Big Idea: Who are those who belong to Christ’s kingdom? Should we be able to tell them apart from the world? What we will see over the next several weeks is that those who belong to Christ’s kingdom are the humble, the hurting, the honest, and the humiliated.
The ____________________ ________________________
Luke 7:44 (ESV) — 44 Then 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.
This encounter with Jesus revolves around the contrast between the Pharisee and the sinner.
Romans 16:16 (ESV) — 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
What we find is that the Pharisee does not believe that Jesus is a Prophet, he does not believe that he is a teacher, he does not believe he has come from God. For a “godly” man would immediately rebuke such a woman for touching him. Simon’s attitude toward Jesus is seen in his actions toward Jesus and his attitude is not good. Contrast this with the attitude of the woman.
The main point of this story is to highlight that Simon’s actions are a reflection of his attitude, not only toward Jesus but also toward his sin. Furthermore, the reason Simon has this attitude toward Jesus is because of his attitude toward sin. On the other hand, the reason the woman has this attitude toward Jesus is because of her attitude toward sin.
How we view our sin, will always determine how we see Jesus.
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Luke 7:47–50 (ESV) — 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Jesus forgives the one who recognizes their utter sinfulness and brings it to him in order that it might be covered by his mercy and grace. And this is a free and full forgiveness.
[The perfect tense is] the verb tense used by the writer to describe a completed verbal action that occurred in the past but which produced a state of being or a result that exists in the present.
Luke 7:47–50 (NASB95) — 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.”
Jesus then speaks directly to the woman, saying simply, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ No-one ever heard any more important words than those this woman heard that day in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Every demeaning, dishonest and immoral act that this woman of the city… had committed, was totally cleansed from her record when the Son of God said, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’
Psalm 103:11–12 (ESV) — 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
