RAP SHEET LUKE 7:36-50

Series: The King’s People

Sermon: Who Can Jesus Forgive?

Scripture: Luke 7:36–50

REVIEW

Luke has just shown us two very different responses to God. The common people and tax collectors received what God revealed through John, while many of the religious leaders rejected it. Now Luke puts those two responses in the same room.

Simon is a Pharisee who invites Jesus to a banquet. On the surface, Simon appears interested in Jesus. But his hospitality tells another story. He offers Jesus no water for His feet, no greeting with a kiss, and no oil for His head. Simon has brought Jesus close, but he isn't approaching Him with faith. He is sizing Him up.

Then a woman enters whom Luke simply describes as “a sinner.” Everyone knows her reputation. But instead of keeping her distance, she approaches Jesus' feet.

She weeps. She washes His feet with her tears. She wipes them with her hair. She repeatedly kisses them. Then she anoints them with expensive perfume. Everything Simon withheld, she gives extravagantly.

Simon watches and thinks that if Jesus really were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman was touching Him. Jesus answers the thought Simon never said out loud.

He tells a story about two people in debt. One owes 500 denarii, and another owes 50. There is an enormous difference between their debts—but they have one thing in common:

“Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both.” — Luke 7:42

Neither debtor could pay.

Then Jesus turns toward the woman while continuing to speak to Simon and asks:

“Do you see this woman?” — Luke 7:44

That's the tension running through the entire scene.

Simon sees a sinner.

Jesus sees a woman.

Simon is evaluating Jesus.

The woman is overwhelmed by Him.

SIMON WAS WONDERING. THE WOMAN WAS WORSHIPPING.

Jesus explains that her extravagant love flows from the forgiveness she has received:

“Her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much.” — Luke 7:47

The order matters.

She isn't forgiven because she loves Jesus extravagantly. She loves Jesus extravagantly because she has been forgiven.

Her tears didn't save her.

Her perfume didn't save her.

Her worship didn't save her.

Jesus makes the source of her salvation unmistakable:

“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” — Luke 7:50

The parable also exposes something Simon couldn't see about himself. Simon may have looked across the room and thought, I'm nothing like her. But according to Jesus' story, he is exactly like her in the way that matters most. Both debtors have a debt. Neither debtor can pay it.

The difference between 50 and 500 doesn't matter if neither person has the currency required to settle the account.

That's the gospel.

It is not the amount of sin but the presence of sin that separates us from God.

Our eternity isn't determined by whether our sin debt looks better or worse than someone else's. Good behavior, church attendance, generosity, sobriety, sexual morality, serving, or religious activity cannot pay our debt. Only Jesus can.

The largest debt forgiven costs you nothing.

The smallest debt outstanding costs you everything.

APPLY

Simon spent the evening looking at the woman and evaluating everything wrong with her.

Jesus turned the question around:

“Do you see this woman?”

It's easy to measure ourselves against someone else's life and conclude, At least I'm not like them. But the gospel destroys both shame and superiority. We don't need to hide because our debt can be forgiven completely. And we don't get to look down on someone else because we couldn't pay ours either.

So ask yourself:

What is ONE way truly understanding how completely Jesus has forgiven you should change the way you see Him—or the way you see someone else—this week?

Maybe your response is gratitude.

Maybe it's worship.

Maybe it's extending grace to someone you've reduced to their worst mistake.

Maybe it's finally believing that the grace of Jesus really is sufficient for yours.

PRAY

Take time to respond to Jesus rather than simply talking about Him.

• “Jesus, help me understand the depth of the grace You've given me.”

• “Show me where I've compared my sin to someone else's instead of recognizing my own need for grace.”

• “Help me see people the way You see them.”

• “Free me from shame over a debt You have already forgiven.”

• “Let gratitude for Your grace produce genuine worship in my life.”

• “Thank You that my salvation rests in what You have done, not what I can do.”

Then spend some time simply worshiping Jesus for what He has done.