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Luke Chapter
Seven
Luke 7
Hence, after this, we find the Spirit acting in the heart
of a Gentile (chap. 7). That heart manifested more faith than any among the
children of Israel. Humble in heart, and loving the people of God, as such, for
the sake of God, whose people they were, and thus raised in his affections
above their practical wretched state, he can see in Jesus One who had authority
over everything, even as he himself had over his soldiers and servants. He knew
nothing of the Messiah, but he recognised in Jesus [1] the power of God. This was not mere idea; it
was faith. There was no such faith in Israel.
The Lord then acts with a power which was to be the source of that
which is new for man. He raises the dead. This was indeed going beyond the pale
of the ordinances of the law. He has compassion on the affliction and misery of
man. Death was a burden to him: Jesus delivers him from it. It was not only
cleansing a leprous Israelite, nor pardoning and healing believers among His
people; He restores life to one who had lost it. Israel, no doubt, will profit
by it; but the power necessary to the accomplishment of this work is that which
makes all things new wherever it may be.
The change of which we speak, and which these two
examples so strikingly illustrate, is brought out in treating of the connection
between Christ and John the Baptist, who sends to learn from the Lord's own
mouth who He is. John had heard of His miracles, and sends his disciples to
learn who it was that wrought them. Naturally the Messiah, in the exercise of
His power, would have delivered him from prison. Was He the Messiah? or was
John to wait for another? He had faith enough to depend on the answer of One
who wrought these miracles; but, shut up in prison, his mind desired something
more positive. This circumstance, brought about by God, gives rise to an
explanation respecting the relative position of John and Jesus. The Lord does
not here receive testimony from John. John was to receive Christ upon the
testimony He gave of Himself; and that as having taken a position which would
offend those who judged according to Jewish and carnal ideas-a position which
required faith in a divine testimony, and, consequently, surrounded itself with
those whom a moral change had enabled to appreciate this testimony. The Lord,
in reply to John's messengers, works miracles which prove the power of God
present in grace and service rendered to the poor; and declares that blessed is
he who is not offended at the humble position He had taken in order to
accomplish it. But He gives testimony to John, if He will receive none from
him. He had attracted the attention of the people, and with reason; he was more
than a prophet-he had prepared the way of the Lord Himself. Nevertheless, if he
prepared the way, the immense and complete change to be made was not itself
accomplished. John's ministry, by its very nature, put him outside the effect
of this change. He went before it to announce the One who would accomplish it,
whose presence would bring in its power on the earth. The least therefore in
the kingdom was greater than he.
The people, who had received with humility the word sent
by John the Baptist, bore testimony in their heart to the ways and the wisdom
of God. Those who trusted in themselves rejected the counsels of God
accomplished in Christ. The Lord, on this, declares plainly what their
condition is. They rejected alike the warnings and the grace of God. The
children of wisdom (those in whom the wisdom of God wrought) acknowledged and
gave glory to it in its ways. This is the history of the reception both of John
and of Jesus. The wisdom of man denounced the ways of God. The righteous
severity of His testimony against evil, against the condition of His people,
shewed to man's eyes the influence of a devil. The perfection of His grace,
condescending to poor sinners, and presenting itself to them where they were,
was the wallowing in sin and the making oneself known by one's associates.
Proud self-righteousness could bear neither. The wisdom of God would be owned
by those who were taught by it, and by those alone.
Thereupon these ways of God towards the most wretched
sinners, and their effect, in contrast with this pharisaic spirit, are shewn,
in the history of the woman who was a sinner in the Pharisee's house; and a
pardon is revealed, not with reference to the government of God in the earth on
behalf of His people (a government with which the healing of an Israelite under
God's discipline was connected), but an absolute pardon, involving peace to the
soul, is granted to the most miserable of sinners. It was not here merely the
question of a prophet. The Pharisee's self-righteousness could not discern even
that.
