Jesus’ Forgiveness of a Sinful Woman

Introduction. (Luke 7:36-50) This morning I’d like for us to consider this account and think about what it teaches us about Jesus, His love for sinners, and what it teaches us about ourselves.
     The first part of this account is not surprising to us. The Pharisees were a religious group who tried to strictly follow the Law of Moses (although they often followed manmade traditions rather than the text of Scripture. We should not be surprised to see Jesus eating and talking with a Pharisee. What is more surprising is to see Jesus with ...

I. “A woman in the city who was a sinner” (vs. 37). We don’t know what had led this “woman to he considered a “sinner.” Had she...

  • Openly done things that were shameful and immoral?
  • Neglected worship by failing to go to the synagogue for Sabbath worship? Or failing to offer sacrifices as she should?
  • How did these people know she was a sinner? Had they been where they shouldn’t have been?
    What is clear is:
    1. She knew that she needed to show honor to Jesus, and...
    2. Jesus didn’t turn away from her.
    Why honor Him? Had she seen His miracles? Had His teachings convicted her? Was she ready to change and knew that this man was the help she needed? Why didn’t Jesus shun her? It could have given the “wrong impression.” She had probably repented before-why believe her now? He didn’t turn away from her because it was for people like her that he came to the earth:
  • (Luke 19:1-10) Note: He came to seek and to save that which was lost.
  • (Luke 5:27-32) Note: Jesus is a physician for the ailing soul. He came to call “sinners to repentance.”
         Jesus is not tolerant of sin, but He associates with those who need His aid.

    II. “This man, if He were a prophet...” (vs. 39a). They approach this strange turn of events with a preconceived idea about what a prophet is and how he should and shouldn’t act. Many people do the same thing with God.

  • “If there is a God He wouldn’t condemn those who sin.”
  • “I don’t think God expects me to go to church.”
  • “The Bible doesn’t make sense to me, so I don’t think that’s the way it ought to be.”
    (Ezekiel 13:1-3) Note: “out of their own heart” - “follow their own spirit.”

    III. “...Would know who and what manner of woman this is” (vs. 39b). Jesus did know exactly who and “what manner of woman”Êthis was. But they think if He knew, He would act different. What if He did know? How did they expect Him to act?

  • Did they expect Him to spit on her?
  • Did they expect Him to tell her to get away from Him?
    Where was their compassion? Where was their desire for her repentance? Shouldn’t the religious leaders around her have been trying to teach her? Instead they just looked down on her.
    (Matthew 23:13-16a). You can only look down on someone, if you ignore your own shortcomings (Matthew 7:1-5).

    IV. “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors” (vs. 41). Jesus is not giving an economics lesson. He is talking about sin and the debt that it racks up. Obviously, He is comparing the woman and this Pharisee. The point is that both are creditors - i.e. both are sinners. How important it is for us to see this! This is the theme of Romans 1-3. Chapter One - Gentiles are in Sin; Chapter two - Jew are in sin. Chapter Three - (Romans 3:9-11)“all under sin.” Do you see this fact? Do you realize your sin debt? If so you can take advantage of the mercy of the creditor. If not, you are facing spiritual default - there is no option of bankruptcy, no clemency, no pay off-everything you have will be demanded, your very soul will be forfeited. Why? (Romans 6:23) “Wages of sin is death.”

    V. “Which of them will love him more” (vs. 42). Jesus is leading him along here so that he will make the connection between the woman’s behavior and her gratitude for forgiveness. The reason that this woman was so openly humble and generous in her adoration of Jesus is that she realized “I have really sinned!-I really need forgiveness!” But, the fact is that sin is sin. All sin has the potential to separate man from God. All sin when forgiven involves God lifting an unbearable burden that we could not otherwise have removed. Example of Paul: (I Timothy 1:12-16).

    VI. “To whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (vs. 47). This Pharisee imagined in his heart that he didn’t really need forgiveness. He was a “good person.” Maybe he was like the Pharisee in the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9-14. Perhaps this man “trusted in himself” (which is not just a problem for the religious person). Many trust that their “good life” makes them right with God. He didn’t recognize that he was “a sinner” so he didn’t give the Savior the same love and honor.

  • How does our behavior towards God reflect our love of Him?
  • Does He hold a place of honor in our schedule? In our finances? In our plans & goals? In our behavior?
         Perhaps we are not fooling ourself by thinking we are a “good person”Ê- maybe we realize that “we need to be forgiven much.” Have we sought this forgiveness through obedience to the gospel?

    VII. “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (vs. 49). The question they ask here is quite profound, whether they realize it or not. They are upset with Him because He forgives her sin. In their understanding (as it is in fact) God alone has the power to forgive sins. They think He is blaspheming. They should have considered another possibility-Jesus was “God in the Flesh”! As a result He had authority to forgive sins.

  • (Luke 5:17-25) Note: “son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sin.”
         Do you need the love and mercy of Jesus? Why not accept it now?