Luke 7:36-8:3 - Rejected on Earth, Accepted in Heaven
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
G. Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance into the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced his final trial sermon. In a huge auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 people - only sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen.
When Morgan stepped into the pulpit of this mostly empty and intimidating auditorium, his sermon fell flat, and he did not impress the small audience. Two weeks later Morgan’s name appeared among the 105 REJECTED for the ministry that year.
Jill Morgan, his daughter-in-law, wrote in her book, A MAN OF THE WORD, “He wired to his father the one word, ‘Rejected,’ and sat down to write in his diary: ‘Very dark everything seems. Still, He knoweth best.’ Quickly came the reply: ‘Rejected on earth. Accepted in heaven. Dad.’”
Today we are going to see a woman who was rejected by the religious leaders of the world as well. She was a woman who was counted as nothing by them. Yet Christ does not reject her. Her love for Christ overshadows all in the room, and her story is told all over the earth today. It is in this account today that we also see one who was rejected on earth but accepted in heaven.
Prayer
Today we will see three ways that those who are forgiven and accepted by Christ respond by showing their love to Him. The first is…
I. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Radically (7:36-39)
I. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Radically (7:36-39)
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
The first verse in this account is rather interesting. It should be noted that Jesus went to eat even with those who were His enemies and greatest critics throughout His ministry - namely the Pharisees. Luke records three such instances that Jesus dines with a Pharisee with the other two being in Luke 11:37 and Luke 14:1. We must not miss His great mercy and grace and willingness to go into the hardest of places and love those who are among the hardest to love.
Moving forward we see the scene beginning to unfold with more detail.
And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
There is so much in these two verses. We are introduced to a woman who was known as a sinner. Most commentaries understand this term meaning that she was likely a prostitute which is probably the most likely because it would have created the overtly negative response that we will see from Simon the Pharisee later.
We are not given a name for this woman. There have been many commentators that have tried to link her to other women in the Bible. It is much better not to try to assume who this was. She is not given a name and thus we do well not to try to make further assumptions on whom she might be.
We have just been told that Jesus is reclining at the table with other religious leaders in Simon the Pharisees’ home and now a woman walks into the banqueting area. We might wonder how this woman just walked into the courtyard of this Pharisee’s home where this banquet was occuring, but it was actually a common custom for banquets such as this to have people in and out listening to the conversation that was going on.
Jesus would have been at the table reclining with His feet away from the table. This was a typical way of dining in that day. For those of us who take a little longer to get back up off the floor, I’m sure that you are pretty happy with the dining chairs we have today instead of the way they ate back then!
This woman known as a sinner had come with an alabaster flask of ointment most likely to anoint the head of Jesus with oil which was an act of honor and respect. Overcome by emotion, however, she breaks down into tears which fall upon the feet of Jesus. In a spontaneous response to drenching the feet of Jesus she lets down her hair in order to wipe the feet of Jesus off and then anoints and repeatedly kisses the feet of Jesus.
For a modern audience today, this is a little uncomfortable. For the audience in that day it was uncomfortable as well but for different reasons!
There is a lot here that just has happened. Let’s take these one by one.
1. She is overwhelmed by Christ’s goodness, kindness, acceptance, and forgiveness.
Her love for Christ and appreciation for His love for her brings her to tears. As we also see, it allows to her to worship Christ without any shame. She even lets her hair down in order to wash his feet. There was a legalistic rule in Jewish culture that made such a thing scandalous. To let one’s hair down in the presence of a man who was not your husband was grounds for divorce in Jewish culture.
2. She unashamedly worships Christ.
She falls to her face in worship in the presence of Christ. This overwhelming worship of Christ reminds us of David when he danced unto the Lord.
And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.
Here David is dancing before the Lord in his linen ephod which was a form of undergarment that men wore under their clothes. He is the king of all Israel yet dances humbly before the Lord. This sinful woman is showing her humility before Christ like David did before the Lord.
3. She washes the feet of Christ
And as we have mentioned before, washing the feet of another was a menial task reserved for servants. This woman completely humbles herself before Christ.
And finally, we see that…
4. She offers her best to Christ.
We cannot miss the great cost of this alabaster flask of ointment. Many of these flasks were between 6 months to a year’s wages. She highly valued Jesus and gave Him the best that she had.
Why would she have such a response to Jesus? It is clear that she had experienced the saving work of Jesus Christ in her recent past. We don’t know when she heard Jesus preach, but at some point she had heard His message and responded in salvation. And now she comes in adoration of her Savior.
Her response to Christ’s saving work in her life led to a spontaneous response to the majesty of Christ through praise and worship.
