 15:57by the
- 15:59money lender.
- 16:00He forgave
- 16:01them
- 16:01unconditionally,
- 16:02but love
- 16:03was the
- 16:03result.
- 16:05And we
- 16:06have a
- 16:06tendency
- 16:08to kind
- 16:08of,
- 16:10as a
- 16:11culture,
- 16:11to disconnect
- 16:11sin from
- 16:12the love
- 16:13of God.
- 16:14And I
- 16:15had a
- 16:15professor
- 16:16in college
- 16:17that was
- 16:18a
- 16:18professor
- 16:19of
- 16:19religion
- 16:19and
- 16:21said that
- 16:22she was
- 16:23a
- 16:23Christian,
- 16:23but not
- 16:25really.
- 16:27But she
- 16:28shunned me
- 16:29for talking
- 16:30about sin
- 16:31and I
- 16:33talked to her
- 16:34in her
- 16:34office a
- 16:34lot,
- 16:35just about
- 16:35this kind
- 16:36of stuff.
- 16:36And she
- 16:38just said,
- 16:38you should
- 16:39come to
- 16:39my church
- 16:39because in
- 16:40my church
- 16:40we talk
- 16:40about the
- 16:41love of
- 16:41God and
- 16:42how kind
- 16:42God is
- 16:43and how
- 16:43he's our
- 16:44father and
- 16:44all this
- 16:45stuff.
- 16:45love of
- 16:46love of
- 16:47God and
- 16:47love of
- 16:49God.
- 16:49You have
- 16:50no idea
- 16:51how loving
- 16:51God is
- 16:52because your
- 16:53view of
- 16:54yourself is
- 16:54so big
- 16:55and your
- 16:57view of
- 16:57sin is
- 16:57so small.
- 16:58And I
- 16:58actually read
- 16:59her this
- 16:59passage and
- 17:00she just
- 17:00goes,
- 17:01hmm,
- 17:01interesting.
- 17:03And I
- 17:04really,
- 17:04we have to
- 17:05understand that
- 17:06there's a
- 17:06connection.
- 17:08So this
- 17:09woman's love
- 17:10and faith
- 17:11was expressed
- 17:12by her
- 17:13works.
- 17:14She did
- 17:15three things
- 17:15that Simon
- 17:16did not.
- 17:17And if you
- 17:17see that in
- 17:18her text,
- 17:19like,
- 17:19she did
- 17:20this,
- 17:20you did
- 17:21not,
- 17:21Simon.
- 17:22So all
- 17:24these different
- 17:24things demonstrated
- 17:25her faith
- 17:26expressed in
- 17:27love and
- 17:27Simon's lack
- 17:28of it.
- 17:29Jesus not
- 17:30only approved
- 17:31of the woman
- 17:31kissing his
- 17:32feet,
- 17:32but reminded
- 17:33Simon that
- 17:34he had
- 17:34neglected to
- 17:36greet him
- 17:36with a
- 17:38kiss.
- 17:39And what
- 17:40was quite
- 17:41appropriate at
- 17:42that time,
- 17:42it was a
- 17:42welcoming
- 17:43thing.
- 17:43And to
- 17:44not do
- 17:44some of
- 17:44these things
- 17:45or to
- 17:45wash
- 17:45Jesus'
- 17:46feet was
- 17:48an insult.
- 17:49So they
- 17:49didn't even
- 17:50show him
- 17:50the normal
- 17:51hospitality
- 17:51norms at
- 17:52all.
- 17:53So they
- 17:54really didn't
- 17:54respect him.
- 17:55But he
- 17:56didn't make
- 17:56a big deal
- 17:57out of it.
- 17:57He just
- 17:57said,
- 17:58like,
- 17:58this woman
- 17:59has gone
- 18:00far beyond
- 18:00even what
- 18:01you,
- 18:02what I
- 18:02expected
- 18:03of you.
- 18:05So her
- 18:06love proved
- 18:07and authenticated
- 18:08her faith.
- 18:09love much
- 18:12or love
- 18:13little.
- 18:14We need
- 18:14to be
- 18:15careful here,
- 18:17but there
- 18:18was Thomas
- 18:19Watson,
- 18:20one of my
- 18:20favorite
- 18:21Puritan
- 18:21guys,
- 18:21he said,
- 18:22until sin
- 18:23be bitter,
- 18:25Christ will
- 18:25not be
- 18:26sweet.
