Holiness And Love Series

*Note: I must give credit to Doug Small for his impact in this message

Introduction of Series

Building a Bridge to the Community

Luke 7:36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him (Religious leaders) to eat with him (Jesus). And He (Jesus) went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat (he reclined, as shown in the picture). 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, (how did she know Jesus was in the house?) brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil (if you lived in the ancient middle east you would have lived with the door way facing the street, because of the no air you would have kept the door open, you would be the talk of the town, people would gather at your door, this is what this woman did, she comes into a house that she would not normally been welcome in, most of the time she would pass by to the other side but on this day as she was walking something was drawing her in, something or someone named Jesus, the presence of Jesus in the house, overcomes her fear of intimidation and rejection of Simeon, she comes into the house and no one notices that she is there, she begins to press her way in to get to Jesus, she takes risks here, people move around until she gets to Jesus, she is standing behind him), 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash (wet) (kneeling) His feet (nasty, dung stained feet, it would have been a necessity for a person to wash their feet, first Simeon could have done it or at least provide a servant, to the minimum provide water and a basin, he does none of those things he will not wash the feet of Jesus, he exposes Jesus and places him in a tough situation, forces Jesus to the table with dirty feet, it bothers this woman) with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head (she let down her hair, this changes the scene, she wipes the feet of Jesus); and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (she is worshiping him, the room is filled with the fragrance of perfume). 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him (falling all over him), , for she is a sinner." 40 And Jesus answered (Simeon doesn’t say a thing out loud but Jesus reads his thoughts) and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it." 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred silver pieces, and the other fifty. 42 "And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? (Simeon’s charge) I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 "You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 "You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 Then He said to her,

How Luke frames this passage

Luke 7:24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 "But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 "This is he (John the Baptist) of whom it is written: ’Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 28 "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.