Luke Chapter 7:36-50 Part #1

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This is part one of a special two-part episode. Do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill. Do you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God. Find God, and please God, you, do you feel like your faith is dead or alive today. Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose in glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net or connect with us on Facebook.

Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious.

Today's message features*Peter Rochelle gray hair, or a long, and I'm good friend in our brother Russ extended me the invitation to come tonight not want to come. Years ago, and I remember bagging Russ hey will you let me calm and and speak in the said you know you're not quite ready and and so I sent him a tape. That's how long ago if not, cinema, cassette tape hey listen to this. Tell me what you think and I think after you listen to this type you will invite me to comment.

Listen to the tape and he said you're just still not ready. We advanced a little bit we started doing CDs and couple years later I send a CV and a set Russ… Sadie grown a lot, listen to the city and I think after you listen to this CD you will you invite me to, he listened and he said you're just you're still not ready and we advanced a little bit more and we got the Internet in the website and we got stuff all along is a rush to check out the sermon. I have a lot go listen to it. I'm really convinced that you listen the saw some guy have a lot you invite me to come and speak. He listened and he called me and said you're just still not ready.

That's all Russ to come for free, and he said now you are ready now you are ready. I'm grateful for Russ and I am so appreciative of his friendship and even a dear brother of mine for many many years and the first time ever met Russ was at an SCA event that was at his house. Russ Schmidt and Smith were an SCA and not just come on staff with SCA and I remember to be honest it a little bit intimidating going this very popular neighborhood now and I don't want and think I'm breaking anything like that. You know – but what I do but I go and and Russ comes to the door in shorts and a T-shirt and he introduced himself. I introduce myself. He hugged me and it's like there's this kindred spirit right away and I love Russ and I love what what God is doing in his life and has done in his life and and and and this ministry is is evident that and just know I'm so thrilled to be. I'm so honored that God would give me this privilege to come and to share a little bit out of his word. I pray to God that he would encourage your heart my heart tonight as we get into his work. So join with me in Luke chapter 7, you have been in the book of Luke tonight were going to be in chapter 7 finishing up chapter 7 we want to begin in verse 36 and we want to go down to verse 50 and as I was preparing to do. Luke 736 through 50. I thought about two evangelism encounters that had that happened many years ago. One been involved with a wonderful camp and another can't kill is a wonderful camp. Another chemical camp will run and so for about 12 years I've been going out to Willow. Ron and I speak a special week. All the kids incarcerated all the kids are serving time.

Most of the kids are felons and they have just done some horrendous things as I get the privilege to go up there every week for every summer for week is called the Jew without just this week I get to preach God's word twice a day and share with these kids. The good news of the gospel. After one of our our meetings by a female want to speak to me. My wife was with me so we got her and we pulled off to the side.

She began just to share heart and her demeanor was one of sadness. Her demeanor was one of she was very heavy and waiting.

Her demeanor was one of Shane. In fact she she very seldom looked up at us and made eye contact with us, but we patiently listened and allowed her to share her heart she began to share how she got in trouble.

Basically and how she ended up in prison. She began to tell us things like she got involved with drugs and alcohol. She got involved with sexual immorality, and she started sleeping around with various boys in her high school. She was a high school age students should really tell us how she began to get involved with violence and games and those kind of thing. She began to tell us the reason why she was actually incarcerated. She said I assaulted my mother and she said it was bad and she begins to weep as she's telling us this.

She says I don't know if God could ever ever forgive me I'm done so much stuff so much bad stuff. I don't know if God could ever ever forgive me and we listen that we in cursor with the gospel. We encourage that Jesus loved her and and Jesus came to save her and to forgive her for all her sins and we were so pleased that that she accepted Christ as her Savior and we were so pleased to see her the next morning in the worship service sinking and lifted up her hands.

With tears streaming down her face and we just praise God that he is a God who forgive even the greatest centers and then I thought about another encounter that happened shortly after this encounter, a college student, a female, sharing the gospel with her aunt and I remember saying this I remember saying are you say that may not be the best language to use.

I get that sometimes people understand what you mean when you use terms like that. But she said safely. What I'm thinking to myself save from sin right Jesus came to save us from our sin is the down the call that we might be forgiven and we might become new creations in Christ and as you begin to tell me she was a good person and that her father was a pastor.

She had gone to church all her life, she literally told me this and you probably had encounters like this with people before she she literally told me that she really had never really seen. I like the dance I sometimes like to listen to non-religious music.

But that's like the worst thing I do like the dance and listen to music, good person. I graduate from college and graduate school, to work with kids and get my Masters in psychology work and help kids. I am a good person and we talked for hours and she was never convinced that she was the center as we approach, Luke, chapter 7 there are two individuals in the story.

One individual gets it. One individual understands that she is a sinner in need of forgiveness in need of a save as another individual in the tax doesn't have a clue.

Follow along with the your copy of God's work beginning in verse 36, one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisees house and reclined at the table with a woman who would live a simple life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisees house. She bought brought an alabaster jar of perfume as she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and she wiped them with her hair kits them import perfume on them. When the Pharisee you invite him solve this he said to himself.

