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.
HOW DID SHE GET IN THAT HOUSE AND TO WHERE JESUS WAS AT?
Now that may not be a big issue with you and in the light of all the stuff that is going on in the world - it isn’t that big a question.
BUT: this sinner, immoral woman somehow got in where she shouldn’t have been allowed.
this was the home of a Pharisee who was considered pure or holy in that day.
It is a question that may go unanswered, but it does bring up a question that I can answer about you and me here this morning.
We do serve a God who is holy. He is so holy that when Jesus, God’s Son, took on the sins of the world while on the cross - God had to turn His back.
Sin cannot dwell in God’s presence.
So how do you and I get in?
We hear so many people talking about going to heaven and living forever in the presence of this Holy God¡K
¡Khow do we get in?
Ephesians 2:12-13
12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 10:19
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus¡K
You may have never thought about how an immoral woman in Jesus’ day got in - but I hope you’ve thought about how you’re going to get into the Father’s house.
I assure you no one is going to slip by the guards at the door.
There will be no back door entrance.
You won’t just walk in to the Father’s house.
The only way into the place is for your sins to be covered by the blood sacrifice made by God’s Son, Jesus.
Revelation 1:5
1 ¡KAll glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
How does a man who has lived a life filled with sin get into the Father’s House - by the shed blood of Jesus!
How does a woman who has filled her life with the sins of this world get in - by the shed blood of Jesus!
How does a teenager who has given in to the pull of this world’s sinful pleasures - by the shed blood of Jesus!
We may not ever know how the woman in our Bible story got in that Pharisee’s house - but the only way you and I will get into God’s house will be through Jesus Christ.
OBSERVATION #2:
WHY WAS THIS WOMAN THE ONLY ONE ENGAGED IN WORSHIP?
37 ¡Kshe 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.
It appears to me that all the dinner guest are sitting around the table involved in small talk when this woman begins to worship - or expresses adoration to Jesus through tears and perfume.
Now many of us have been in a service where we were just enjoying the presence of the Lord when someone’s worship went extreme.
Now don’t go all holier than thou - there’s been that occasion when we’ve looked over and thought that expression of worship is way out there.
We weren’t judging or questioning their love for Jesus, we just wouldn’t have done it that same way they chose to.
Some where in this woman’s past she had encountered Jesus before. She has repented and turn away from her sinful life.
The scripture doesn’t tell us that Jesus spoke to her or did anyone else.
But someone did say something about her in their heart and mind and Jesus heard it.
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 can only think of two reasons why this woman was the only one engaged in worship¡K
The room was filled with people who had never committed sins and were perfect, or
The room was filled with people who had forgotten the sins that had been forgiven.
This woman didn’t wait for someone else to start or lead the way.
She didn’t care if those in the room watched, mocked or joined her.
She was concerned that her expression of worship was traditional or extreme.
The one thing I know is, Jesus tells a little story that leads me to believe that this woman had been forgiven of a great debt and she loved God with ALL her heart.
SO¡K
Are You Just Going To Sit There - and pretend that you’ve been perfect?
Are You Just Going To Sit There - and act like God hasn’t forgiven of a great debt?
OR¡K
Are you going to become actively engaged in the expression of your love for God?
This woman, who wasn’t invited and didn’t have a stellar reputation didn’t concern herself with the formality of the dinner party.
This woman, because great was the debt forgiven, honored the Lord with her love and worship.
Listen to the end of the story again¡K
42 ¡KWho do you suppose loved him more after that?"
43 Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt¡K
I can assure you there are churches that would usher this lady to a side room if she displayed that kind of worship in their service.
But my challenge to you today is this, we’ve been granted access because of God’s sacrifice. That sacrifice paid a mountain of debt created by sinful acts.
Don’t find yourself just sitting around when God has done so much for you.
ARE YOU JUST GOING TO SIT THERE OR ARE YOU GOING TO EXPRESS YOUR LOVE FOR GOD?