We have a soul that loves God, and much, because God is love-a soul
that has learnt this with regard to, and by means of, its own sins, though not
yet knowing forgiveness, in seeing Jesus. This is grace. Nothing more touching
than the way in which the Lord shews the presence of those qualities which made
this woman now truly excellent-qualities connected with the discernment of His
Person by faith. In her were found divine understanding of the Person of
Christ, not reasoned out indeed in doctrine but felt in its effect in her
heart, deep sense of her own sin, humility, love for that which was good,
devotedness to Him who was good. Everything shewed a heart in which reigned
sentiments proper to relationship with God-sentiments that flowed from His
presence revealed in the heart, because He had made Himself known to it. This,
however, is not the place to dwell upon them; but it is important to remark
that which has great moral value, when what a free pardon really is is to be
set forth, that the exercise of grace on God's part creates (when received into
the heart) sentiments corresponding to itself, and which nothing else can
produce; and that these sentiments are in connection with that grace, and with
the sense of sin it produces. It gives a deep consciousness of sin, but it is
in connection with the sense of God's goodness; and the two feelings increase
in mutual proportion. The new thing, sovereign grace, can alone produce these
qualities, which answer to the nature of God Himself, whose true character the
heart has apprehended, and with whom it is in communion; and that, while
judging sin as it deserves in the presence of such a God.
It will be observed, that this is connected with the
knowledge of Christ Himself, who is the manifestation of this character; the
true source by grace of the feeling of this broken heart; and also that the
knowledge of her pardon comes afterward. [2]
It is grace-it is Jesus Himself-His Person-that attracts this
woman and produces the moral effect. She goes away in peace when she
understands the extent of grace in the pardon which He pronounces. And the
pardon itself has its force in her mind, in that Jesus was everything to her.
If He forgave, she was satisfied. Without accounting for it to herself, it was
God revealed to her heart; it was not self-approval, nor the judgment others
might form of the change wrought in her. Grace had so taken possession of her
heart-grace personified in Jesus-God was so manifested to her, that His
approval in grace, His forgiveness, carried everything else with it. If He was
satisfied, so was she. She had all in attaching this importance to Christ.
Grace delights to bless, and the soul that attaches importance enough to Christ
is content with the blessing it bestows. How striking is the firmness with
which grace asserts itself, and does not fear to withstand the judgment of man
who despises it! It takes unhesitatingly the part of the poor sinner whom it
has touched. Man's judgment only proves that he neither knows nor appreciates
God in the most perfect manifestation of His nature. To man, with all his
wisdom, it is but a poor preacher, who deceives himself in passing for a
prophet, and to whom it is not worth while to give a little water for his feet.
To the believer it is perfect and divine love, it is perfect peace if he has
faith in Christ. Its fruits are not yet before man; they are before God, if
Christ is appreciated. And he who appreciates Him thinks neither of himself nor
of his fruits (except of the bad), but of the One who was the testimony of
grace to his heart when he was nothing but a sinner.
This is the new thing-grace, and even its fruits in their
perfection: the heart of God manifested in grace, and the heart of man-a
sinner-responding to it by grace, having apprehended, or rather having been
apprehended by, the perfect manifestation of that grace in Christ.
[1] We
have seen this to be precisely the subject of the Holy Ghost in our Gospel.
[2] To
explain the expression, "Her sins are forgiven, for she loved much,"
we must distinguish between grace revealed in the Person of Jesus, and the
pardon He announced to those whom the grace had reached. The Lord is able to
make this pardon known. He reveals it to the poor woman. But it was that which
she had seen in Jesus Himself, which, by grace, melted her heart and produced
the love she had to Him-the seeing what He was for sinners like herself. She
thinks only of Him: He has taken possession of her heart so as to shut out
other influences. Hearing that He is there, she goes into the house of this proud
man, without thinking of anything but the fact that Jesus is there. His
presence answered, or prevented, every question. She saw what He was for a
sinner, and that the most wretched and disgraced found a resource in Him; she
felt her sins in the way that this perfect grace, which opens the heart and
wins confidence, causes them to be felt; and she loved much. Grace in Christ
had produced its effect. She loved because of His love. This is the reason that
the Lord says, "Her sins are forgiven, because she loved much." It
was not that her love was meritorious for this, but that God revealed the
glorious fact that the sins-be they ever so numerous and abominable-of one
whose heart was turned to God were fully pardoned. There are many whose hearts
are turned to God, and who love Jesus, that do not know this. Jesus pronounces
on their case with authority-sends them away in peace. It is a revelation-and
answer-to the wants and affections produced in the heart made penitent by grace
revealed in the Person of Christ. If God manifests Himself in this world, and
with such love, He must needs set aside in the heart every other consideration.
