Are You Just Going To Sit There

ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT THERE?

Luke 7:36-43

Rev. Rick Mays

Trinity Temple A/G

Arkadelphia, AR 71923

As we begin with this message this morning, let me ask a question¡K

Have you ever noticed that regardless of how many people are up working at a job site, there will always be one that is seated?

I guess the highway department or street department gets the most attention when it comes to this.

You can drive up on a site and there will be 1 or 2 guys in the ditch or hole shoveling dirt while there are 6 to 8 leaning on shovels watching.

How many know that this world has way too many supervisors and not enough workers?

An easy transition would be to talk about the need for God’s people to get involved in the work and building of God’s Kingdom.

But most of you would see that coming from a mile away - however since you seen it coming, I’d hate for you to miss it.

Real Quick: we need some fresh folks to become nursery ministers one Sunday morning or evening service a month.

Looking ahead, during the last 10-11 weeks of this year, we will have 4 new babies that will be coming here.

Don’t be one of those folks that lean on a shovel, watching - get involved in ministry.

Moving on, let’s take our Bibles and go to¡K

Luke 7:36-43

36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.

37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.

38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!"

40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you." "Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied.

41 Then Jesus told him this story: "A man loaned money to two people - 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.

42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?"

43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." "That’s right," Jesus said.

I want to preach from this title¡K

ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT THERE?

This is a story that I’ve heard most of my life. If you’ve been in church for a while - chances are you’ve heard it as well.

However this week during my time of study there was some things that came to light that I had not paid that much attention to.

Let’s pretend that we’ve not heard this story before. When I do this there are some observations that stand out to me.

Let me use these observations as this morning’s message and let’s apply them to today’s living.

OBSERVATION #1:

HOW DID THIS WOMAN GET INTO THE HOUSE?

You may have not ever thought about it but if you put a couple of things together this question comes leaping off the page.

vs. 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.

vs. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there¡K

„«What was a Pharisee¡K?

A Pharisee is a member of the Jewish religious group who followed the Oral Law in addition to the Torah (the 5 books of Moses) and attempted to live in a constant state of purity.

„«What was the woman¡K?

The woman according to scripture was immoral, a sinner, one translation says a wicked sinner, and another one refers to her as a harlot of prostitute.

Here we find one of the religious leaders of the day that has invited Jesus over for a meal.

Jesus accepts the invitation and is seated at the table with this man and others.

I’m sure this Pharisee wanted to impress Jesus so he brings out the best china and glasses that he has. The meal is most likely some fine dining.

We don’t know how long they have been eating their meal when in comes this uninvited sinner woman.

She is somehow able to walk right past the person at the door and right into the dining room where this fine meal is taking place.