Introduction

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As we gather together in the warmth of this sanctuary, let us take a moment to breathe in the grace of God that surrounds us, to feel the love of Christ that binds us, and to sense the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that unites us. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has a message for us today, a message that will challenge us, inspire us, and transform us.

Our sermon title today is "You've got it all wrong." It's a title that may seem a bit harsh, a bit confrontational, but it's a title that encapsulates a truth we all need to hear and understand. The main idea we will be focusing on today is this: "Don't judge others." It's a simple concept, yet one that we often struggle to put into practice.

Before we begin, let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that you fill us with your wisdom and your understanding. Help us to see others through your eyes, to love others with your love, and to treat others with your kindness. Guide us as we study your Word today, and may the message you have for us take root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let's turn our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 7, verses 36 to 49. As you flip through the pages of your Bible, let the words of God seep into your heart. Let them be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.

In this passage, we find Jesus in the home of a Pharisee named Simon. A woman, known in her town as a sinner, enters the scene. With tears streaming down her face, she begins to wash Jesus' feet, anointing them with expensive perfume. Simon, watching this scene unfold, is filled with judgment. He questions Jesus' acceptance of this woman's actions. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, responds with a parable that reveals the importance of recognizing our own sinfulness before judging others.

Imagine, if you will, a garden. In this garden, there are many different types of plants. Some are tall and majestic, reaching for the sky. Others are small and delicate, hugging the ground. Some are vibrant and colorful, bursting with life. Others are plain and simple, quietly growing. Each plant is unique, each plant is different. But each plant is also the same. Each plant needs sunlight, each plant needs water, and each plant needs soil.

We are like these plants. We are all unique, we are all different. But we are also all the same. We all need love, we all need grace, and we all need forgiveness. When we judge others, we are like a plant that thinks it can survive without sunlight, water, or soil. We are denying our own needs, our own flaws, our own sins.

So, as we delve into this passage today, let us remember the garden. Let us remember that we are all plants, all in need of the same things. Let us remember to not judge others, for we are all the same. We are all sinners, saved by grace. And let us remember that it is not our place to judge, but God's. For He is the gardener, and we are His plants.

May God bless us as we study His Word today. May He open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to understand. And may He transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Don't Judge Others

In the heart of the Gospel of Luke, we encounter a scene that is as poignant as it is powerful. Jesus, our Lord and Savior, is dining at the home of a Pharisee named Simon. Suddenly, a woman known in town as a sinner enters the scene. She is weeping, her tears falling on Jesus' feet. She dries them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with perfume. Simon, the Pharisee, watches this and thinks 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."

Now, let's pause here. Simon's reaction is a common one. It's easy to judge, isn't it? It's easy to point fingers, to label, to categorize. But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom and love, responds not with condemnation but with a parable. He tells Simon a story about two debtors, one who owed much and one who owed little. Both debts were forgiven. "Now which of them will love him more?" Jesus asks. Simon answers, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus says.

This is the crux of our message today: Don't judge others. It's a simple message but a challenging one. It's easy to judge, but it's not our place. It's not our role. It's not our job.

Let's break this down a bit.

Firstly, we must recognize our own sinfulness. This is not about self-condemnation or guilt. It's about humility. It's about understanding that we are all in need of grace. We are all debtors to God. Some may owe more, some may owe less, but we all owe. And God, in His infinite mercy, has forgiven us all.

The Greek word for sin used in this passage is "hamartia." It's an archery term that means "missing the mark." We've all missed the mark. We've all fallen short. We've all sinned. And yet, God loves us. He forgives us. He offers us grace.

As the great theologian C.S. Lewis once said, "To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you." We are all inexcusable. We are all sinners. And yet, we are all loved. We are all forgiven.

Secondly, we must respond to God's grace with love. The woman in our story loved much because she was forgiven much. She understood the depth of her debt and the greatness of God's forgiveness. And her response was love. Love for Jesus. Love that was humble, sacrificial, and extravagant.