- 18:27And we
- 18:28have to
- 18:28understand
- 18:29that there's
- 18:30a direct
- 18:30connection
- 18:31until we
- 18:31really
- 18:31understand
- 18:32who we
- 18:32are apart
- 18:33from Christ,
- 18:34the intensity
- 18:35of our sin,
- 18:36the depth
- 18:37of our
- 18:37need,
- 18:38the extent
- 18:39of our
- 18:39brokenness,
- 18:40and then the
- 18:40judgment that
- 18:41we deserve.
- 18:41We will never
- 18:42see Jesus
- 18:43or appreciate
- 18:43him for
- 18:44who he
- 18:44truly is.
- 18:46So,
- 18:46however,
- 18:48this doesn't
- 18:49mean that we
- 18:49merit forgiveness,
- 18:51rather that
- 18:52our love for
- 18:53Christ is the
- 18:54fruit of
- 18:55forgiveness.
- 18:56And the
- 18:56parable itself
- 18:57depicts that
- 18:58forgiveness
- 18:58that's given
- 18:59unconditionally,
- 19:00and that love
- 19:01was the
- 19:01response to
- 19:02that.
- 19:03So,
- 19:04in verse
- 19:0447,
- 19:05where you see
- 19:05this idea
- 19:05of her
- 19:06sins,
- 19:07which are
- 19:07many,
- 19:07are forgiven
- 19:08for she
- 19:10loved much.
- 19:11That's,
- 19:12think of it
- 19:13as like
- 19:13wherefore,
- 19:14like the
- 19:15result of
- 19:15this,
- 19:15the evidence
- 19:16of this
- 19:18is her
- 19:19love towards
- 19:20me.
- 19:21So,
- 19:21not that she
- 19:22had earned
- 19:22his forgiveness
- 19:23and none of
- 19:23us ever
- 19:23could,
- 19:25that would
- 19:26go against
- 19:26the whole
- 19:27parable,
- 19:27plus what
- 19:28he just
- 19:28says in
- 19:28the next
- 19:29verse.
- 19:30So,
- 19:31we know
- 19:32that we
- 19:32can't earn
- 19:32God's
- 19:33forgiveness.
- 19:33forgiveness.
- 19:35So,
- 19:35a while
- 19:36back,
- 19:37I read
- 19:38this devotional
- 19:39Future Grace
- 19:41by Piper
- 19:43on a
- 19:43sabbatical,
- 19:44and I'm
- 19:44rereading it
- 19:45with Adam
- 19:46Dome
- 19:47right now.
- 19:48Such a
- 19:49great reminder,
- 19:50but of
- 19:51course,
- 19:51all of us
- 19:52would say
- 19:53we can't
- 19:54earn forgiveness
- 19:54by good
- 19:55works,
- 19:55by doing
- 19:56good things
- 19:57for people,
- 19:57by attending
- 19:58services.
- 19:59I think we
- 20:00all know
- 20:00that,
- 20:01but how
- 20:02many of you
- 20:02have ever
- 20:03tried to
- 20:03pay God
- 20:04back with
- 20:05gratitude,
- 20:06or pay
- 20:07God back
- 20:07with love.
- 20:09And,
- 20:10man,
- 20:10this was a
- 20:11killer for
- 20:12me,
- 20:12because I
- 20:12feel like
- 20:13so much
- 20:15in my
- 20:15life,
- 20:15I've been
- 20:16saying,
- 20:17God has
- 20:18died for
- 20:18me,
- 20:19so therefore
- 20:19I just
- 20:20need to be
- 20:20grateful and
- 20:21just show
- 20:21him a lot
- 20:21of love.
- 20:22But the
- 20:23problem with
- 20:24that is our
- 20:24love and
- 20:25our gratitude
- 20:25rises and
- 20:26falls every
- 20:27day.
- 20:28So,
- 20:29the power
- 20:30to live
- 20:31is,
- 20:32as
- 20:33followers of
- 20:33Jesus is
- 20:34not found
- 20:35in our
- 20:35gratitude and
- 20:36love ultimately.
- 20:38Isn't that
- 20:38shocking?
- 20:38It is to
- 20:39me.
- 20:40But it
- 20:41can't be
- 20:41because it
- 20:42just rises
- 20:42and falls.
- 20:43At the
- 20:43end of the
- 20:44day,
- 20:44our gratitude
- 20:45and our
- 20:46love can
- 20:47be motivations,
- 20:48but it
- 20:48really seems
- 20:49to be that
- 20:49scripture puts
- 20:50the emphasis
- 20:50on grace.
