Welcome to our program IN SEARCH OF THE LORD'S WAY to be saved and to live the best life that has ever been introduced to the family of man. When I speak of being "saved," as I just did, am I saying people are "lost?" Would that be "judgmental?" Is that exclusiveness on my part? Well, let us see what the Lord says, ok? We will give our study the title, "Jesus and the Lost."
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Our message today is about "Jesus and the Lost." We might have called it, "Jesus, the Friend of Sinners." We are all sinners of course. Some of us know it and some don't. And, the Bible tells us in Isaiah chapter 59, verses 1 to 3: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear . . . but your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear." As we will learn in our study today, it is by the grace of God in the gift of His Son on the cross, that we can be reconciled to God-- saved. Ken Helterbrand is going to lead us now as we sing.
We are reading today and we will study from the book of Luke chapter 7, verse 36. “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” Now let us go to God in prayer. Our Father in heaven, we are so thankful to You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that we might be saved, be reconciled to You, live at peace with You here below and have the assurance of life with You in the world to come. In His name we pray, Amen.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the first four books of the New Testament, are always very interesting reading. Every time you read one of them, you get a little bit more. They are telling the same story, of course, but each of them from a little different vantage point and for different readers. Matthew wrote for the Jews; Mark for the Romans; Luke for the Greeks; and John for the church. Some people find Luke a little more interesting book than any of the others; and, well, some prefer John and still others choose Mark. Matthew deals more with the kingdom issue than the others do, and for that reason Matthew is the preference of many people. Luke seems to be a bit more personal; he includes more of the interpersonal experiences of the Master's life while on the earth. And it's one of these that we will be considering in today's message.
The Pharisees were the largest denomination in the Jew's religion. They were sticklers for the keeping of the law, the very letter of the law. They were not at all concerned about the spirit of the law; and Jesus often rebuked them for such hypocrisy. They were His most constant and severest critics. They considered themselves to be so righteous that they could criticize and knock anything that Jesus did. Once when they were censoring Him because His disciples didn't wash their hands before eating, which was their tradition, Jesus rebuked them by asking them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15 and 3). Then He told them, "You invalidate the word of God for the sake of your tradition." That is in verse 6 and in verses seven through nine He said, "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, this people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching for their doctrines the precepts of men." And that is pretty scathing language; and after that the disciples came to him and said, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard that statement?" I guess so. I have to laugh when I read that. Did Jesus, who loved the world so much that He died for us, actually offend someone with His teaching?
Well, one of those Pharisees invited Jesus over to his house for a meal. Why, I don't know. From what happened, I wouldn't think it was to pay Him any honor. Since the Pharisees were constantly and forever trying to entangle Jesus in His teaching or seek some fault in His behavior, this may have been the motive. We can't know for sure because the Bible doesn't say. Guests at such a meal reclined on low couches, leaning on the left arm and keeping the right one free.
In the east the houses seemed somewhat open to intrusion of the kind that we see in this teaching, so that it might not be unusual for a person simply to walk in while a host and his guests were eating. But, it would be a bit surprising to see a woman of this kind go into the house of a Pharisee. Still, this woman did so; and it seems her appearance there was a surprise to everyone present. Common opinions of her character couldn't have been very high. She probably came to anoint Jesus' feet, but out of gratitude was overcome by her emotions and extended her ministering to Him in other ways. She stood at His feet, no doubt out of anticipation, or maybe we should say, believing or hoping she would draw a favorable response from Him. She began to wash His feet with the tears that flowed from her eyes. Foot washing is a common practice in those days, not as a "church ordinance" as some practice it today. But from as far back as the days of Abraham, it was an act of common hospitality. A host would provide water and even wash the feet of a guest who had traveled through the hot sand to see him.
It was shameful for a Jewish woman to let down her hair in the presence of men, but this woman made the sacrifice and dried Jesus' feet with her hair. She kissed His feet. Actually, as the word indicates-- she kept on kissing His feet. The word also indicates an affectionate kissing. And she anointed the feet of Jesus with her very costly ointment.
The passage implies that this woman was known to be a harlot or a prostitute. The word Luke used to describe her is "sinner." The Pharisees had the idea that no religious person would allow contact by such a sinful woman. Simon was disgusted! He thought if Jesus were really and truly who He said He was, that He would rebuke her and send her away. But he held his tongue. While his thoughts of Jesus were evil and full of uncharitable judgment, he restrained himself from any comment. But you know, because of his legalistic, prejudiced and self-righteous attitude, he completely missed the real human drama that was taking place in his very presence at his home.
Jesus knew his thoughts, so He said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." He told him the story of a certain money-lender who had two debtors. One owed him about a year and a half's salary; the other owed him only about 50 days’ salary, a little less than two months. “And when they were unable to repay him, he graciously forgave them both. Which," said Jesus, “will love him more?” The one forgiven most? “Simon answered and said, I suppose the one whom he forgave more. And He said to him, you have judged correctly.”
And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has ceased not to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with the perfume, or ointment. 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. And He said to her, your sins are forgiven."
In those days and in those lands the courteous host would provide water and even wash his guest's feet. He would greet his guest with a kiss, and refresh him with an anointing of his head with oil. But Simon had not done any of those things. Why had he invited Jesus over to his house anyway? Was it to examine or scrutinize more closely? This woman had done every courtesy Simon had not, and she had done it with all graciousness, very graciously.