Finally, we must extend that same grace and love to others. We must resist the urge to judge, to label, to categorize. Instead, we must see others as God sees them. We must see them as fellow debtors, fellow sinners, fellow recipients of God's grace.

In conclusion, let's remember the words of Jesus: "He who has been forgiven little loves little." Let's strive to be like the woman in our story, to recognize the depth of our debt and the greatness of God's forgiveness. And let's respond with love. Love for God and love for others. Because in the end, that's what it's all about. Love.

The Power of Forgiveness

In the heart of the Gospel of Luke, we find a story that shakes us to our core. It's a story about a woman, a Pharisee, and Jesus. It's a story about judgment, forgiveness, and love. It's a story that challenges us to look at others not through the lens of judgment but through the lens of grace.

The scene unfolds in the house of a Pharisee named Simon. Jesus is the guest of honor, but the Pharisee's actions show a lack of respect and hospitality. In contrast, a woman, known in the city as a sinner, enters the scene. She brings an alabaster jar of perfume, falls at Jesus' feet, and begins to wet His feet with her tears. She dries them with her hair, kisses them, and pours perfume on them.

The Pharisee, seeing this, judges the woman based on her past. But Jesus, seeing her heart, forgives her sins. He tells Simon a parable of two debtors, one who owed much and one who owed little. Both are forgiven their debts. Jesus asks Simon, "Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answers, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." Jesus affirms this and points out the contrast between the Pharisee's lack of hospitality and the woman's extravagant love.

This story teaches us three important lessons about judgment and forgiveness.

First, it reminds us that everyone has a past. The woman in the story was known as a sinner. But Jesus didn't see her past; He saw her heart. He saw her love, her repentance, her faith. He saw her not as a sinner, but as a forgiven child of God.

Second, it shows us that forgiveness is a powerful force. The woman's actions were a response to the forgiveness she had received. Her love was a reflection of the grace she had experienced. Her faith was a testament to the mercy she had been shown.

Third, it challenges us to extend the same grace to others. The Pharisee judged the woman based on her past. But Jesus challenged him to see her through the lens of grace. He challenged him to extend forgiveness rather than judgment.

This theme of not judging others is echoed in the book of James. In James 4:11-12, we are reminded, "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"

This passage reinforces the lessons from Luke. It reminds us that judgment is not our role. It challenges us to speak with kindness and grace, not slander and judgment. It calls us to remember that there is only one Judge, and we are not Him.

Returning to our original passage, we find two more lessons about judgment and forgiveness.

First, it teaches us that love is the natural response to forgiveness. The woman's love was a response to the forgiveness she had received. Her actions were not a means to earn forgiveness, but a response to the grace she had already received.

Second, it reminds us that forgiveness is not based on our actions, but on God's grace. The woman was not forgiven because of her actions. She was forgiven because of Jesus' grace. Her actions were a response to this grace, not a prerequisite for it.

In conclusion, the story of the woman, the Pharisee, and Jesus challenges us to look at others not through the lens of judgment, but through the lens of grace. It reminds us that everyone has a past, but that past does not define them. It shows us that forgiveness is a powerful force that can transform lives. It challenges us to extend the same grace to others. It teaches us that love is the natural response to forgiveness. And it reminds us that forgiveness is not based on our actions, but on God's grace. So let us strive to live out these lessons in our daily lives, extending grace and forgiveness to others just as we have received it from Christ.

The Call to Love and Show Mercy

In the heart of the Gospel of Luke, we find a compelling narrative that challenges us to rethink our attitudes towards others. This story, found in Luke 7:36-49, is a vivid reminder of the dangers of judging others and the transformative power of love and mercy.

The first point we need to consider is the context in which this story unfolds. Jesus is dining at the house of a Pharisee, a religious leader known for his strict adherence to the law. In the midst of this gathering, a woman known to be a sinner enters the scene. She weeps at Jesus' feet, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with perfume. The Pharisee, seeing this, is quick to judge both the woman for her past and Jesus for allowing such a woman to touch Him.

