EASTER 2020

A Year with Jesus #19, Forgiven Much

Luke 7:36-50

Main Point: Our gratitude to Jesus will almost always be in direct proportion to our awareness of sin.

I. The Woman’s Extravagant Love

Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and 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.

II. Simon’s Critical Spirit

Luke 7:39 (NIV) 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.”

III. Jesus Calls Out Simon’s Lack of Gratitude

Luke 7:40-42 (NIV) 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

“In these two people you see the difference between mere religion, and true Christianity.” Timothy Keller

A. Simon comes to Jesus in an intellectual, detached way; the woman comes with her whole being.

B. Simon stays in control of the interview; the woman gives Jesus control.

“Commitment is putting your whole weight on something to the point of vulnerability.” Timothy Keller

Conclusion:

1. The truly repentant person feels great sorrow for their sins.

2. The truly repentant person feels tremendous gratitude for God’s forgiveness.