Title: Jesus Proclaims Forgiveness of Sins
All people in the world turn away from God and live to create blessings with their own efforts and strength. But their final fruit is a curse, a judgment on death and iniquity. They exchanged life for blessings. What good is a man if he gains the whole world and loses his life?
God has been merciful to us one-sidedly and has granted us blessings. Those who know this love of God are the people of true salvation. A slender, sinful woman appears in the text. From a worldly point of view, this woman was a woman who was not very happy. But God's mercy came upon him. I have come to know God's love. I got a life of salvation. She became a blessed woman who received forgiveness of sins. She was a woman who possessed the greatest blessings and happiness on this earth.
Who gave hope and hope to such a woman? He was the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth as the King of kings. Jesus Christ was the only way to receive forgiveness from God. He was a hope and a vision. That Jesus was always with sinners.
But those who misunderstood Jesus mocked Him.
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, behold, a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” (Luke 7:34-35) .
Then, today, meditate on what aspect of Jesus we should be introduced to through the text. And we need to know what you are asking of us.
1. Jesus invited by a Pharisee (verse 36)
Verse 36 says, “A Pharisee asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and sat down.” Jesus was invited by a Pharisee.
① He was a Jew called a Pharisee.
② Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God.
③ Whenever the Jews were invited, Jesus corrected them when they were wrong (Luke 11:37, 14:1).
As always, whenever you receive an invitation from the Pharisees, you can check through the Gospels that Jesus responded to the invitation to reveal some of his intentions. The Pharisees who invited Jesus were not invited because they believed in Jesus as the Son of God. It may have been out of curiosity.
Or maybe it was some simple respect. Or it could be for the purpose of digging up some weakness in Jesus. Jesus knew all of that. So He corrected them, rebuked them, and warned them.
We decided to believe in Jesus in our hearts. I decided to welcome you. So I invited the Lord into my heart. “Oh, Lord, come into my heart,” he must have pledged his determination and dedication. Those commitments should not be simply some kind of momentary emotion.
We have invited our Lord into our hearts and our hearts must not go elsewhere. The Lord who answered the invitation walks with us. We must always meditate on what our Lord wants us to do. Otherwise, you shouldn't have a different mind.
2. An Encounter with Jesus with a Sinner Woman (verses 37-39)
A woman came to Jesus. Who was the woman who came to Jesus?
① She was a sinful woman (verse 37a).
② They brought the alabaster jar filled with perfumed oil (verse 37b).
③ I wept so much that I wet Jesus' feet with tears (verse 38a).
④ He washed Jesus' feet with his hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them (verse 38b).
See the expression of love for Jesus by a woman who loves Jesus.
What did the Pharisees think of Jesus, who had left the woman in this way?
① It is said that it has been proven that Jesus is not a true prophet (verse 39).
② The reason is said to be because he did not know that the woman who anointed him was a sinful woman (verse 39).
③ If Jesus was a true prophet, it is said that he cannot be with such sinners.
In Jewish society, people at that time do not share seats with sinful people. They even pass through gentile areas inhabited by sinners and then drop first on their feet. It means you have passed through a dirty area. One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to their house because they thought he was a noble man. Or, they thought that Jesus might be a prophet sent by God.
Having a meal with such a Jesus would have wanted to reveal indirectly that he was a noble person. But Jesus is with a sinful woman. Seeing that he was with sinners, he thought that Jesus could no longer be a prophet, so he doubted Jesus.
Are we not like the Pharisees who invited Jesus? If God gives me difficulties, I say that I will not believe in God as God. Am I not misunderstanding God that I will believe in God only when He makes it easy for me? We must not believe in God by making our own heads. You have to believe in the God that the Bible says.
3. Jesus speaking through the parable of forgiveness (verses 40-46)
Jesus uses a parable to point out the erroneous thinking of the Pharisees.
① There are two debtors, one owed 500 denarii and the other fifty denarii (verse 41).
② However, the two of them were unable to repay, so the master forgave them both of their debts (verse 42a).
③ Then, among these two, who will love the master who indemnifies more? (verse 42b).
④ To this parable of Jesus, Simon the Pharisee answers that he was forgiven much (verse 43).
The words of Jesus that he is trying to teach through parables follow.
① You did not even give me water to wash my feet (v. 44a).
② But this woman wet my feet with her tears and washed my feet with her hair (verse 44b).
③ You did not kiss me, but this woman did kiss my feet (verse 45).
④ You did not pour olive oil on my head, but this woman poured perfume on my feet (verse 46).
This parable is that the woman who was forgiven much debt is a woman, and the person who is forgiven little is a Pharisee. The woman who was forgiven much loves Jesus more.
That's right. Think of yourself as the chief among sinners and think of God's grace. How grateful are you? But when I think of God's grace while thinking that I have no sin at all, I will not be moved. I am not saying that I am a sinner even though I am not guilty at all. Originally, we are the ones who have nothing to say even if we say that we are the chief among sinners. Recognizing and admitting these sins, think of God who saved them from them. You will be thrilled. And I will love God more passionately than anyone else. Just like the sinful woman in the text.
4. Jesus saved a sinful woman (verses 47-50)
In the end, answering the invitation of a Pharisee and giving parables were for the purpose of revealing who Jesus Himself is. That's why so many people didn't know Jesus. He did not know that he was the Son of God and that he was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. But our Lord has revealed Himself as the One who came with the power to forgive sins.
And specifically, the only sin that was despised, despised, and condemned by the Jews at that time was that the woman was forgiven and joined the ranks of God's people. It was unimaginable for the Jews.
But ① He forgave the sin of the woman who loved Jesus much.
He said, “Your sins are forgiven you” (verse 47).
② The Pharisees (verse 49), who did not understand Jesus, who declared the forgiveness of sins, were just confused in their hearts.
③ Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you” and allowed the gospel of peace (50).
It is said that we usually do not have days to feel comfortable. There are many painful days. So there is no day to be comfortable. Why? It means that humans are always so scarce. I mean, it's insecure. But for those who have the life of Jesus Christ, something has changed. I know happiness. I know what peace of mind is. It was only because of the gospel.
The gospel is the secret to allowing the power of God to come upon me. Was it not me who was pessimistic and condemned others? But now it's different. changed. It was only Jesus' victory, my victory.
5. Invitation to the Word
These are really difficult times. Keep in mind that this difficulty is not a punishment from God's curse, but rather a training tool that trains us. If he avoids difficulties and becomes discouraged, he will forever lose the strength to stand.
But there is hope for God's people who have been given the forgiveness of sins and new life through Jesus Christ. I have a vision and a dream. There is the power of the gospel. How long will we, who have been given the authority to become children of God, withdrew to live? wake up We must rely on the power of God and live diligently as a man of God.
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (Luke 7:50).