This is where we encounter our first lesson: the danger of self-righteous judgment. The Pharisee's reaction is a classic example of how easy it is for us to judge others based on their past mistakes or current circumstances. We often forget that we too are sinners, saved only by the grace of God. As followers of Christ, we are called to replace judgment with love and understanding.

In the words of A.W. Tozer, "The love of God is one of the great realities of the universe, a pillar upon which the hope of the world rests. But it is a personal, intimate thing too. God does not love populations, He loves people. He loves not masses, but men." This quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of Jesus' message. God's love is not a vague, impersonal force; it is a personal, intimate love that reaches out to each one of us, regardless of our past or present circumstances.

The second point to consider is Jesus' response to the Pharisee's judgment. Instead of condemning the woman, Jesus forgives her sins and commends her for her faith. He uses this moment to teach the Pharisee, and us, a valuable lesson about God's grace and mercy.

This brings us to our final point: the transformative power of love and mercy. Jesus' response to the woman is a stark contrast to the Pharisee's judgment. He does not focus on her past sins but on her present faith and love. By doing so, He not only forgives her but also affirms her worth and dignity. This is a powerful reminder that our call as Christians is not to judge but to love and show mercy.

In the words of renowned biblical scholar, N.T. Wright, "Jesus' actions throughout his ministry, and supremely on the cross, are not about escaping the world and leaving it to its fate, but about transforming it." This transformation begins when we replace judgment with love and mercy.

In conclusion, the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-49 is a powerful reminder of the dangers of judging others and the transformative power of love and mercy. As followers of Christ, we are called to replace judgment with love and understanding, reflecting the heart of our Heavenly Father in our interactions with others.

Conclusion

As we draw to a close on this sermon, let's take a moment to reflect on the story we've been discussing from Luke 7:36-49. It's a story that speaks to the heart of every believer, a story that challenges us to look at ourselves and our attitudes towards others. It's a story about judgment and forgiveness, about love and grace.

We've been talking about the woman who was a sinner, who came to Jesus with a heart full of repentance and love. She didn't care about the judgmental looks or the harsh words of the Pharisee. She only cared about Jesus, about showing Him her love and receiving His forgiveness.

And Jesus, in His infinite mercy and love, forgave her. He didn't judge her. He didn't condemn her. He simply forgave her. And in doing so, He showed us the way we should treat others.

So, what does this mean for us? How should we respond to this story? How should we live our lives in light of this truth?

First, we need to remember that we are all sinners. We all fall short of the glory of God. We all need His forgiveness. And if we are honest with ourselves, we will realize that we are no better than the woman in the story. We are all in need of God's grace.

Second, we need to resist the temptation to judge others. It's easy to look at someone else's life, at their mistakes and failures, and feel superior. But that's not what Jesus did. And it's not what He wants us to do. He wants us to show love and mercy, just as He did.

Third, we need to be willing to forgive others. Forgiveness is not easy. It requires humility and grace. But it's what Jesus did. And it's what He calls us to do.

So, as we go into this coming week, let's strive to be more like Jesus. Let's show love instead of judgment. Let's extend forgiveness instead of holding onto bitterness. Let's be instruments of God's grace in the lives of those around us.

Dear Lord, we thank You for this time we've had together, for the truths we've learned from Your Word. We thank You for the story of the woman who was a sinner, for the lessons it teaches us about judgment and forgiveness.

We confess that we often judge others, that we often feel superior. We confess that we often hold onto bitterness, that we often refuse to forgive. Forgive us, Lord. Help us to be more like Jesus.

As we go into this coming week, help us to show love instead of judgment. Help us to extend forgiveness instead of holding onto bitterness. Help us to be instruments of Your grace in the lives of those around us.

We ask all these things in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

And now, may the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. Go in peace, showing love instead of judgment, extending forgiveness instead of holding onto bitterness. Be instruments of God's grace in the lives of those around you. Amen.

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