This man were a prophet he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is that she is a sinner. So Jesus answered him, assignment, I have something to tell you tell me teacher. He said two men owed money to a certain moneylender 10 him 500 been there and the other 50. Neither of them had money to pay him back so he canceled the debts of both know which of them will love him more Simon replied.

I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancel your judge correctly. Jesus said then he turned toward the woman and said assignment. 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 do not give me a kiss, but this woman from the time I entered has not stopped kissing my feet. You do not put all my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven for. She loved much but he was been forgiven little loves little.

Then Jesus said to her, your sins are forgiven.

The other guests began to say among themselves who is this who even forgives sins.

Jesus said to the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace. As we look at this path of Scripture to not be there three really main ideas that jump out. Here's the first. Jesus is the Savior who forgives the greatest sinner that is like the main thought of this passage. I believe that Jesus is the Savior and Jesus forgives even the greatest sinner for the second may not get I think will flow through this and closely follow those who have been forgiven much love much. Those who God is forgiven for much sin they love God much, and here's the third thing the promiscuous as well as the pious knee Jesus the promiscuous as well as the pious knee Jesus jumping this morning.

Here's my first main point here Jesus. As we walked down the tax is discriminate. Notice the text in verse 36 again it says now the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisees house and recon at the table. Jesus is very indiscriminate and what I mean by that is Jesus hangs out with all types of people.

Jesus accepted hospitality from sinners and tax collectors saw that back in Luke chapter 5 verses 27 through 31, and we also sought back in chapter 7, verse 35 but Jesus will hang out with sinners. Jesus will hang out with past collective. But Jesus also accepts hospitality prepares the we see here that Jesus is invited to this Pharisees out his name assignment and Jesus shows the Jesus indiscriminate Jesus is no respecter of persons. Jesus will hang out with anyone who invites him to hang out with Jesus welcome and hung out with all types of people believe Jesus did this because he understood that all people are sinners and all people need forgiveness and he came as the Savior of the world to save people from their sins.

All people, no matter who they are. Whether there pious or whether there promiscuous light will see in this text need salvation need forgiveness and only Christ can provide that salvation and that for forgiveness. What about you and me. What about you and me when it comes to people that we might hang out with the we, like Jesus, and this is where indiscriminate were like Jesus in this since we will handout with with all people will welcome all people, no matter who they are. Here's why. Because we believe all people are sinners and all people are in need of a Savior and that Savior is Jesus Christ and the Bible is clear right that for all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God and the Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death, but there's this free gift from God and his is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It doesn't matter if you're noble or if you if you have no nobility at all.

Doesn't matter if you're Richard or you have very little money at all. It doesn't matter if your high class or low class. It doesn't matter on who you are or where you being what you've done, all people need Jesus and like Jesus, we ought to hang out with people no matter who they are. We have opportunity that we might introduce them to the wall on who can forgive them all their sins. Jesus, I love this about. He goes to the Pharisees house and you all have probably already observed this. Even the gospel.

Luke often conflict came to Pharisees when they were at odds right Pharisees were trying to trap him. The Pharisees were trying to lock Jesus up, so to speak, and in enforcing the corner and trap him, but Jesus still go and I love this about Jesus. The second thing, there's a woman in the text to sinful, but she's repentant. We see this in verses 37 in verses 38. Notice what happened. The text tells us in verse 37 that Jesus is reclining at the table in this day literally. This is how they would have meals they will recline and wouldn't sit like you and I would sit we dinner when we go out to a restaurant they would literally recline and they might put an elbow on the table like this and then their legs would be stretched out like this and they would eat like this recline at a table and Jesus there. The custom of the day was to recline at the table in verse 30 to 7 tells us that a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating in the Pharisees house. Also in this culture. Houses were more open and limit you could just walk in someone's house, particularly if there was a guest there and you can just observe the meal hear the conversation. Evidently that's what this woman does that, she was invited to come. We don't get that sense from Luke. She sorta crashes the party but but but but in a sense it in this day you can just walk in to a situation like this. She walked sins, and it is said that she had a sinful life in that town. She learned that Jesus was eating at this Pharisees out so she brings this alabaster jar of perfume. This is a very expensive type of perfume when you go to mark 14 as well as John 12. There's another story of a lady named Mary who was who was on who was Lazarus and Martha's sister. She also columns in those stories different story, though, and she raises expensive bottle of perfume that was an alabaster jar and notice what the text says about this. What woman here again that there are several things. First of all, don't miss the fact that it says that she lived a sinful life. Most commentators would say she led the promiscuous life. Most commentators would suggest this phrase here means she lived an immoral life that she was a woman of the streets. She was a prostitute. This prostitute walks in to where Jesus is reclining at the table knows the second thing about her.

She led not only a sinful life, but she did it in that town.

In other words, everyone knew her.

Her sin was no secret. Everyone knew how she was living it was common knowledge for sin was all public display with pastor John MacArthur says it he states it like this. He said in all likelihood she was a prostitute. A professional adulteress immoral and pure and living a flagrantly sinful live in a public level.

