Luke 7:36-50
The Debtors and The Creditor
Intro:
1. Have you ever been unwilling to forgive or could never forgive yourself? Jesus will forgive even the worse of sinners. He came to earth for the very purpose of providing a way for man to be saved. His whole mission and life was to forgive sin...Jesus Christ of Nazareth died on the cross and was raised from the dead so you would never have to choose a wrong or evil thing again and so all your wrongs and evil deeds or sin can be forgiven...there is no such thing as too much sin as you will see in this lesson...
2. I know that most of everybody here is a Christian or thinking on becoming a Christian. Perhaps we can think of ourselves as better than others at times; to have an “I am holier than you” attitude. When we too have had to go to the life giving fountain of forgiveness to be considered holy. Jesus dealt with a Pharisee that had the same attitude. In the text today, you will see this attitude. Let us look at the three main characters of the situation:
I. The Pharisee
A. Who is this Pharisee
1. He was upright in heart
a. He did not consider himself to be a sinner
b. He conscience did not bother him
2. He was a Pharisee
a. Pharisees were the religious upper crust of the Jewish religion.
b. Pharisees were the leaders and the most in number
c. Pharisees went above what was written and keep also the traditions handed down from the past. They prided themselves on keeping the law blamelessly
d. An example of this is accusing Jesus of working on the Sabbath day because he was healing. They went far beyond what was written or intended. The keeping of the Sabbath day was intended to mean, do not plan anything that will keep you from worshipping God.
e. He was of this sect and a practicing Jew., some considered the Pharisees not so fair you see.
3. Some suppose that he was Simon the leper
a. There is no proof as to who this Simon is though
B. His mistaken practice (36)
1. Being a Pharisee he could not be around sinners
a. As a good Pharisee he could not imagine being caught dead around this sinful woman.
b. He was not willing to let anything “tarnish” his reputation in the eyes of men
2. He had an outward religion based on works
a. Many today have a works based religion. Some call us in the church a works based religion.
b. Works based religion is focused more on doing the right things and less on being forgiven. A good question to ask to see if you are caught up in works or faith is: “Am I doing this because I am grateful for being forgiven or am I doing this to stay forgiven?”
C. His willingness to hear Jesus (36)
1. Having seen or heard Jesus he asks Jesus to his house
a. This says something about his house. It was prepared for an occasion as this
b. He must have seen or heard about Jesus and wanted a closer look
2. He is curious as to whom this Jesus is (39)
a. After seeing the woman he questioned who Jesus was. This is a sign that he was undetermined as to who Jesus was.
b. Some thought Jesus to be a prophet, John the Baptist, Elijah, or the Christ.
3. He willingness to hear what Jesus offered at meal time (40)
a. Jesus at mealtime asks permission to speak.
b. He wanting to learn says say on master.
II. The sinful woman
A. Her past sinful life (39)
1. This was a woman that was well Known for sin (39)
a. She was well known in the community for her actions
b. Many suppose she was a prostitute
c. Some suppose that this is Mary who anointed Jesus’ head on a different occasion. There are too many differences to be the same instance. There are two separate anointing with alabaster.
2. She knew she was a sinful (38)
a. She stood behind Jesus and wept. Wept for all the bad she had done. Wept for the kindness of Jesus to impart a full pardon.
b. Her tears flowed a river of praise and thanksgiving for what the Master had done
B. Her willingness to come to Jesus (37)
1. Custom of eating for the Jews
a. The Jewish house had an open courtyard and people would recline at the table by lying on the left side while being kind of flat on the ground. They did not have chairs, they ate on the ground. The courtyard was the doorway to the outside street and people could come in and out. It was customary for people to talk to the guests of the house that were partaking of the meal and this is what she did.
2. She seeks and find Jesus at Simon’s (37)
a. She hears Jesus is at Simons and makes her way there. She sees Him eating and walks up behind Him at His feet, but she starts breaking up into tears because of the love of God towards her.
C. Her Gratitude for being saved (38)
1. She was so full of emotion for being forgiven (38)
a. As she stood there the tears began to form she kneels down and tears fall on his feet. Because she has nothing to wipe them with she lets down her hair and wipes them away. Then kisses Jesus feet and anoints them with her perfume or alabaster.
2. She poured out her grateful heart and perfume on Jesus and His feet? (38)
a. She was so grateful and wanted to do something special for Jesus to let Him know how grateful she was.