- 20:52Like,
- 20:53at the end
- 20:53of the day,
- 20:53it's still
- 20:54grace that's
- 20:54going to
- 20:55hold you,
- 20:55not your
- 20:56gratitude,
- 20:56not your
- 20:57love.
- 20:57And,
- 20:59kind of,
- 21:00so,
- 21:02tomorrow is,
- 21:06Kathleen's
- 21:06going to
- 21:06hit me if
- 21:07I'm wrong
- 21:07on this,
- 21:08I think
- 21:08it's my
- 21:0812-year
- 21:09transplant
- 21:10anniversary,
- 21:11where I
- 21:12get my
- 21:12lungs at
- 21:13UAB.
- 21:14So,
- 21:14it's really
- 21:14cool that
- 21:14Wes and
- 21:15Liz were
- 21:15on the
- 21:15day,
- 21:15because they
- 21:16were there,
- 21:17other than
- 21:18Nathan and
- 21:18Sam.
- 21:19But I
- 21:21know that
- 21:21I have
- 21:22this works-based
- 21:23mentality to
- 21:24pay God
- 21:25back for
- 21:25what he's
- 21:26done for
- 21:26me.
- 21:27And I
- 21:27want to
- 21:28pay him
- 21:28back by
- 21:28my gratitude
- 21:29and my
- 21:30love.
- 21:31And so,
- 21:32when I'm
- 21:33not grateful,
- 21:34and when I'm
- 21:34not loving
- 21:35God,
- 21:35I just hate
- 21:35myself.
- 21:37It's a
- 21:38really bad,
- 21:39bad cycle.
- 21:41But we
- 21:42put emphasis
- 21:43on what was
- 21:44grace that
- 21:45taught my
- 21:45heart to
- 21:46fear,
- 21:46but we
- 21:46need to
- 21:46think about
- 21:47it's also
- 21:48grace that's
- 21:49going to
- 21:49lead us
- 21:50home.
- 21:50So,
- 21:51you can't
- 21:51pay God
- 21:52back with
- 21:52how grateful
- 21:53you are.
- 21:54I think
- 21:54that's what
- 21:55I unknowingly
- 21:56was trying
- 21:57to do.
- 21:57Like,
- 21:58God,
- 21:58I'm going
- 21:58to pay
- 21:58you back
- 21:59for the
- 22:00forgiveness
- 22:00you've shown
- 22:01me by
- 22:01being grateful.
- 22:03And you
- 22:03can't do it.
- 22:04It's just
- 22:04going to
- 22:04rise and
- 22:05fall.
- 22:05At the end
- 22:05of the day,
- 22:06it's still
- 22:06God's grace.
- 22:07It's still
- 22:08God's grace.
- 22:09God's grace
- 22:10towards us.
- 22:12None of
- 22:12us are
- 22:12ever truly
- 22:13aware of
- 22:14how sinful
- 22:14we are,
- 22:15like,
- 22:15ever.
- 22:16We have
- 22:17moments where
- 22:18we're pretty
- 22:18clueless and
- 22:19we think
- 22:19we're pretty
- 22:19good people.
- 22:21And other
- 22:22times we're
- 22:22more aware
- 22:23of it.
- 22:23But none
- 22:23of us
- 22:23have ever
- 22:24been 100%
- 22:26aware of
- 22:27just how
- 22:28truly sinful
- 22:28we are.
- 22:30So even
- 22:30the most
- 22:31devout
- 22:31followers of
- 22:32Jesus failed
- 22:32at times to
- 22:33show that.
- 22:34But we
- 22:34know that,
- 22:35again,
- 22:35it's God's
- 22:35love and
- 22:36God's grace
- 22:36towards us.
- 22:37the breadth
- 22:39of it,
- 22:39the intensity
- 22:40of it,
- 22:40is what
- 22:40sustains us.
- 22:42In 1 John
- 22:434,
- 22:44verse 9,
- 22:44it says,
- 22:45And this
- 22:45is the
- 22:46love of
- 22:46God,
- 22:47was made
- 22:47manifest among
- 22:48us that
- 22:49God sent
- 22:49his only
- 22:50son into
- 22:50the world
- 22:51so that we
- 22:52might live
- 22:52through him.
- 22:54And this
- 22:55is love,
- 22:56not that we
- 22:57have loved
- 22:58God,
- 22:59but that he
- 23:00loved us
- 23:01and sent
- 23:01his son
- 23:02to be the
- 23:03repitiation
- 23:03for our
- 23:04sins.