She was immoral and immature and unholy every body knew it, I know we did not the only man in the audience here, but imagine this is if you're sin and not just your sin, your sexual sin was on display for everybody. Imagine the shame in that. Imagine the weight of that everyone knew who she was and what she was involved in the next thing the third thing about her. She comes with repentant heart. She crashes the party. She's uninvited guest but she brings this alabaster jar of perfume, and I think she that this was intentional. Here, probably. She came with, what with the motive and the desire to support all Chrysler use it for Christ. It really speaks of her heart. Yes, she said she's lived a sinful life. Yes, she's living a moral life. Yes, everybody knows all about her and that town she comes. I believe with the change she brings this alabaster jar of perfume and she standing behind Jesus you all and she's at his feet and she's weepy and she begins to wet his feet with her hair and she wipes his feet with her hair and she kisses the initiate Nordson with this perfume is very interesting here in the original Greek language elicited that this will let you know how moving and how emotional this scene was. I don't know if we can quite capture just not in our English translation of the Bible. This is really a moving seeing you all this is really emotional. This is incredible will have the word wet here.

Just picture her picture Jesus reclining at the table picture is his legs extended back this what picture this lady just standing there and she begins to we. She begins to weep probably. She maybe had had some contact with Jesus prior to. Maybe she heard him preach maybe spoke to her and and and and and said something specifically to her but but but she had some kind of encounter with Jesus, maybe prior to this, and she called the Jesus movement and she knows he is the want that to forgive her of all her sin as though she's sitting there standing there, rather she's weepy and she's weepy with tears or landing on Jesus feet as his leg or extend the word wet that she wet his feet with her tears is the Greek word preshow and it literally means terrain. This woman is weeping, so terribly that the tears are rolling all for trip sheets dropping all Jesus's feet like rain is not a credible that it is incredible. She is falling. One day my daughter was walking our dog we had it removed all the dogs with Jesus now. It just didn't work out and job but anyway one day she was walking our dog hot dog would just poop in places we should include me walking for our he would not poop and then he would get to where he should and he would go. We have a neighbor that just loves his yard and he's a little bit of a grouch and and Harley are daughter name anathema motorcycle Harley-Davidson motorcycle he pooped in Mr. Kevin jar Mr. Kevin just comes out and he's upset my little Kristin who's my heart.

She just sit there and she's got Harley. He's going to natter and he just fussed natter she comes home. You all and like she is just weeping on the justice picture of the tears are just Edward her shirt was soaked, she can't even talk pictures picture of my little Kristin and she is just she has undergone with emotion and she's just weeping to the point where she can't even speak. I wonder if that's the scene here that were read his feet wet would literally imply she's crying in his light rain's fall we see the motion of this and then she kisses his feet were kids here in the Greek is kata for Leo and is a demonstration of great affection and applause. Love is way up.

Leo is is the Greek word for brotherly love and so this woman a sheet she cries as she is weeping as tears are flowing out of her eyes unto Jesus feet. She begins to wipe his feet with her hair and and and she begins the kiss his feet as a demonstration of affection and love for the Savior. What a moving picture is kissing here discrete work is the same Greek word that the prodigal son's father is is described as do you remember he sees his father, you'll get a Luke 15 later on as you keep going through Luke, but he sees his son.

His son is still way all preseason from the distant was the father do is take some of running this picture of the motion. This picture of excitement this picture of affection and love for such a textile running towards his son. What is he doing season, so his son has a speech in a like a motel in the center of the law were to be called his son and does make me acerbic.

He's got his speech ready. What is is that is that just jumps on the Hudson kisses him capture Leo this this this affection is love my son was lawfully spellbound.

He's home and there's great rejoicing is the same word that is usually described the Ephesian elders in acts chapter 20 Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. There nevertheless apology and the Holy Spirit is already told Paul he.

We will never see them again and they are moved with emotion you all and great love and affection for Paul and they embrace Paul in the kissing kata delay. That's what this woman does you all Jesus feet. Let me ask your question. Can you identify with this woman.

Can you identify when maybe you first became aware of your sin and how awful it was to you identify when you you had that point your life with your sandwiches head and weighty, he felt the guilt and maybe the shame I can you remember when you encounter Jesus and your heart have a posture like what we see in this lady in the text where, because of your sin and the conviction of your sin and you realize that you were a great sinner, that your heart mourn and grieve.

That really is a proper response. When we understand our sin. We understand that Jesus is the Savior who can forgive our sins, when I came to Christ. I was I was about 12 years old. I grew up here in Raleigh and most the kids a hug around back then were a little bit younger. The neighborhood that I grew up in the hung out and most of my friends were few years younger than me, so I was the older one, I was more athletic than my younger friends because I was older and stronger and bigger and that kind of thing I was little bit of a bully. I was out in the fights we would do various things.

We we we stole things from convenience stores. We looked at pornography.

I remember they had the magazine. It was Internet and what magazines you going to 7-Eleven it had the comic books. The Sports Illustrated's and then right next to them to have an adult and it was out in the open not remember what my friends would go and we would love to. We would steal even magazines yes women sure and walk out the convenience store getting advice and also something I remember you. I got my with a girl who was three years of government being a Christian is not about being religious about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ.

You've been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders defined God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net. This is the Truth Network