III. Jesus
A. His desire to be found
1. Jesus taught seek and you will find knock and it will be opened (Mat 7:8)
a. Jesus was there to seek and save the lost. He wants everyone to be saved and since He is the only way, He wants all to know Him. (John 14:6)
b. He was willing to go the extra mile and ate with the Pharisee
B. Correction of the Pharisee
1. Asks to speak (40)
a. Jesus following the social protocol asks permission to speak after hearing Simon’s thoughts.
2. Gives the parable of the creditor and the debtor (44-48)
a. In an effort to teach Simon the error of his way he gives a parable.
3. Shows the lack of courteously given by Simon (44-46)
a. It was common for the Jew wear sandals only something like a flip flop. This means dust covers their feet as they walked on dirt roads. It was up to the owners of the house to provided water for the feet of their guests. After all the feet of one person was close to the head of another at mealtime, because of the way the reclined at the table. She however washed his feet with her tears and hair. (44)
b. It was also common to greet the guests with a kiss. The same type of kiss that Judas betrayed Him with because it was like shaking the hand of someone you know when you see them. This handshake kiss is what Judas betrayed Jesus with. She however kissed His feet. (45)
c. It was also common that oil, typically olive oil be given to anoint the head. From what I gather this is more or less cosmetic for the hair. She anointed his feet with ointment or alabaster. (46)
C. His Love for the Sinful Woman
1. Did not push away the sinful woman
a. Jesus did not say get this crazy, crying, woman off me and put her out in the street.
b. He was willing to honor her with his full attention
2. Accepted her offering of her heart
a. She wanted to give Him something. She did so with tears and gratitude.
b. Jesus allowed her to anoint His feet and pour out her emotions
3. Forgave her sins (47)
a. Jesus not willing to let there be any doubt as to why this flood of emotions pronounces her sins forgiven
b. Many at the table think He is blaspheming. Because forgiveness of sin takes place in the mind and heart of God, thus only God can forgive.
IV. The Parable of the Creditor and the debtors
A. Creditor
1. Had wealth and shared it (41)
a. This creditor was willing to lend out his money for whatever reason
b. Had two people who could not repay
c. Each of the people was in a rock and hard place because they had a debt to pay and nothing to pay with.
2. Represents God by freely forgiving (42)
a. The creditor is the representation of God.
b. God has all wealth and shares it. Everyone has a sin-debt owed to God and cannot repay.
c. Really this is a picture of all of man’s relationship with God
B. Debtors
1. The size of the debt (41)
a. A penny is about a days wage, and a pence is a penny
b. 50 Pence, 50 days of wages
c. 500 pence ten times the amount, or about a year and half of wages
d. One owed ten times more than the other
2. Both had a debt they could not repay (42)
a. Both could not for whatever reason pay what was owed.
b. Both received the mercy of the creditor.
c. One forgiven of much will be more grateful than the one forgiven of a little.
C. Meaning of the story
1. Sin is debt either big or small
a. In the eyes of God it is not about how much you have sinned, but it is how much you want to be forgiven.
b. It does not matter if you think you’re the worse or if you think you only make a few little sins. All of it has to be forgiven.
2. God is willing to forgive the worse and the best because all have sinned
a. God is willing to forgive anyone of any debt. There is not such a thing as to much sin.
b. God is always willing to do His part and forgive. In fact, God wants everyone to ask and seek His forgiveness.
c. One sinner was ten times worse than the other and still received forgiveness
3. It is not because of the woman’s love she was forgiven (47)
a. Her sins which are many are forgiven for she loved much…
b. Jesus is not saying because of her love she was forgiven but rather the opposite: because she was forgiven of much she loved much.
c. And He said to her, thy sins are forgiven (48)
Conclusion:
1. All of us have a debt that we cannot repay. Some have more debt that others, and Jesus is the answer to our soul’s need. Picture Jesus being the richest man on the planet and he is willing to write each of us a check in the amount of our sin. No matter how much we have sinned, or how much we owe; Jesus will pay the full amount.
2. The woman was willing to admit and receive the forgiveness that Jesus offers. Many can make the mistake of thinking that God will not forgive them. She was considered to be a sinner by many and Jesus even said her sins were many. She was still willing to come to Jesus publicly.
3. The Pharisee was also a sinner. Although he tried to keep himself unspotted from the world, he was stained. He snubbed his nose at the woman and would not have anything to do with her because she was too “dirty”. Jesus declared both him and her as owing a debt they could not repay, one 10 times worse, he still sinned and needed Jesus.
Luke 7:36-50 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Try…A…Daily Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend...
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