- 23:06It's very
- 23:07great.
- 23:08So,
- 23:09number
- 23:09four,
- 23:11forgiveness
- 23:12can only
- 23:13be found
- 23:14by faith
- 23:15in Christ.
- 23:16Forgiveness
- 23:17can only be
- 23:17found by
- 23:18faith in
- 23:18Christ.
- 23:19And see
- 23:19this in
- 23:19verses 48
- 23:20through 50.
- 23:23Jesus
- 23:23has the
- 23:24authority
- 23:25to forgive
- 23:26sins,
- 23:27which only
- 23:27technically
- 23:28God can
- 23:29do.
- 23:30Faith,
- 23:32her faith
- 23:33saves her,
- 23:33not her
- 23:34works.
- 23:34So she
- 23:35abandons all
- 23:36any pretense
- 23:37of her
- 23:37own
- 23:37self
- 23:37righteousness
- 23:38and just
- 23:38clings to
- 23:39Christ's
- 23:40righteousness.
- 23:41And all
- 23:41that is
- 23:42expressed in
- 23:42her actions.
- 23:43Think about
- 23:44the faith
- 23:45that it
- 23:45took her
- 23:46to even
- 23:46show her
- 23:47face there.
- 23:48Like,
- 23:48she must
- 23:48have just
- 23:49heard that
- 23:49Jesus was
- 23:50around.
- 23:51Must have
- 23:52just heard
- 23:52that he
- 23:52was in
- 23:53the neighborhood.
- 23:54And then
- 23:54the stuff
- 23:55that she
- 23:55had heard
- 23:56about him
- 23:56just said,
- 23:57this man
- 23:57must be
- 23:58a man
- 23:58of mercy.
- 23:59This man
- 24:00might be
- 24:01my only hope.
- 24:02And so
- 24:03she,
- 24:04regardless
- 24:04of what
- 24:05people think
- 24:05about her,
- 24:06she shows
- 24:06up there.
- 24:07So think
- 24:08about the
- 24:10fear of
- 24:10man that
- 24:11her faith
- 24:11overcame
- 24:12in that
- 24:12moment.
- 24:14And because
- 24:14she believed
- 24:15that Jesus
- 24:15was worth
- 24:17it.
- 24:17And her
- 24:18faith was
- 24:19expressed in
- 24:20the love that
- 24:20she showed
- 24:21towards him.
- 24:23And so,
- 24:24but, you
- 24:25know, Christ
- 24:25told her,
- 24:26hey, your
- 24:26faith has
- 24:27saved you.
- 24:28Go in
- 24:29peace.
- 24:31Those are
- 24:32amazing words.
- 24:33Like, we all
- 24:33long to kind
- 24:34of hear that.
- 24:36And understand,
- 24:37though, that
- 24:38Jesus knew
- 24:38in the back
- 24:39of his mind
- 24:40that I'm
- 24:41going to pay
- 24:42the penalty
- 24:42for that
- 24:43woman's sins.
- 24:44There's no
- 24:45such thing
- 24:45as pardon
- 24:46without payment
- 24:48of debt
- 24:48in God's
- 24:50eyes.
- 24:51Christ had
- 24:52to pay the
- 24:52penalty for
- 24:53our sin,
- 24:54and he did,
- 24:54as well as
- 24:55for this
- 24:55woman's sin.
- 24:58Really
- 24:58quickly,
- 24:59flip over
- 24:59to Colossians
- 25:00chapter 2.
- 25:02Colossians
- 25:03chapter 2.
- 25:08Colossians
- 25:09chapter 2,
- 25:09and look at
- 25:10verse 13.
- 25:12And Paul
- 25:13writes,
- 25:14And you,
- 25:15who were
- 25:15dead in
- 25:16your
- 25:16trespasses,
- 25:17and the
- 25:17uncircumcision
- 25:18of your
- 25:18flesh,
- 25:19God made
- 25:19alive together
- 25:20with him,
- 25:21having forgiven
- 25:22us all our
- 25:23trespasses,
- 25:25by canceling
- 25:26the record
- 25:26of debt
- 25:27that stood
- 25:27against us
- 25:28with its
- 25:28legal demands.
- 25:30This,
- 25:31he set
- 25:32aside,
- 25:33mailing it
- 25:33to the
- 25:34cross.