"And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, Who is this man who even forgives sins? And He said to the woman, your faith has saved you; go in peace."
To the guests around the table, Jesus' point was very clear. He had rebuked Simon and put him on the same level with this sinful woman-- in the judgment of God. Even Simon must have felt it, because you see, in his estimate of himself he was a pretty good sort of fellow and he had little to be forgiven, while the woman came laden with many, many, many sins and had much for which to seek forgiveness. She went away forgiven. She may have to face the scowls of lustful men, but she was forgiven by Jesus Christ. What a rebuke Phariseeism takes in this lesson. From this passage someone has been inspired to write the little poem which says, "Deal kindly with the erring, Oh, do not thou forget, However darkly stained by sin He is thy brother yet. Forget not, thou hast often sinned, And sinful yet might be; Deal kindly with the erring one, As God has dealt with thee."
I have always loved this story and have preached it often, because it is a very vivid demonstration of Christ's love for the lost sinner. We can learn from Him. Number 1: He treated the lost with compassion. Number 2: He treated the lost with hope for a better tomorrow. Number 3: He treated the lost with interest for their souls. Perhaps that is the reason this sinful woman ventured in where she was not invited. She believed the Master, as truly being the friend of sinners. She believed He would receive her and appreciate her intentions. Yes, all of us are sinners. Job said, "How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin." That is Job 13:23. And David wrote, "There is no rest in my bones because of my sin" (Psalm 38 and 3). And in that fifty-first Psalm which he wrote after being brought to the realization of the sin with Bathsheba he said, "Be gracious to me, O Lord, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." Solomon added his wisdom to what we are saying, "Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?" Well, that is Proverbs 20 and 9.
Ah, sins are many in nature. To some it may be alcoholic beverages or unlawful drugs; to others it might be lust for another person's wife or husband or virgin daughter; to some it could be lust for others of the same sex or gender; to others it may be greed that manifests itself in thievery or robbery; and to others it may be raging jealousy or envy which often end in murder or attempted murder; or just as bad, character assassination; to still others it may be dishonesty and lying; or with some it may be worshiping false gods, or worshiping God in false ways. Or it could be Simon's problem, Phariseeism. Whatever it is-- all of us stand in need of the forgiveness of God, and he who is forgiven most, loves Him most. You can count on it, because Jesus said it.
Forgiveness: what a precious word! During the Lord's earthly ministry He often forgave people their sins. Remember? There was the paralyzed man in Matthew chapter 9, verses 1 to 8, whose friends let him down through the roof of the house to whom Jesus said, "Take courage, my son, your sins are forgiven." Well, we are going to have a lesson on that one day, too. Then in Luke chapter 19, verses 1 to 10 there was that "wee little man," named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax man in the city of Jericho of whom Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham." Really now-- Jesus earned His reputation as the friend of sinners. He once said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are ill...I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Matthew chapter 9, verses 12 and 13).
In every instance, though, these people expressed faith in Jesus Christ and a penitent spirit. This sinful woman of whom we have just spoken today expressed a humble, penitent spirit, by standing at Jesus feet weeping, kissing his feet, washing them with her tears, wiping them with the hair of her head and anointing them with expensive perfume. So did Zacchaeus. He said, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much." So, their forgiveness was not unconditional. Yes, they were sinners, all right; but they were repenting sinners and they were forgiven by none other than the Son of God. How about you, my friend? Let’s pray. Holy Father, we are so thankful for the teaching of this passage that we, in spite of the fact that we are sinners, like this woman was, maybe you are not guilty of the same sin, but we have sins. We are laden with our sins; and we can come to You for forgiveness and reconciliation because in Your love and Your grace You provided the way of peace with us. Thank You, Lord, for Jesus Christ; in His name we pray. Amen.
The scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus' day criticized Him for forgiving people their sins; but Jesus Christ was the Son of God and proved Himself to be so, by His resurrection from the dead (Romans chapter 1, verse 4). As the Son of God, He possessed the power to forgive sins on whatever conditions He desired. Jesus laid the foundation for Christianity (Matthew chapter 16, verse 18) and Christianity began-- it became a reality on the first Jewish Pentecost Day following His resurrection. Now in the Christian age, it's only in Jesus Christ that any of us has forgiveness of sins. It is written in Ephesians 1 and 7 that in Him, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." After He arose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." And on that authority He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
So now all men enjoy forgiveness of sins in Christ. Galatians 3:27 says, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Yes, forgiveness of sins is in Christ. And that is why we encourage you to believe in Christ, who was proved to be the Son of God, and be baptized into Him. If you haven't, I hope you will do it real soon, friend.
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Churches of Christ have no earthly head or headquarters, no creed but Christ, no book but the Bible. Christ is our only head and He has spoken in His word, and that is final, my friend. That will be the last revelation that God will give to man. If a denominational creed says less than the Bible, it doesn't say enough; if it says more than the Bible, it says too much; and if it is the same as the Bible, it isn't necessary, is it? Thanks for being with us today. I hope you'll do it again next week. We plan to be back at this same time. We hope you will, too. God bless and keep you. We love you.
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