Brothers and sisters, do you ever become so overwhelmed at the thought of Christ that it brings you to your face?
Maybe you aren’t a super emotional person, I get that. But do you ever get an overwhelming sense of God’s Presence and cannot describe the wonder and amazement of His glory?
I realize that experientialism is a dangerous teaching. We cannot live for feelings or emotion. But we must worship in Spirit and Truth. If we only worship in truth, we miss out on the Holy Spirit working in us to reveal to us the majesty and glory of God. Listen to the Apostle Paul describe the overwhelming majesty of God as he prays at times.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Paul in this chapter of Romans has just finished discussing the blessed hope of salvation that we wait for in patience. And then he says that as we wait for this blessed promise of God of eternal life in heaven with Christ, we may become at a loss for words in our prayers. We can become so overwhelmed by the glory of God that the Holy Spirit must intercede on our behalf. We cannot even put into the words the amazing wonder of our Heavenly Father.
This only occurs with good quiet time before the Lord. I am as guilty as any with being too busy at times. But we need to regularly schedule time with God so that we may study His Word, meditate on it, and spend time in prayer before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Allow yourself to be overwhelmed by His majesty and glory as you read the pages of Scripture and think on our glorious God.
Moving forward, we see that instead of appreciating this worship of the One who is God-made-flesh, the Pharisee, Simon - not believing that Jesus is the Son of God - has a much different response to her actions.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
Note yet again the lack of shame of this woman. She knows she is being judged and yet her response to her Savior is unbridled and radical.
May we have such a radical response to our Savior in worship. Even when others reject us as Simon rejected this sinful woman, we know that Jesus does not reject us. He loves us and accepts our heart-felt worship.
May we not be like the Pharisee and respond coldly to the move of God in other’s lives. May we worship our Heavenly Father in Spirit and Truth.
Scripture References: Luke 11:37,Luke 14:1, 2 Samuel 6:14, Romans 8:26-27
II. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Repentantly (7:40-50)
II. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Repentantly (7:40-50)
And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
After this interchange and knowing the thoughts of Simon the Pharisee, Jesus has a challenge for him. And this challenge comes with a parable.
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Jesus uses this opportunity to teach a new parable. And this is one that we can learn much from brothers and sisters.
Jesus mentions a certain moneylender who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii which was around one and a half years wages and the other owed fifty which was just short of two months wages. We see a 10 -fold difference in these debts. When they could not pay, the debts were canceled for both. Then Jesus asks a pointed question - which of them will love him more?
Simon the Pharisee gives an interesting response. He judges correctly but he starts off his statement with, ‘I suppose., There was no real supposing to this. The one who was forgiven more debt will show more gratitude for the forgiveness. If you give someone a dollar they may say thank you. If you give someone 10 dollars, they may shake your hand. If you give someone 100 dollars they might give you a hug!
This idea of love given here is more an expression of gratitude. Who will be the most thankful?
Simon, likely understanding that he was in for a sermon directed toward him hesitantly answers Jesus with the correct answer but throwing in ‘I suppose’ to voice his quiet protest.
And then comes Jesus’ teaching…
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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Jesus compares the gratitude and love shown by the sinful woman and compares it to Simon. By historical accounts, Simon was not blatantly rude to Jesus. Simon did just enough to get by with being socially appropriate. But there was most certainly nothing extra given here. Simon did nothing extra when it comes to hospitality.
A customary kiss was a sign of respect and friendship. Jesus received no such kiss from Simon.
Having a guest’s feet washed was a sign of respect and courtesy as well.
Being anointed was a special act of hospitality and was reserved for an honored guest. Who would be more worthy of honor than Jesus Christ - God-made-flesh!
Simon offered no such special hospitality to Jesus because he did not see Jesus as an honored guest. Simon did not see his need for the forgiveness of sins. Simon did not see his need for a Savior. And so Simon did not give Christ the honor that was due Him.
But in contrast, this sinful woman loved much because she understood the depths of her sin, and she understood the radical forgiveness that Jesus offered.
As we discussed a short while ago - it appears here that this woman had heard Jesus preach at some point in time before this interchange. She had already experienced salvation. Her sins were already forgiven. And Jesus gives her further confirmation of this in the following verses…
And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
As theologian and pastor John MacArthur asserts:
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace,” made it clear that her love and the good deeds she had done to Him were the result of her salvation, not its cause.
- John MacArthur
Ephesians 2:10 states:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Right after telling us that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works in verses 8-9, we see that a true saving faith works here in verse 10.
This woman’s worship and honoring of Christ in response to her salvation is put on display for all to see. Her worship of Christ did not save her or earn her more favor with Christ. But it was a sign that she was truly saved.
