Cornerstone Church July 24, 2005
THE PARTY CRASHER
Luke 7:36-50
The following story is told to Philip Yancey by a friend of his who worked with the downtrodden in Chicago.
“A prostitute came to me in wretched straits, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she told me that she had been renting out her daughter– two years old! – to men interested in kinky sex. She made more renting out her daughter for an hour than she could earn on her own for a whole night. She had to do it, she said, to support her drug habit. I could hardly bear hearing her sordid story. For one thing, it made me legally liable – I’m required to report cases of child abuse. I had no idea what to say to this woman.
At last I asked if she ever thought of going to a church for help. I will never forget the look of pure, naïve shock that crossed her face. ‘Church?’ she said. ‘Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They’d just make me feel worse.’”
Philip Yancey, pg. 11, WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
Dr. Joseph Stowell, Former President of The Moody Bible Institute goes on to say:
“Stories like this shock our grace-protected sensitivities. Yet, even as we recoil from the power of depravity to plunge people to such dark depths, we should be equally struck with this woman’s words about the church. Sadly, her condemning perspective cannot be written off as a distorted view of a down-and-out vagrant. If we look candidly at our churches, we would find too few whose testimony in the community resounds as a place where love prevails, a place known for people who care about each other and about the most despairing in their community.”
Dr. Joseph M . Stowell, pg. 146, LOVING CHRIST: RECAPTURING YOUR PASSION FOR JESUS
This morning we are looking at this Key Question:
HOW GREAT IS YOUR LOVE FOR THE SAVIOR?
As a result of all that God has done for you are you expressing your love back to God in ways that He understands you love HIM? God has a love language!
Are you thankful?
Are you serving HIM?
Are you serving others?
The God of the Bible loves it when the heart of HIS children
are captivated with pure love and praise for HIM.
It is easy for us to lose sight of the fact that He saved us so that we would worship HIM!
He is the Almighty Creator and we are HIS creatures!
The Word of God can help us recalibrate our lives.
This morning We are going to look at one of the powerful sections in the gospel records. It is the account of Jesus’ night at the home of Simon the Pharisee!
I must issue a warning here! This is a penetrating account of what true love and devotion for Christ looks like.
It is convicting!
It should shake us up!
It should wake us up!
WHY IS IT SO CONVICTING?
It is convicting because it points the finger at the Pharisee within all of us! It will expose our hypocrisy and lack of love for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Blood bought, Bible-Believing Christians should be the most thankful people on planet earth!
Neh. 8:10 NIV Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Ps. 47:1-2 NIV Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
Instead of having a grateful heart, God’s people often manifest an unthankful heart.
Rom. 1:21 NIV For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
A lack of gratitude is the breeding ground for sin! Thanklessness reveals your heart attitude toward God. Do you remember Pastor Jim’s lesson from last week?
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 NIV
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE FORGET GOD’S SAVING GRACE?
We forget who we are without Christ!
Self-righteousness takes root within our heart!
We think we are better then others around us and yet we do the very same things!
We need to remember that we did NOT get what we deserve! We have received what we do not deserve which is God’s grace and mercy!
THE SETTING
Luke 7:36
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner
with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house
and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:36 NIV
THE RIGHTEOUS PHARISEE
This sets the stage for our story. The time is early in Jesus’ Galilean Ministry. Simon, who was a Pharisee, invites Jesus to dinner.
PHARISEES
The Pharisees were sincere, extremely devoted followers of the Mosaic Law. They were impeccable with regards to their orthodox beliefs but lacked the inward reality of that which they held.
They were strong people of separation from the world. Their desire to keep themselves pure at all cost, kept them away from those who did not measure up in their eyes.
WHY HAD SIMON INVITED JESUS TO DINNER?
He might have been curious about Jesus. This is, however, doubtful! It can be seen by the way he treated Jesus as his house guest.
Since Simon was a part of the “Shakers and Movers” of his town he might have wanted the latest itinerant preacher to be a part of his guest list. Like Washington and Hollywood inviting Jesse Jackson or the Rev. Al Sharpton to their events!
More realistically it was a trap to snare Jesus. The Pharisees may not have liked someone gaining the attention and affection of the people. The Pharisees were part of the Religious Elite!
Glance backward to Luke 7:33-35
Luke 7:33-35 NIV For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
DID JESUS GO? Yes!
“…so he went to the Pharisee’s house
and reclined at the table.”
Reclining at the table gives us insight as to how they ate during these banquets.
They would lean on their left arm with their face towards the table.
Their feet would face away from the table.
When large banquets like this were given they were open to the general public to watch the people eat and conceivably listen in on the conversations that were taking place.
It reminds me of a Red Carpet Event in Hollywood before the Academy Awards or the opening of a new film (Celebs walking the runway as people look at them and take their pictures).
Like all banquets or parties I’m sure that a lot of activities were taking place.
There might have been music playing or other forms or entertainment.
Certainly servants were bringing food, filling glasses with wine and clearing tables.
Conversations and laughter were everywhere.
