Filthy Sinner to Forgiven Saint

This morning we continue in our sermon series entitled, “Ordinary People with an Extraordinary God,” and we turn our attention to the New Testament.  Last month, we looked at the Old Testament and the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and David.

 

Today we turn to the gospel of Luke and a story that is often confused with another.  This morning, you’re going to see a woman pour perfume on Jesus’ feet and wipe them with her hair.  Some believe this story is the same as one in Matthew 26 and Mark 14.  However, those happened during the last week of Jesus’ life.  This story in Luke 7 happens toward the beginning of His earthly ministry.  Those stories in the other gospels are about Mary, Lazarus’s sister.  The woman in Luke 7 is unnamed. 

 

In Luke 7:36-50, I want you make three observations with me.  Notice a party with a controversy, a parable of conviction, and a principle for consideration.

 

39. A Party with a Controversy, Luke 7:36-39.

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to ^[a]dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ^37 (A)And there was a woman in the city who was a ^[b]sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were ^(B)a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a^[c]sinner.” 

 

In this first scene, we have two main characters other than Jesus.  They are sophisticated Simon and a sexual sinner.  Verse 36 tells us that Jesus was invited to a dinner party by a Pharisee.  His name is revealed as Simon in verse 40.  Therefore, Jesus came as requested and was reclining at the dinner table. 

 

Remember that the tradition here would have been for the guests to be on the floor leaning on their left arm with their head closer to the table, and their feet would have been further away from the table. 

 

Also, whenever a Rabbi visited a home, it was not uncommon for many different townspeople to drop in even though they may not have been personally invited. 

 

Verse 37 introduces our sexual sinner.  This sinner is a woman, and if you look at the footnotes in your Bible, it probably says she was an immoral person.  More than likely, she was a prostitute.  Even though uninvited guests could attend this dinner party, it took some courage for her to be here. 

 

We also see in this verse that she brought an alabaster vial of perfume.  This was probably a rounded container with a longer neck.  Once the neck was broken to pour the perfume, all of the perfume had to be used as there no way to use the container again. 

 

Perhaps she was going to pour the perfume on Jesus head, anointing Him with oil.  However, she could only get as close as His feet.  When she began to pour the perfume on His feet, she was overcome with emotion and began to cry.  She then perhaps was embarrassed and began to wipe His feet with her hair trying to clean off her tears.  Another reason she is considered to be a prostitute is because it was considered very immodest for a Jewish woman to have her hair down in public.  However, this woman doesn’t seem to be concerned. 

 

Her final act was not only to anoint Jesus feet and wipe them with her tears, but she also began to kiss His feet again and again and again. 

 

All the time this going on, Sophisticated Simon is just watching, and in verse 39, he draws three conclusions.  First, Jesus must not be a prophet because He didn’t know who was touching Him.  Second, if He knew what king of woman this was, He wouldn’t let her touch Him.  Third, since He did let her touch Him, He is no prophet and shouldn’t be called as such. 

 

 

43. A Parable of Conviction, Luke 7:40-43.

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he ^[d]replied, “Say it, Teacher.” ⁴¹ “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred ^[e](C)denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they ^(D) were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

 

As Jesus often did, He used a parable in the next four verses to illustrate a point.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, and He directs it as Simon.  A moneylender had two debtors.  One owed him almost 18 months worth of money.  The other owed him about two months worth of money.  They were both unable to pay.  Therefore, the moneylender graciously agreed to forgive both debts.  Jesus then asked who loved the moneylender more. 

 

Surely, this wasn’t a hard question.  The one that Jesus forgave more loved more, and Simon got it correct.

 

 

• A Principle for Consideration, Luke 7:44-50.

⁴⁴ Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you ^(E) gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You ^(F)gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.^46 (G)You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. ⁴⁷ For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “^(H)Your sins have been forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say^[f]to themselves, “^(I)Who is this man who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And He said to the woman,“^(J)Your faith has saved you; ^(K)go in peace.”

 

The principle that Jesus taught the Pharisee and us is found in verse 47.  The person who has been forgiven much, loves much.  The person who has been forgiven little, loves little.  Simon the Pharisee embodied indifference.  Simon didn’t give Jesus any water to wash his feet.  He didn’t give Jesus a kiss as a greeting.  He didn’t anoint Jesus’ head with oil as was the custom of the day for hosts to do to their guests. 

 

This sexual sinner on the other hand demonstrated indebtedness.  She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  She didn’t stop kissing Jesus feet, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with her perfume. 

 

She recognized that had sinned much and was forgiven much, and consequently, she loved much.  Simon only recognized that he had sinned little and was forgiven little, and consequently, he loved little. 

 

Jesus then turned to her and verbalized her sins being forgiven.  That action drew much ire from the crowd.  They didn’t recognize that He was God and could forgive sins.  He then dismissed the woman in peace and rightfully commented that her faith had saved her.

 

What caused Jesus to transform this woman from filthy sinner to forgiven saint?  It was her faith and can be your faith, and her faith was demonstrated in brokenness over her sin as she cried, gratitude for Jesus’ mercy as she kissed His feet, and worship of God as she anointed His feet with perfume. 

 

 

Conclusion

Jesus is ready to transform you this morning as well if you’ll believe.  If you’ll put your faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior, He’ll save you…even sexual sinners can be transformed to forgiven saints.

 

If you here this morning, and you think you’re saved but have never been broken over your sin or grateful for Jesus’ mercy or genuinely worshipped God, you might not be saved.  It is debatable whether Simon was saved, but don’t worry about Simon.  What about you?