This week we are looking
at an event from history that is recorded in a section of an account of Jesus
life that is recorded for us in the Bible called the gospel of Luke.
And it is in a section of the gospel of Luke that we see Luke give us a front
row seat to how Jesus engaged and invited someone who was far from Him to
follow Him.
In this
event from history, one evening one of the Pharisees, who were the self-righteous
religious leaders of the day, invited Jesus over to his house for dinner. Jesus
accepted the invitation to have dinner with this Pharisee, named Simon, and his
other Pharisee friends. You see, the Pharisees wanted to have dinner with Jesus
because they were trying to figure out Jesus. However, as Jesus was engaging in
dinner and conversation with the Pharisees, word spread through town that Jesus
was in town having dinner at Simon’s house.
And as word
spread through town about Jesus being in town, word reached the ears of a woman
who Luke describes as being a sinner. Now when Luke refers to this woman as a
sinner, he is revealing for us the reality that this woman did not measure up
to moral standards in a way that resulted in her being viewed as an outsider.
This was a woman who was far from God and who was viewed as an outsider by
others.
Luke
explained that when this woman who was far from God and who was viewed as an
outsider heard that Jesus was at Simon's house, she brought an alabaster vial
of perfume with her and headed over to Simon's house. Once at Simon's house,
Luke tells us that this woman who was far from God and who was viewed as an
outsider then positioned herself behind Jesus, where she began to weep.
And as she
wept, this woman who was far from God and was viewed by an outsider by others
washed Jesus feet with her tears and her hair, while kissing his feet and
anointing them with the perfume that she brought with her. When this woman is
washing Jesus feet with her tears and her hair, she is removing any dirt,
sweat, urine, or feces that Jesus had stepped in on his journey to Simon’s
house.
We talked
about the reality that it is not as though this woman did not know that she was
far from God and was viewed as an outsider when it came to having a
relationship with God. It is not as though this woman did not know how the men
in the room viewed her. However, all this woman knew was that she was fallen,
flawed and broken. All this woman knew is that she needed to be with Jesus,
whatever the risk and whatever the cost.
Luke tells
us that Jesus responded to this woman and her act of devotion by gladly
receiving her act of love and devotion. We see Luke record how the owner of the
house responded to Jesus gladly receiving this woman who was far from God and
who was viewed as an outsider who was crashing his dinner party in Luke 7:39:
Now when the
Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man
were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is
touching Him, that she is a sinner."
Now Simon
the Pharisee’s response, if it was communicated in the language we use in our
culture today, would have sounded something like this: “Can you believe that
Jesus is even letting this woman near him? After all, if this man was really
was a spokesperson for God who is inspired by God to proclaim the word of God
to us; if this man was really an important insider like us, he would know that
this woman is an outsider who is far from God.”
You see, Simon the Pharisee, as a self-righteous
religious person, unlovingly judged this woman because he believed that he was
better than her. Because that is what self-righteous religious people do. Self
righteous religious people unlovingly judge others as being outsiders, while
considering themselves to be insiders who are better than anyone else. From
Simon’s perspective, as a self-righteous person, those who know God and pursue
a right relationship with God will know sin when they see it and, even more
importantly, will separate themselves from such sinners by staying away from
them.
But did you
notice that Luke tells us that Simon the Pharisee said this to himself? In
other words, this was a conversation that Simon was having with himself that
was unknown to anyone else. At least that was what Simon thought. However,
whether it was something about the body language that Simon displayed to this
woman that was far from God and was viewed as an outsider; or whether it was
Jesus knowing what was running through Simon’s mind, Simon’s conversation with
himself was clear to Jesus. And as a result, we see Jesus begin to engage Simon
in verse 40-42:
And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have
something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher."
"A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the
other fifty. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them
both. So which of them will love him more?"
Luke tells
us that Jesus began to engage Simon the Pharisee with a parable that was in the
form of a question. Now a parable is an earthly story that reveals a deeper
spiritual truth. Jesus parable to Simon, if communicated in the language we use
in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: “Simon, I have a
question for you. A credit card company had two clients: one client’s credit
card bill was the equivalent of 1 ¾ years salary, while the other client’s
credit card bill was the equivalent of two months’ salary. However neither
client was able to pay their bill. When the owner of the credit card company
heard about their situation, he decided to cancel the debts that they owed so
that they would not have to pay the bill. So which one of the credit cards
clients will love the credit card company more?” Luke records for us how Simon
answered Jesus in verse 43:
Simon answered and said, "I suppose the
one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged
correctly."
Luke tells
us that Simon the Pharisee answered Jesus by basically saying “Well I suppose
the client who had the greater debt cancelled.” Jesus then explained to Simon
the Pharisee that he had provided the right answer to his question. However,
Simon the Pharisees right answer to Jesus question revealed what was wrong with
the heart of Simon the Pharisee.
Friday, we
will see Jesus expose what was wrong with the heart of Simon the Pharisee...
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