A Church That Loves Much
Luke 7:36-50
Introduction
Dinner at Simon’s house took on a special meaning the day Jesus came. Simon and his guests reclined around a u-shaped table - which was the traditional posture for eating. They lay down around a low table, propped up on the left elbow with a cushion for support and their feet angled away from the food.
When a teacher was guest, often the meal took place in an open area where listeners were welcome to gather around. And that’s when it happened. Luke tells us that a “sinful woman”came in and fell at the feet of Jesus. (Read Luke 7:38-40a)
38 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.
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.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
Jesus told the parable of the two indebted men - one who owned the equivalent of of 500 day’s wages, the other 50 days wages. Both owed large sums of money. Both were unable to pay. Both received forgiveness for their loan. Jesus asked “Which of them will love him more?” Simon - the one who was forgiven most.
Luke 7:44-48
44 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.
45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
As we follow a Jesus that Loves, we want to be a church that loves. What is the contrast between a church that loves little, and a church that loves much?
1. A Church that Loves Little Ignores the needs of others. A Church that Loves Much Reaches Out to Help.
When Jesus came into Simon’s house, he did not offer him the most basic needs of a place to wash his feet.
One of the ways we show that we love much is to reach out to help those around us who are struggling in life. That might be money, or support, encouragement , assistance.
Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
2. A Church that Loves Little Looks Down on Sinners. A Church that Loves Much Sees Fellow Strugglers.
Simon didn’t think the woman deserved to be present, much less to interact with Jesus! She was unworthy!
The truth is that we are all unworthy strugglers! Swindoll “Jesus …nevertheless accepted the woman - not in spite of her sin, but with them.” This is the story of us all - sinners saved by Grace, given a mission to share with other sinners the beautiful truth of Jesus.
3. A Church that Loves Little is Content to be Present. A Church that Loves Much Worships the Savior.
Simon is relatively cool towards Jesus. The sinful woman cannot worship him enough!
Jesus is the One who teaches us how to love.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
We are only a church that loves much when we worship and adore a Savior who has loved us so much more.
4. A Church that Loves Little is Touched Little. A Church that Loves Much Weeps Much.
Simon is too busy assessing the situation, looking for a way to criticize Jesus, but does not love Jesus.
On the other hand, the sinful woman is touched to her heart with the love of Jesus and as a result she is filled with humility and tears. Simon thinks she doesn’t deserve to be with Jesus. Woman KNOWS she doesn’t deserve to be with Jesus. This is why she is so touched in her heart.
“…The best thing any church could hope for is to be filled with weeping sinners - people whose lives are marked by the humility that comes from knowing the judgment they deserved, but did not receive.” Mary Luti
5. A Church that Loves Little Hoards Their Pennies. A Church that Loves Much Gives Extravagantly.
Simon hasn’t given anything to Jesus at all here. The woman breaks an alabaster jar of perfume - the other gospels tell us it was filled with expensive nard that was worth a lot of money.
Is there any sacrifice too much for Jesus?
Luke 21:2-4 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Conclusion
Jesus said in a key verse in this text: “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” (47)
I want to be someone who has been forgiven much and who loves much!
Jesus Loved the Pharisee and the Prostitute - but only one of them loved him back.
I want us to always be a church that loves much.
What Does a Church that Loves Much Look Like?
Love that sees the other person as worthy
Love that recognizes the need for forgiveness
Love that believes in reaching out instead of rejecting
Love that knows people are imperfect and hurting
Love that’s willing to be with people who can’t get it all together.
Love that Listens to someone like Simon and hopes to reach them.
Love that worships and adores and sacrifices for Jesus!
Culpepper: If our lives have been changed by an experience of God’s grace, we can never get over the fact that we have been forgiven. God’s love, experienced in forgiveness, becomes the controlling force in our lives.”
Just before our text there is a verse I want to close with:
Luke 7:34 “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.’
Jesus is the friend of sinners - just like us. Jesus is a Savior that Loves. Following Him will make us a Church that loves. Are you following Him today?
Resources:
Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible Series: The Gospel of Luke
New English Translation Footnotes
Culpepper, R. Alan. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Volume VIII, Luke John
Luti, Mary. Feasting on the Gospels, Luke, Vol. 1. Westminster-John Knox Press, 2014.
Swindoll, Charles. Swindoll’s New Testament Insights: Insights on Luke. Zondervan, 2012.
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