And thus, without being aware of it, this poor woman was the only one who acted
suitably in those circumstances; for she appreciated the all-importance of the
One who was there. A Saviour-God being present, of what importance was Simon
and his house? Jesus caused all else to be forgotten. Let us remember this. The
beginning of man's fall was loss of confidence in God, by the seducing
suggestion of Satan that God had kept back what would make man like God.
Confidence in God lost, man seeks, in the exercise of his own will, to make
himself happy: lusts, sin, transgression follow. Christ is God in infinite
love, winning back the confidence of man's heart to God. Removal of guilt, and
power to live to God, are another thing, and found in their own place through
Christ, as pardon comes in its place here. But the poor woman, through grace,
had felt that there was one heart she could trust, if none else; but that was
God's. God is light and God is love. These are the two essential names of God,
and in every true case of conversion both are found. In the cross they meet;
sin is brought fully into the light, but in that by which love is fully known.
So in the heart light reveals sin, that is God as light does, but the light is
there by perfect love. The God who shews the sins is there in perfect love to
do it. Christ was this in this world. Revealing Himself, He must be both; so
Christ was love in the world, but the light of it. So in the heart. The love
through grace gives confidence, and thus the light is gladly let in, and in the
confidence in the love, and seeing self in the light, the heart has wholly met
God's heart: so with this poor woman. This is where the heart of man and God
always and alone meet. The Pharisee had neither. Pitch dark, neither love nor
light were there. He had God manifest in the flesh in his house and saw
nothing-only settled that He was not a prophet. It is a wondrous scene to see
these three hearts. Man's as such resting on false human righteousness, God's,
and the poor sinner's-fully meeting it as God did hers. Who was the child of
wisdom? for it is a commentary on that expression. And note, though Christ had
said nothing of it, but bowed to the slight, yet He was not insensible to the
neglect which had not met Him with the comm on courtesies of life. To Simon He
was a poor preacher, whose pretensions he could judge, certainly not a prophet;
for the poor woman, God in love, and bringing her heart into unison with His as
to her sins and as to herself, for love was trusted in. Note, too, this
clinging to Jesus is where true light is found: here the fruitful revelation of
the gospel; to Mary Magdalene, as to the highest privilege of saints.
── John Darby《Synopsis of Luke》
Luke 7
Chapter Contents
The centurion's servant healed. (1-10) The widow's son
raised. (11-18) John the Baptist's inquiry concerning Jesus. (19-35) Christ
anointed in the house of the Pharisee The parable of the two debtors. (36-50)
Commentary on Luke 7:1-10
(Read Luke 7:1-10)
Servants should study to endear themselves to their
masters. Masters ought to take particular care of their servants when they are
sick. We may still, by faithful and fervent prayer, apply to Christ, and ought
to do so when sickness is in our families. The building places for religious
worship is a good work, and an instance of love to God and his people. Our Lord
Jesus was pleased with the centurion's faith; and he never fails to answer the
expectations of that faith which honours his power and love. The cure soon
wrought and perfect.
Commentary on Luke 7:11-18
(Read Luke 7:11-18)
When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the
grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death itself. The
gospel call to all people, to young people particularly, is, Arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give you light and life. When Christ put life into him,
it appeared by the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show
it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us spiritual life, he opens the
lips in prayer and praise. When dead souls are raised to spiritual life, by
Divine power going with the gospel, we must glorify God, and look upon it as a
gracious visit to his people. Let us seek for such an interest in our
compassionate Saviour, that we may look forward with joy to the time when the Redeemer's
voice shall call forth all that are in their graves. May we be called to the
resurrection of life, not to that of damnation.