The banquet was on its way to being a SMASHING SUCCESS. Something that the Jerusalem Post was going to write about in the morning in the society or gossip section. It was another wonderful party by Simon the Pharisee.
THE REPENTANT SINNER
Luke 7:37-38
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned
that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought
an alabaster jar of perfume,
Luke 7:37 NIV
Suddenly the party comes to a grinding stop!
No more noise!
No more conversations!
All eyes were assuredly on this woman!
GUESS WHO IS COMING TO DINNER?
The town’s favorite party girl!
The Party Crasher!
“…a woman who had lived a sinful life…”
She was a very sinful individual.
Most commentaries would say that she was a prostitute. She was probably well known and well used by the men in that room! Who knows, they may have thought that she was going to tell on some of the men.
What is certain is that she was a social outcast.
She was despised by the people in that room.
In our society it would be someone like Madonna, Ellen DeGeneres, Paris Hilton or an AIDS patient coming to a church pot luck.
Simon the Pharisee was surely seething and beginning to boil!
ALL EYES WERE ON THE SITUATION!
“…and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
Luke 7:38 NIV
Look again at what she does!
She weeps and cries washing Jesus’ dirty feet with her tears. Rivulets were made on HIS feet as her tears washed away the dust and dirt from HIS feet.
“…and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping,
she began to wet his feet with her tears.”
“…Then she wiped them with her hair,”
“…kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
This was not just any perfume. The beginning verses talked about this being an alabaster jar of perfume.
It was probably worth an entire year’s wages! She sacrificed it all to say,
“I love you Jesus!”
What have you sacrificed to say,
“I love you, Jesus?”
This was a radical gesture of love!
This woman’s love for Jesus is bold!
She risks all to show Jesus and others just how much she loves Him.
Matt. 10:32 NIV “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
WHY WAS SHE THERE?
Because of Gratitude!
It would be safe to say that she was present during one of Jesus’ recent messages! The gospel message was a message of hope for lost sinners.
Matt. 11:28-30 NIV “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Hope! Rest! Peace! Forgiveness!
What breathtaking words for a lost soul! Jesus offered help and not condemnation to sin sick people. They did not have to purify themselves to be worthy of His affection.
Luke 5:32 NIV I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Luke 19:10 NIV For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
SHE HAD REACHED THE BOTTOM!
She had tried everything
She was looking for peace (a peace that does not come from drugs or alcohol)
She was looking for real love
Daily, she lived with the weight of guilt, shame, and sin pressing down on her living without hope and without purpose (like the other millions of unsaved individuals that inhabit the earth).
Until she met Jesus!
It is amazing what the Lord can do with shipwrecked lives! God can do so much with those who humble themselves before Him. Those who are poor-spirited before Him!
“Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfying that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger.”
C. S. Lewis
Now all of the social norms could not keep her from expressing her radical love and devotion. She loved Jesus with all of her heart! She was willing to sacrifice everything as a way of saying, “I LOVE YOU, JESUS!”
Her faith had led to salvation
Her salvation led to love
Her love produced service, sacrifice and surrender to the Lord!
She now had a song on her heart!
“Mercy Saw Me!”
“I’m Clean!”
Amazing Grace!
THE CRITICAL HOST
Luke 7:39-43
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him
and what kind of woman she is —that she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:39 NIV
Simon has had just about enough of the situation! All of the attention is no longer on him.
He thinks to himself,
“just as I suspected all along, Jesus is no prophet! A prophet would know what type of worthless sinner this woman really is!”
Simon is going to wish he had never thought those words! Jesus is going to very quickly show him His prophetic abilities to read his thoughts.
Jesus answered him,
“Simon, I have something to tell you.”
Luke 7:40 NIV
Listen to his answer!
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
His answer is polite but indifferent! Yeah, Right! Whatever!
Here comes an arrow aimed right at the heart of this Pharisee!
THE PARABLE
“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Luke 7:41-42 NIV
THE ANSWER
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Luke 7:43 NIV
Simon had the right answer. He is ready for Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire? He is correct but does not seem to get the point of why Jesus is telling it to him.
DID YOU CATCH THE POINT?
Wake up call!
In the Parable, Jesus is speaking about Simon the Pharisee and the Woman who were both sinners!
Each of them owed God the FATHER a debt that they couldn’t pay. One of them owed more, and the other one owed less, but neither had the ability to pay the GREAT DEBT they owed.
Two types of bankruptcy
Chapter 11 Temporary (restructuring, bill-payer budget plan)
We are still trying to pay. Our debt remains always upon us as a weight. We struggle
Chapter 7 Deeply in debt
No way out
No future viability
Inability to pay/no assets
Both were bankrupt! Chapter 7!
The Woman’s sins Simon’s sins
were outward and fleshly sins were inward sins of the heart
Pharisees have a hard time getting the point! Simon is missing the point!
They have built an elaborate system around themselves! Plenty of rules, regulations, do’s and don’ts to keep their pride and self-righteousness content.
THE FORGIVING SAVIOR
Luke 7:44-50
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
Luke 7:44 NIV
Did you catch the shift in Jesus’ body language?
