“Religion has Dinner with a Harlot and Christ.” by Richard Daughtridge Sermon Notes 06/14/09

Sermon Notes 06/14/09

Religion invites Christ and a harlot to dinner.

Rabbi Simon was probably one of those  Pharisees which refused to be baptized by John the Baptist earlier in this same chapter. Instead he invited Jesus to dinner. Today we want to go to dinner with them and see how religion responds to need and how Christ responds to sinners. Christ’s response captures our heart.

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.

2. Then appears a sinner women that obviously had a bad reputation.

[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.

3. Simon obviously knew her so he judges Jesus’s prophet skills.

[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.

4. Jesus responds and defends.

[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.

5.  Who were the two debtors?  Jesus answers.

[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.

6. The Difference between the Rabbi and the sinner woman.

1. She knew she was a sinner. Simon did’t see himself as being a sinner. He was covered under the law.
2. She realized  that we owe God a “sin debt” we can never repay. Simon could have his sin atoned.
3. She  looked  to God for undeserved mercy as our only hope of forgiveness. Simon needed none.
4. She was forgiven. She Loved much. Simon negotiated legally.

7. Who was the woman?

John 11:1-2

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

If it was Mary the sister of Lazareth, what a transformation!

According to church history, after the resurrection of Jesus , Mary became a missionary, living in Cyprus and traveling all over the eastern Mediterranean preaching the Gospel.

Christ  transforms us from the inside out.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they become a new creature: old things pass away; all things become new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

So often our world sees people through religious eyes like that of Rabbi Simon.

God always sees people through the eyes of 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Two questions:

How do you see yourself?  Like Simon or like 2 Corinthians 5:17.

How do you see others?  Like Simon or like 2 Corinthians 5:17.