Commentary on Luke 7:19-35
(Read Luke 7:19-35)
To his miracles in the kingdom of nature, Christ adds
this in the kingdom of grace, To the poor the gospel is preached. It clearly
pointed out the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom, that the messenger he
sent before him to prepare his way, did it by preaching repentance and
reformation of heart and life. We have here the just blame of those who were
not wrought upon by the ministry of John Baptist or of Jesus Christ himself.
They made a jest of the methods God took to do them good. This is the ruin of
multitudes; they are not serious in the concerns of their souls. Let us study
to prove ourselves children of Wisdom, by attending the instructions of God's
word, and adoring those mysteries and glad tidings which infidels and Pharisees
deride and blaspheme.
Commentary on Luke 7:36-50
(Read Luke 7:36-50)
None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the
glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they feel they cannot
enough express self-abhorrence on account of sin, and admiration of his mercy,
the self-sufficient will be disgusted, because the gospel encourages such
repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the
woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character. But
without free forgiveness none of us can escape the wrath to come; this our
gracious Saviour has purchased with his blood, that he may freely bestow it on
every one that believes in him. Christ, by a parable, forced Simon to
acknowledge that the greater sinner this woman had been, the greater love she
ought to show to Him when her sins were pardoned. Learn here, that sin is a
debt; and all are sinners, are debtors to Almighty God. Some sinners are
greater debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we are
able to pay. God is ready to forgive; and his Son having purchased pardon for
those who believe in him, his gospel promises it to them, and his Spirit seals
it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let us keep far from the
proud spirit of the Pharisee, simply depending upon and rejoicing in Christ
alone, and so be prepared to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to
recommend him unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and
our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the forgiveness of our
sins. What a wonderful change does grace make upon a sinner's heart and life,
as well as upon his state before God, by the full remission of all his sins
through faith in the Lord Jesus!
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Luke》
Luke 7
Verse 3
[3] And
when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him
that he would come and heal his servant.
Hearing of Jesus — Of
his miracles, and of his arrival at Capernaum.
Verse 18
[18] And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
Verse 22
[22] Then
Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have
seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
To the poor the Gospel is preached — Which is the greatest mercy, and the greatest miracle of all.
Verse 24
[24] And
when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people
concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken
with the wind?
When the messengers were departed — He did not speak the following things in the hearing of John's
disciples, lest he should seem to flatter John, or to compliment him into an
adherence to his former testimony. To avoid all suspicion of this kind, he
deferred his commendation of him, till the messengers were gone; and then
delivered it to the people, to prevent all imaginations, as if John were
wavering in his judgment, and had sent the two disciples for his own, rather
than their satisfaction.
Verse 27
[27] This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verse 28
[28] For
I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater
prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is
greater than he.
There is not a greater prophet than John — A greater teacher.
But he that is least in the kingdom of God — The least teacher whom I send forth.
Verse 29
[29] And
all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized
with the baptism of John.
And all the people —
Our Lord continues his discourse: justified God - Owned his wisdom and mercy in
thus calling them to repentance, and preparing them for Him that was to come.
Verse 30
[30] But
the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being
not baptized of him.
But the Pharisees and scribes — The good, learned, honourable men: made void the counsel, the gracious
design, of God toward them - They disappointed all these methods of his love,
and would receive no benefit from them.
Verse 32
[32] They
are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another,
and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to
you, and ye have not wept.
They are like children sitting in the market
place — So froward and perverse, that no
contrivance can be found to please them. It is plain our Lord means, that they
were like the children complained of, not like those that made the complaint.
Verse 34
[34] The
Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man,
and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
But wisdom is justified by all her children — The children of wisdom are those who are truly wise unto salvation. The
wisdom of God in all these dispensations, these various methods of calling
sinners to repentance, is owned and heartily approved by all these.
Verse 36
[36] And
one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into
the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
And one of the Pharisees asked him to eat
with him — Let the candour with which our Lord
accepted this invitation, and his gentleness and prudence at this ensnaring
entertainment, teach us to mingle the wisdom of the serpent, with the innocence
and sweetness of the dove. Let us neither absolutely refuse all favours, nor
resent all neglects, from those whose friendship is at best very doubtful, and
their intimacy by no means safe.
