Lessons learned over Dinner
Luke 7:36-48
Introduction
As I mentioned a couple Sunday nights ago, we expect to learn lessons from the great prophets of the Old Testament; we expect to learn lessons from the Words of Jesus; we expect to learn lessons from the writings of the Apostle Paul. But we sometimes overlook some great lessons that we could possibly learn because the people involved are the most unlikely of teachers.
A couple weeks ago, the two criminals that hang on the crosses on each side of Jesus were our teachers. Tonight, we look at another pair of unlikely teachers- Simon a Pharisee and a woman most likely a prostitute who wiped Jesus’ feet with her tears.
Tonight I want us to learn some lessons about people, and about ourselves, as take a peek at this passage as Jesus is an invited dinner guest at Simon the Pharisees house.
Read Scriptures: Luke 7:36-48
I. Simon teaches us that there are some people who invite Jesus into their lives and then go about treating Him like an un-welcomed guest.
Luke 7:44-46 “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.”
Simon went to a whole lot of trouble throwing a dinner party and Jesus was the honored guest. But when he gets there; there is something seriously wrong.
The host doesn’t extend the common courtesy to his guest. It is like the one who is invited as the special guest when he arrives is no longer considered even a guest. He is not giving water to wipe his feet, oil for his head or the customary kiss. He is in fact ignored by the host.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, in essence, we are saying we are inviting you into our heart as our guest. But when he gets there we continue to live like we always use to life; we continue to talk like we always use to talk; we continue to do things we know are destroying our bodies.
Then aren’t we acting just like Simon?
II. Simon teaches us that we better learn to take our thoughts captive because Jesus examines our thoughts and calls us on them.
Luke 7:39-40 “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." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.”
Simon is not talking to the other Pharisees invited; he is not talking to Jesus; he is not even talking to the woman. He is talking to himself so that no one can hear what he is saying. He is saying this to himself. We all talk to ourselves.
But Jesus heard them because He can hear our thoughts and He can judge the intents of our heart.
The Pharisee didn’t throw her out; he didn’t yell at his servants for letting her in; he just spoke to himself. And Jesus heard them and He judged his thoughts.
Knowing that Jesus hears our thoughts and knowing that Jesus understands the intents of our hearts throws our standing at the judgment seat of Christ into a whole different ballgame.
Maybe that is why the Apostle Paul tells us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
III. The woman teaches us that if I am truly in love with Jesus, then I don’t let what other people think hinder me from being with Him.
Luke 7:39 “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.”
“I can’t not possibly go to the altar again this week because I went to the altar last week and people will start asking what is wrong with me.”
“I can’t possibly tell my friends I can not go with them because I want to go to church because they will think I am some type of religious fanatic.”
“I can’t possibly tell my family that I will be late for Sunday lunch because I am going to church before I come to the house to eat.”
The woman was not worried about what others thought.
IV. Jesus forgives the woman sins but not Simon’s; the woman asks for her sins to be forgiven by her actions; Simon never even asked for it by his words or his actions.
Luke 7:48 “Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven.”
There are some people who think they are pretty good people and don’t even realize they need forgiveness. Obviously, Simon was a good man.
It was the perfect time to seek forgiveness for his sins, Jesus has been invited as a guest in his home. But Simon does not realize that he has a need.
The woman because of the way that she lived her life she knew that she had a need,
V. You can not give away something you have not received.
Luke 7:47 “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
You want to be more loving- then you have to experience God’s love.
You want to have more patience. You first have to understand the patience God has for you.
You want to be more forgiving then you first have to realize how forgiving God has been to you.
You cannot give away something that you yourself have never received.
Conclusion
Maybe tonight the Holy Spirit has spoken to you in some way, and tonight you need to come to the altar and speak directly to Him, maybe Jesus has been invited in, in your life, but you have been treated Him like an un-invited guest, like He is not really there, come to tonight and repent. Whatever the Holy Spirit is speaking to your heart, be obedient and come tonight.