- 25:35So this
- 25:36idea of
- 25:36a record
- 25:37of debt,
- 25:37all the
- 25:38stuff that
- 25:38you have
- 25:39done and
- 25:39thought that
- 25:40was dishonoring
- 25:41to God,
- 25:43Christ paid
- 25:45the price
- 25:45for it,
- 25:46and canceled
- 25:47it by his
- 25:49sacrifice on
- 25:50the cross.
- 25:51God
- 25:52in our
- 25:53story,
- 25:54Jesus knows
- 25:54that he's
- 25:55going to
- 25:55have to
- 25:55do that.
- 25:56He can't
- 25:56just forgive
- 25:56this woman
- 25:57and just
- 25:58go on.
- 25:59But our
- 26:01salvation,
- 26:02our faith,
- 26:02our forgiveness
- 26:03of sins is
- 26:03only found
- 26:04by Christ
- 26:05dying for
- 26:06us.
- 26:08So,
- 26:09lastly,
- 26:10verse,
- 26:11this is more
- 26:12of an
- 26:13implication,
- 26:14but because,
- 26:16this is number
- 26:17five,
- 26:17because God
- 26:18has forgiven
- 26:18us in
- 26:19Christ,
- 26:20so we
- 26:21must forgive
- 26:22others.
- 26:23So,
- 26:24the joy
- 26:25and freedom
- 26:26of forgiveness
- 26:27that we've
- 26:27experienced in
- 26:28Christ,
- 26:29we must
- 26:30express to
- 26:31others from
- 26:31the heart.
- 26:32For in
- 26:33that kind
- 26:34of forgiveness,
- 26:35people see a
- 26:37picture of
- 26:38Jesus.
- 26:38It points
- 26:39to him.
- 26:40And it's
- 26:41not out of
- 26:41duty,
- 26:42but out of
- 26:43what God
- 26:44has wrought
- 26:45in our
- 26:45hearts
- 26:46through him
- 26:47showing us
- 26:47forgiveness.
- 26:49Also,
- 26:50in Colossians,
- 26:50if you just
- 26:51jump down
- 26:51the next
- 26:52chapter,
- 26:52it says,
- 26:53put on
- 26:53then,
- 26:54as God's
- 26:54chosen ones,
- 26:55holy and
- 26:56beloved,
- 26:57compassionate
- 26:57hearts,
- 26:59kindness,
- 27:00humility,
- 27:01meekness,
- 27:02and patience,
- 27:03bearing one
- 27:04another,
- 27:05and,
- 27:06if one has
- 27:07a complaint
- 27:07against another,
- 27:08forgiving each
- 27:09other,
- 27:10as the Lord
- 27:11has forgiven
- 27:11you,
- 27:12so you
- 27:12also must
- 27:13forgive.
- 27:15And so,
- 27:16those of
- 27:17us who
- 27:17have been
- 27:18set free
- 27:18and forgiven
- 27:19by Christ,
- 27:19we should be
- 27:21eager to
- 27:21show that
- 27:21to other
- 27:22people,
- 27:23for in
- 27:24that they
- 27:24see the
- 27:25forgiveness
- 27:25of Christ.
- 27:27And just,
- 27:29if there's
- 27:29anything that
- 27:30needs to be
- 27:31dealt with in
- 27:31your heart
- 27:32today,
- 27:33things that you
- 27:35need to ask
- 27:35the Lord for
- 27:36forgiveness for,
- 27:37or go to
- 27:37someone that you
- 27:38have sinned
- 27:39against,
- 27:39and say,
- 27:41hey,
- 27:42I need to
- 27:43ask your
- 27:43forgiveness,
- 27:44may this
- 27:45kind of be
- 27:45a driving
- 27:46force of
- 27:46that,
- 27:47but I pray
- 27:48that you
- 27:48would just
- 27:49kind of
- 27:49see the
- 27:50grace and
- 27:51forgiveness
- 27:51of Christ
- 27:52with no
- 27:53strings
- 27:53attached.
- 27:55You can't
- 27:55pay them
- 27:56back,
- 27:56it's just
- 27:57free,
- 27:57and there's
- 27:58nothing we've
- 28:00done that
- 28:01cannot be
- 28:02pardoned and
- 28:03forgiven.
- 28:04God is
- 28:06not just
- 28:07forgiving us
- 28:07because he
- 28:08just feels
- 28:08bad for us,
- 28:10it's because
- 28:11he truly is
- 28:12kind towards
- 28:13us,
- 28:13he wants to
- 28:14show us
- 28:15that kind
- 28:15of forgiveness,
- 28:17and I pray
- 28:18that that
- 28:18just transforms
- 28:19our hearts
- 28:20today.