Verse 37
[37] And,
behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat
at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
A woman —
Not the same with Mary of Bethany, who anointed him six days before his last
passover.
Verse 40
[40] And
Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he
saith, Master, say on.
And Jesus said, Simon, I have somewhat to say
to thee — So tender and courteous am address does
our Lord use even to a proud, censorious Pharisee!
Verse 43
[43]
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he
said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Which of them will love him most? — Neither of them will love him at all, before he has forgiven them. An
insolvent debtor, till he is forgiven, does not love, but fly his creditor.
Verse 44
[44] And
he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered
into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my
feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Thou gavest me no water — It was customary with the Jews to show respect and kindness to their
welcome guests, by saluting them with a kiss, by washing their feet, and
anointing their heads with oil, or some fine ointment.
Verse 47
[47]
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she
loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Those many sins of hers are forgiven;
therefore she loveth much — The fruit of her having had much forgiven.
It should carefully be observed here, that her love is mentioned as the effect
and evidence, not the cause of her pardon. She knew that much had been forgiven
her, and therefore she loved much.
Verse 50
[50] And
he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Thy faith hath saved thee — Not thy love. Love is salvation.
── John ‘Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Luke》
Chapter 7. Faith, Hope and Love
Love the Nation
Build the Synagogue
I. The
Centurion's Faith
II. A Widow's
Son Comes Back to Life
III. More Love,
More Forgiveness
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》
The Two Debtors (Lk 7:41-43)
INTRODUCTION
1. Do you appreciate what Jesus has done for you? Does your service and devotion to Jesus demonstrate the true extent of your appreciation? a. If you are slack in your service, what does that indicate? b. If you wish you could be more diligent in your service, what would help to motivate you? 2. Answers to these questions are found in a parable and its setting that Jesus told on an occasion where He was invited to eat at the house of a Pharisee - Lk 7:36-50 [As we continue our series on "The Parables Of Jesus", let's examine the setting and parable itself that has become to be known as the parable of "The Two Debtors"...] I. THE PARABLE AND ITS SETTING
A. THE SETTING... 1. Jesus accepts an invitation to eat at a Pharisee's house - Lk 7:36 2. A woman "who was a sinner" (perhaps a prostitute) comes in... a. She brings an alabaster flask of fragrant oil - Lk 7:37 b. She first stands behind Jesus, weeping - Lk 7:38a c. She then washes His feet with her tears, and wipes them with her hair - Lk 7:38b d. Finally, she kisses His feet and anoints them with the fragrant oil - Lk 7:38c 3. The host wonders whether Jesus could truly be a prophet, for if so He would know what kind of woman she was - Lk 7:39 4. Knowing what is in the Pharisee's heart, Jesus offers to say something - Lk 7:40 B. THE PARABLE ITSELF... 1. A creditor had two debtors - Lk 7:41 a. One owed five hundred denarii b. The other owed fifty denarii (a denarius was equivalent to a day's wage) 2. The debtors could not repay, yet the creditor forgave them both - Lk 7:42a C. JESUS FOLLOWS UP WITH A QUESTION AND APPLICATION... 1. He challenges Simon (the Pharisee) with a question - Lk 7:42b-43
a. "Which of them (the debtors) will love him (the creditor) more?" b. Simon's response: "I suppose the one whom he forgave more" 1) Does "I suppose" suggest a reluctance to respond on Simon's part? 2) Could it be he has already begun to see the point of the parable? c. Jesus replies that Simon has properly judged the correct answer 2. Jesus then makes the contrast between Simon and the woman - Lk7:44-46
a. Simon gave Him no water for His feet, but she washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair b. Simon gave Him no kiss, but she has not ceased to kiss His feet c. Simon did not anoint His head with oil, but she anointed His feet with fragrant oil -- All of these things Simon should have done as a normal host, but he did not do it for the most important Guest of all! 3. Jesus drives the point home - Lk 7:47 a. The first part of this verse is difficult: "...her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much."