Brothers and sisters, those who have been forgiven and accepted by Christ respond with repentance. They respond with great humility because they know the depths and darkness of their sins and how Jesus picked up them up out of the pit and embraced them and changed them completely.
Listen to Paul teach this in Ephesians 2:1-5 which is right before verse 10 that we just discussed.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Like this sinful woman, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We followed the prince of the power of the air - namely Satan. We lived for the passions of the flesh. But look at verses 4 and 5 underlined there.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved.
Praise God for His saving work in our lives my friends!
I pray that each person here has experienced the wonderful salvation of Christ. If not, can’t you see his love for you in this passage? Can’t you see that even though you are bent on rebellion and you are a God-hater He still reaches out because of His great love for you. You are dead and He is ready to resurrect your dead soul and breath life into it. If only you will humble yourself like this woman. If only you will admit that you are a sinner and need salvation, repent or turn away from your sins, and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. With everything in me I urge you who are not saved to repent and be saved my friend. Don’t waste another moment apart from the Lord. There is no more important decision than following Christ.
And finally, we see that…
Scripture References: Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 2:1-5
III. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Responsively (8:1-3)
III. Those Who Have Been Forgiven and Accepted by Christ Should Show Their Love… Responsively (8:1-3)
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Those who have been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ respond to the forgiveness and freedom that they have been given. This response is shown by love and support of the mission of Jesus Christ.
Luke continues this theme of women changed by the Gospel by mentioned a few others.
Jesus would go on to save and heal many other women including Mary Magdalene in which seven demons were removed, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Susanna, and many others. And note that these women were pivotal to Jesus’ ministry by helping support Him financially. Through these women, and in particular Joanna, the Gospel reached even the leadership around Herod!
Sadly, many modern women have a false understanding of the Bible’s value of women. They see verses such as 1 Timothy 2:12 that speak against women preaching or teaching over men in the church or having authority over men in the church, and they take that as devaluing the role of women in the church. Yet, Jesus honored, loved, and respected women greatly. Women were pivotal to the spread of the Gospel and continue to be pivotal to the mission of Christ. We must understand that just because there are differences in gender roles in the church and home, this does not mean that one gender is more valuable than the other. God has created both as complementary to one another. Women are and have always been pivotal to the family and to the church. They should be revered, respected, and protected.
And we must learn from these women that we should live in a way that is responsive to the Gospel.
Our lives should be on mission for Christ. See 1 Chronicles 16:24
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
and in Acts 13:47…
For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”
My friends our response to being accepted and forgiven by Christ should be to do everything we can to spread the Gospel. We can practically do this by:
1. Personal Evangelism
This is a command from Jesus Himself to all believers as seen in Matthew 28:16-20. We all need to be sharing the Gospel with those around us. Be looking for open doors, and be willing to share the good news of Christ. As I say time and time again - if you need help with this, let me know and we will help equip you to share the Gospel!
2. Supporting the Local Church
Giving to the local church and serving in the local church is paramount to the spreading of the Gospel and the discipleship of new believers. Evangelism is solidified through discipleship. And discipleship is best done within the local church. Make regular church attendance a priority. Give of your firstfruits to the ministry of the local church. And respond to Christ’s acceptance and forgiveness in obedience and love to Him and His church.
3. Support Missions Abroad
We want to be spreading the Gospel throughout our city, our region, and our world. We are blessed to now have missionaries that we support all across the globe. Our local church directly supports missionaries now in the Dominican Republic, the continent of Africa, and soon to be Asia. Our cooperative program funds go to missionaries throughout the world even further than that. When you give to CrossPointe, you support missions around the world as well as in our community. As our state convention has said in the past - we are better together. We can impact our world in greater ways by working together to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
May we be a church that responds to the salvation Jesus Christ has given us by being His hands and feet to a lost world.
Scripture References: 1 Timothy 2:12, 1 Chronicles 16:24, Acts 13:47, Matthew 28:16-20
Conclusion:
We started off our time today discussing a pastor who was rejected by the religious leaders of his day. And we have discussed a sinful woman who was rejected by the religious leaders as well. In this world there will be many times that you will be rejected as well. Others may see you as not good enough or unworthy. They may look down upon you for one reason or another.
In those times of need, I pray that you find comfort in Christ. For those of us who are born-again believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we can say confidently:
We may be rejected on earth but through Christ we are accepted in heaven.
(have congregation repeat this with me)
My friends, may we always live for eternity. So many are accepted on earth and praised by man. But it is only one judgment that counts - and that is the judgment of Christ. Desire His acceptance above all.
Prayer