Jesus shifts from facing towards Simon to facing towards the woman as he speaks to Simon.
Do you see this woman?
Now of coarse Simon could see the woman. He wasn’t blind! After all she was the one who ruined his party – The Party Crasher! He will probably never forget her!
Do you really see her is what Jesus is after! Do you understand what has happened to her? She is not a worthless piece of meat but a precious soul for whom Jesus was willing to die!
Simon could only see her past!
Jesus saw her potential!
Jesus saw (or sees) your potential
Dr. Warren Wiersbe says that:
Simon was blind to himself
Simon was blind to the woman
Simon was blind to the needs of his special guest
Isa. 29:13 NIV The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.
Jesus now compares and contrasts the two people. He reveals Simon’s lack of love and concern for Him as compared with this woman’s love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus does not try to win the affection of the religious power brokers!
He is not looking to gain popularity with the Pharisees.
SIMON THE PHARISEE
“I came into your house.
You did not give me any water for my feet,”
This was a common courtesy (Gen. 18:4; Judges 19:21). Just think of what it was like to travel the dust roads in those days. People were not the only ones to use the road system. Ox, sheep, goats, horses and other animals followed the same paths. You stepped in all sorts of stuff! This was like someone coming to your home and you refused to show them courtesy by taking their coat and hanging it up.
THE WOMAN
“…but she wet my feet with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.”
SIMON THE PHARISEE
You did not give me a kiss,
This again was common to the land (Gen. 29:13; Gen. 45:15)
THE WOMAN
“…but this woman, from the time I entered,
has not stopped kissing my feet.”
SIMON THE PHARISEE
“You did not put oil on my head,”
Even the poor of Israel could use Olive Oil to anoint the head of their guest! He simply did not minister to Jesus!
THE WOMAN
“…but she has poured perfume on my feet.”
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins
have been forgiven —for she loved much.
But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47 NIV
Jesus right in public tells this self-righteous Pharisee that her many sins are forgiven!
The Pharisee’s knew the implication of all of this! Jesus as well had been down this road with them before! He was showing them His authority and they were not really listening.
Luke 5:21 NIV The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:48 NIV
HOW WOULD YOU HAVE REACTED UPON HEARING THOSE WORDS?
Praise! Adoration! Worship! Thankfulness!
WHAT WAS THE BASIS FOR HER SALVATION?
“Your faith has saved you;”
Not your works!
Not your devotion!
Not your religious system!
Not your offering and giving!
It was by accepting Jesus message by faith!
“In 1830, a man named George Wilson was arrested for mail theft, the penalty for which was hanging. After a time, President Andrew Jackson gave Wilson a pardon but he refused to accept it. The authorities were puzzled: should Wilson be freed or hanged?
They consulted Chief Justice Warren Marshall, who handed down this decision: “A pardon is a slip of paper, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.”
Warren Wiersbe, pg. 199, BE COMMENTARY SET
The other guests began to say among themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:49-50 NIV
Hopefully this message would pique the interests of those now listening in on the conversation!
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
She is a new creation in Christ! Saved (prefect tense = an accomplished fact)
2 Cor. 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Peace with God (Justification)
Rom. 5:1 NIV Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Peace of God
Phil. 4:7 NIV And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR THE WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU?
It is easy to produce Pharisees! It is the path of least resistance! Rules without love! Externals without internals! Church attendance without true worship from devoted hearts! Without proper instruction and a reminder that you are a recipient of God’s undeserved grace churches can be a breeding ground for Pharisees.
The question is have we produced:
Thankful People
Joyful People
Humble People
Forgiven People
People with praise and thanksgiving on their hearts for what the Lord has done for them?
Do you like to stay hunkered down away from sinners all of the time? Viewing some people as beyond reaching? Are you more concerned that you might get contaminated, stained by a lost person then looking at how the Lord might use you to minister to them?
Would the woman we have been talking about this morning be welcome at Cornerstone Church? Would they be judged or would they receive love and compassion?
Simon the Pharisee is clueless about what it means to love God!
Thankful people give their whole lives back to the Lord as an offering to Him! They become a living burnt offering for Christ!
Rom. 12:1 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God —this is your spiritual act of worship.
Thankful people praise the Lord instead of grumbling, complaining and murmuring all of the time!
HOW IS YOUR LOVE FOR THE SAVIOR?
WARM?
RADICAL?
DESIROUS TO PLEASE THE LORD ABOVE PLEASING INDIVIDUALS?
The Sinful Woman had a soft and tender heart towards the Savior! She had a great debt that she could not pay!
Luke 7:47 NIV Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven —for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Simon the Pharisee had a hard heart. He was blind and clueless to his need! Pride and self-righteousness crowded out true love and devotion for the Lord! Keeping the rules was his path to salvation. He missed the point that he could never save himself! Jesus was willing to do that for him if he would humbly come by faith!
Why not begin to live today as
one of the Forgiven Much!
This is love: not that we loved God, but that
he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning
sacrifice for our sins.
1Jn 4:10 NIV