1) Is Jesus saying that her love is the "cause" of her forgiveness, or the "proof"? a) Is she forgiven because she loved much? (that's what it sounds like) b) Or is her much love the evidence of the forgiveness of her many sins? 2) Jesus does say that her "faith" saved her - Lk 7:50 a) That is, her faith was the cause for her being forgiven b) And her love may have been a reflection of her faith (cf. "faith working through love" - Ga 5:6) b. But the latter part of the verse, and the implication of the parable itself suggests that her love is the result or proof of her forgiveness 1) "But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little" a) Just as one who receives little forgiveness, loves little... b) ...so one who receives much forgiveness, loves much! 2) "Her love was the result, and not the cause, of her forgiveness. Our sins are not forgiven because we love God, but we love God because they are forgiven (1 Jn 4:19). Such is the inference of the parable, and suchthe teaching of the entire NT." (McGarvey's Fourfold
Gospel)3) "For she loved much (hoti āapìen polu). Illustration
or proof, not reason for the forgiveness. Her sins had been already forgiven and remained forgiven. But to whomlittle is forgiven, the same loveth little (H𧗽 de
oligon aphietai oligon agap�i). This explanation provesthat the meaning of hoti preceding is proof, not cause."
(Robertson's Word Pictures) 4. If the woman's love is simply the evidence her forgiveness, as the parable suggests, then Jesus' next words were designed to further reassure her - Lk 7:48-50 a. "Your sins are forgiven." b. "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace" -- Both statements simply confirm that her great display of love was properly placed, for she had indeed been saved by her faith [While Jesus' words in Lk 7:47 are indeed challenging, the parable and its setting teaches a simple truth: Those who have been forgiven of much are more likely toappreciate their salvation than those forgiven of little!
Let's expound upon this point as we seek to apply the parable toourselves...] II. APPLYING THE PARABLE
A. THIS PARABLE CAN PROVIDE GREAT COMFORT TO SINNERS... 1. Many people who come to Jesus have really made a mess of their lives 2. They know it, and the sense of their guilt is acute a. But this parable reminds us the Lord is willing to forgive no matter the debt! b. And the woman reminds us that as one's sense of guilt is acute, so their love will be greater! c. With a greater love, there will be the motivation for greater service! 3. Just as with the apostle Paul, who did not consider himself worthy to be called an apostle - cf. 1 Co 15:9-10 -- So rather than wallow in your guilt of the past, allow the great forgiveness Jesus offers to motivate you to love and serve Him even more! B. THIS PARABLE REVEALS HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR LOVE AND DEVOTION TOJESUS...
1. Remember, the more cognizant we are of the forgiveness we have in Christ, the more we will love and serve Him 2. There are at least two ways one can have an heightened sense of forgiveness a. One way is to have been forgiven of much, as in the case of this woman b. But another way is learn more about the nature of sin... 1) I.e., how just one sin makes us guilty of all - Ja 2:10 2) I.e., how the wages of sin is spiritual death, separation from God - Ro 6:23; Isa 59:1-2 3. We cannot change the degree of our sinfulness prior to coming to Christ... a. But we can always increase the level of our understanding about sin! b. I.e., the more we learn about the terrible nature of sin... 1) The more we appreciate the forgiveness we have in Christ! 2) The more motivated we are by love to serve Him - 2 Co 5:14-15
CONCLUSION
1. What is our devotion and service to Jesus like? a. Do we treat Him like Simon did? b. I.e., we invite Him into our lives, but really don't give Him the honor He deserves? 2. Could it be that we are more like the Pharisee than we care to admit? a. Failing to give Jesus the proper devotion due Him? b. Looking down in self-righteousness at people who we think are not worthy of Him? 3. If you find yourself with an attitude like Simon's, instead of one like the woman's... a. Remember that those forgiven most are capable of loving Jesus more! b. And that perhaps you need to reflect more on your true spiritual condition! For it was to the sinful woman, and not to self-righteous Simon, that Jesus said: "Your sins are forgiven.""Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
──《Executable Outlines》