Opening Prayer Pg.1
Gracious Lord, be with us now as we begin another study of the words of Jesus. This Parable is a teaching by Jesus on how it is that our sins are forgiven, and what a gracious God you are in receiving us into your plan of salvation if only we accept Your Son our Lord Jesus as the Lord of our life and the Salvation we so deeply need. Impart to our minds and our hearts the things that you would have us learn from this study. Fill our hearts with love and gratitude for the mercy you have shown to us. Now guide our hearts and minds as we study these words from the Mouth of God the words of Jesus, in whose name we pray AMEN
The Parable of the two debtors
Luke 7:36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
Luke 7:38 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.
Luke 7:39 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."
Luke 7:40 Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Luke 7:41 "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Luke 7:43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Luke 7:44 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.
Luke 7:45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
Luke 7:46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Luke 7:47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."
Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Dinner with Jesus…… The Invitation Pg.2
We are not given any explanation as to why this dinner was given nor why Jesus was invited and accepted the invitation. The Parable does seem to indicate that The Pharisee and Jesus knew each other, at least by name. But there is an explanation that can be drawn from the telling of the event. There was a desire on the part of the Pharisee that he wanted to hear more from Jesus’ teaching, or he desired to be in company with him so he might learn more about him. Or perhaps it would benefit him in some way, to learn more of what Jesus was about, so he could further the cause in plotting against Jesus. Everyone who meets Jesus is destined to learn something about Him. In this case we do not know why it was so, but we do know that it was not accidental.
Q.1 What must be present in our thoughts before we form an opinion of someone?
Q.2 What other reasons might there be that this Pharisee would have included Jesus?
Q.3 Who are they who would actually benefit from this dinner with Jesus?
Q.4 How would it have been possible in that day and time for anyone to meet with Jesus?
The Uninvited guest
Then there is this uninvited guest. We are introduced to a woman who is not named, but as one who is covered in sin, yet determined enough to be in the presence of Jesus that she would crash the party. Then we are soon exposed to her reason for being there, in that she somehow must have heard, and knew in her heart that he could offer her a new path for her sinful life, if only she could do something to show her love for him and that she had repented from the life about which she had become so sorrowful. She had the courage to come and meet with Jesus and anoint him, cry at his feet, kiss his feet and have her sins forgiven. She would begin a new path of life. Her desire to have her sins forgiven led her to this dinner. Her faith had saved her. No words were exchanged between her and Jesus, except his words, “Your sins are forgiven, Your faith has saved you, go in peace” Most certainly this meeting was not an accident.
Q.1 What was it about Jesus that convinced this woman that he could change her life?
Q.2 This woman had a dark past, and was living in sin. How can Jesus change that?
Q.3 She did not even speak to Jesus how is Jesus to respond to her, Did he already know?
Q.4 While this was going on, what must the host and the other guests have been thinking?
An inconvenient woman Pg.3
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this woman making such a scene, 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. Then Jesus having perceived his thoughts spoke to the Pharisee, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
Jesus was aware of the opinion that this Pharisee (Simon) had about this woman. And He was also aware of the opinion the Pharisee was feeling for Him. He then posed a question for the Pharisee. So Jesus would speak to this man a parable concerning debt. Something with which everyone at this dinner, including the Pharisee is familiar. Jesus does actually know the heart of each of us just as he did this self righteous Pharisee, and This woman of ill repute. This event would then become His teaching moment. The moment to illustrate how the forgiveness of God works, and who can receive it. Forgiveness from God requires a desire to have it and a repentant spirit. It must be a determined effort deliberate and final. That it happened at this dinner to this woman was no accident.
Q.1 What must be present in our thoughts before we form an opinion of someone?
Q.2 What must exist between two people before an evaluation of one or the other is valid?
Q.3 How hard is it to acknowledge that we too are in debt for our sins?
Q.4 What is your opinion of this Pharisee?
The Parable of the two debtors
Luke 7:41 "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Luke 7:43 Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
Sin is a debt. That is the primary idea of this parable. And we can certainly understand that there is a burden which each one bears, the burden of the sense of sin, from which one yearns to be delivered. The point of the parable is not that a debt is owed, for all of us owe. The point is that the debt can be forgiven. Except for the Cross of Christ, which paid the debt for all who will claim their salvation through Jesus Christ there would only be condemnation for all. But because of Christ there is that forgiveness of sin to which all are invited. All it takes is a desire to leave our sinful ways and make room in our hearts for Jesus who brings with him the forgiveness of God’s plan of salvation. That is no accident.
Q.1 Why would Jesus have accepted the invitation to this dinner?
Q.2 What is there about owing a debt that makes one feel uncomfortable?
Q.3 Why does it seem that in our world today some feel no remorse for their sin?
Q.4 When God confronted Adam and Eve with their sin, what answer did they give?
a time for everything Pg.4
This then became a teaching moment for Jesus. He reminded Simon that this woman was indeed an example of humility, faith, and remorse, and repentance, and that her sins were forgiven.
