Skip to main content

112. At a Pharisee's House

Luke 7:36-50
Key Verse: Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 7:50

We can't help but admire this brave, desperate woman. Her reputation obviously preceded her. Everyone in the room knew who she was and how she lived and what she did, perhaps for a living. Perhaps Jesus had had a previous conversation with her and had shown her love and tenderness in a way she had never known. Thus, she was now responding to that love. Jesus did not recoil for the sake of His own reputation but continued to show her mercy; mercy that her fellow human beings had refused to give. God the creator, God the Holy one, allowed Himself to be touched by sin, to forgive it and make her whole.

We don’t know why the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, but it wasn’t out of any kind of gratitude, and Jesus will go to great lengths to point that out and embarrass his host! In that culture it was really rude for a guest to let the host know how he had failed to entertain properly. It was scandalous! But probably in Jesus’ mind the greater scandal was how uncaring, unmerciful and hostile the Pharisee’s attitude was toward the woman.

So, Jesus asks a question. "Two men owed money to a certain money lender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." (Luke 7:41-43)

Both Simon and the woman had been unclean. Both were in the presence of holiness, though they didn't deserve it. Both stood condemned by the Law, but only one was truly aware of her need. The other may have thought he deserved the blessings of the good life, much like the obedient but angry older brother in the story of the prodigal.

Be careful not to take too seriously what the world thinks of you. The world's opinions are fickle at best. One day you are liked and popular and the next you may be tossed aside for a newer model. God's opinion of you, however never changes. You are always a sinner in need of His grace which He longs to give you. He loves you and wants to claim you as His own. He died for you and He will never regret doing so. Focus on Him, your forgiver, and respond as one who has truly been forgiven.

Prayer: Oh, thank you Lord, for how much I have been forgiven! May I ever be grateful and mindful of the enormity of my sinful debt, and the great escape from death itself that you have provided. I want to love you very much and never forget! Then, Lord, may I welcome every other sinner with your love and grace, and celebrate life with them when they repent, and be there to see it because I did not push them away. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: "Freely, Freely" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...
Post a Comment
Read more

201. All for God's Glory

John 9 & 2 Corinthians 12:7-12 Key Verse: "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." John 9:3 In this event John records my personal favorite from all four gospels. I love it for its detail. I love it because it demonstrates so much of our human frailty. It shows us how powerful our fears can be in the midst of God's amazing grace and glory. First, we have the disciples who are suffering under the misconception that sickness and unfortunate circumstances are the result of sin only. They are thinking like Job and his friends. If you obey you will always be blessed and if you sin, God will punish you for it. They couldn't imagine that God could have possibly designed this man, blind, for His own glorious purposes. Then we have the neighbors who are all amazed, but then what? What do you do when the mold has been broken? This man was blind and now he...
Post a Comment
Read more