There had been a sinful life that had kept her from God, And now her old ways she had put off. Through remorse and a desire to be forgiven she perhaps had now contemplated a holy life. And now she was seeking the love of God, that she might be forgiven the debt which she through her sinful life had incurred. And knowing that there was no amount of trying or goodness or remorse that she could come up with, that could save her soul, she had reached the end of her own trying. She was now seeking through coming to Jesus the forgiveness that she sought. And now having reached out to Jesus she was forgiven.
It soon became apparent that the Pharisee did not accept this woman on any level, and he even then began to suspect that Jesus was not a prophet, and was probably an imposter. Jesus knew his thoughts and used this event as a teaching moment to make the point that the deeper into sin that one has fallen, the more joyful they would be when forgiven of their sins. Not that one could sin a great sin, so as to have more enjoyment when forgiven, but that ones sins are a condemnation and when forgiven the condemnation is lifted, and the sinner is lifted.
This then would be one of those moments. There is divine providence to be experienced every time. Jesus Saves, and those who come to him for forgiveness who repent of their sins, are the joyful ones. This woman was one of them.
Then there are the admonishments Jesus gave his host. He did not offer Jesus any of the refreshing and cleansing accoutrements that the woman had performed for Jesus. And Jesus let him know that. Perhaps a teaching moment for each of us. We have invited Jesus in, now then how shall we treat him? If we intend to be Christians working to spread of the word of God, and perform Christian works that befit a disciple of Jesus, how shall we proceed? Would it not be evident to all at the dinner that this woman was giving love to Jesus and was seeking his forgiveness. Should we not do the same as well. Make known our love for the Son of God who has given himself for our salvation. Our salvation did not come about by accident.
Q.1 How did the Pharisee know of Jesus, what was his opinion of him?
Q.2 Did the Pharisee really want Jesus here, or was Jesus just a curiosity?
Q.3 What could have been the opinion of the other guests about this woman?
Q.4 How do you think the other guests might have felt about Jesus”
Q.5 How did the uninvited woman feel about Jesus?
Q.6 Have you considered how the Pharisee might have felt after this experience?
Your faith has saved you Pg.5
Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:49 The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Some of the Pharisees guests were astonished at the statement made by Jesus, that the woman’s sins were forgiven, not because of her anointing Jesus’ feet or that she dried them with her hair, or that she kissed them, but her sins were forgiven because of her faith. The question then is who else at the dinner had that kind of faith, who else would anoint Jesus’ feet who else wants their sins forgiven. Do we have that kind of faith. This truly is a life lesson, no matter the depth or severity of sin, there is forgiveness for us if we just have faith in the redeeming power of the Son of God.
2Co 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
2Co 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2Co 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God
Q.1 What was the object of the dinner? Was it the same for Jesus as for the Pharisee?
Q.2 An encounter with Jesus leaves one changed, How did it affect the Pharisee?
Q.3 Where did the woman come from? How did she know about the dinner?
Q,4 Was this simply a serendipity moment, or was it destined to happen, that this woman’s life
would be the subject of Jesus’ teaching?
Closing Prayer
Gracious Lord, be with us now as we leave this place. Help us to apply the teachings of Jesus found in this parable, That You are indeed he who heals our mind and body, who loves, us, just as we are, and the one who forgives our sins. Impart to our minds and our hearts the things that you would have us take from this study. We pray now that your comfort and healing touch be given to those of our acquaintance who are suffering and need your presence in their lives______________ Be with us now as we leave this place and bring us together again next week so that we may study more of the Words of Jesus, in whose name we pray, AMEN
Pg.6
."Meditation: Jesus, in his customary fashion, never lost the opportunity to draw a lesson from an incident. When a noted rabbi invited Jesus to dinner, a public sinner crashed the party and washed Jesus' feet with her tears (see Luke 7:36-39). Her action upset the host who complained to Jesus. Why did Jesus put the parable of the two debtors before his "learned host", a rabbi and teacher of the people?
This parable is similar to the parable of the unforgiving official (see Matthew 18:23-35) in which the man who was forgiven much showed himself merciless and unforgiving. This man was completely callous because he could neither believe in love,accept it or give it. Who is to be pitied most? Those who cannot receive love or those who cannot give love? Jesus makes clear that great love springs from a heart forgiven and cleansed. "Love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8), "for love is of God" (1 John 4:7).
The woman's lavish expression of love was proof that she had found favor with God. The stark contrast of attitudes between Simon and the woman of ill-repute, demonstrate how we can either accept or reject God's mercy. Simon, who regarded himself as an upright Pharisee, felt no need for love or mercy. His self-sufficiency kept him from acknowledging his need for God's grace.
Are you grateful for God's mercy and grace? Surely it is God who calls to us through our guilt and remorse for those times in our life that we disregard our Christian responsibility. And offer instead, selfishness and sin, Jesus will help us to understand that no matter the dept of sin we experience, He is there to lift us out of our sin, and offer us forgiveness, and restitution if we will just humble ourselves and ask Him to come into our lives for his resurrection forgiveness.
That same forgiveness that made the thief on the cross, a promise of a meeting with him in paradise.
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