Luke 7:24-50: “Jesus Commends John The Baptist Then Dines
With Simon The Pharisee And A Sinful Woman Anoints His feet”
By
1.
INTRO:
1.1.
In our last study, we looked
at the first 23 verses of chapter 7.
1.1.1. In two miracles which Jesus performed, His authority over death,
illness, space, and distance was established:
1.1.1.1. Jesus healed the daughter of a Roman centurion, and the centurion’s faith
and humility caused Jesus to marvel.
1.1.1.2. Jesus raised from the dead the only son of a widow from the city of
1.1.2. A delegation was sent to Jesus from John the Baptist inquiring whether
or not Jesus was the expected One or whether they needed to wait for another.
1.2.
In our study today, we are
going to look at verses 24-50 of chapter 7.
1.2.1. Jesus first begins to commend John the Baptist to the multitude
gathered to Him.
1.2.2. Then, Jesus challenges the people about whether they responded to John and
his ministry or not.
1.2.3. Next, Jesus accepts an invitation to come to the house of a Pharisee
name Simon for a meal. During the meal a
woman who is described as a sinner anoints Jesus feet with perfume and her
tears and wipes His feet with her hair.
2. VS 7:24-25 – “24 When
the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25
“But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those
who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal
palaces!” - Jesus asks the crowd what they came to see
when they came to see John the Baptist
2.1.
In our previous study we
left off talking about the delegation that had been sent by John the Baptist to
Jesus asking Jesus if He was the ‘expected One’ or whether they should look for
another. At that time we discussed what
had led John the Baptist to come to that place where he was asking this
question of Jesus. We concluded that
John was fit to be tied sitting in a prison because of rebuking Herod Antipas
of his sin, and that John was at that time going through a period of depression
and doubts. Jesus told John’s delegation
to basically hang around for awhile and see the things that Jesus was doing in
causing the deaf to hear, the blind to see, casting out demons, raising the
dead, preaching the gospel to the poor, and, then he said that those would be
blessed who did not stumble over Him.
2.2.
Now that this delegation
from John the Baptist had left Jesus to return to John and explain to him that
Jesus was doing the very things that were prophesied that the Messiah would do,
Jesus turned to the multitude gathered to Him in order to make a public
commendation of John. John’s ministry
was important enough for Jesus to comment on.
Jesus’ disciples needed to hear what He says about John.
2.2.1. Remember, we discussed that good men sometimes have periods of doubts
and that if when we have doubts that we bring them to Jesus, just as John the
Baptist did, then the Lord will address those doubts and increase our faith.
2.3.
Jesus asks the multitude
what it was that they went out to see when they went to see John the
Baptist? In other words, Jesus asks them
what their motivation was for wanting to go out and to see John?
2.3.1. John the Baptist was an interesting individual as he had been raised in
the wilderness and had lived a strict Nazarite vow from birth. He wore a came hair clothes, ate locusts and
honey, drank no wine, and at did not cut his hair. John’s personal appearance and mannerisms
were very different from the other leaders in Israel in this day, in virtually
every regard.
2.3.2. We have seen also that John baptized people in a baptism of repentance
out there in the wilderness as well.
But, he also had a message that he preached, it was one of
repentance. John preached a fiery
message that convicted people of their sins and going astray from the Lord and
His law as He told them to repent and begin to walk in obedience in God and in
the light and truth of God’s word.
2.4.
The people who came out to
see John may have come for a variety of reasons.
2.4.1. Some may have come because John was an unusual and interesting
spectacle, kind of a throw back to the days of the prophet Elijah. Perhaps they thought that it would be
entertaining to see and hear John. We
know that Herod Antipas was entertained by John for after he had John
imprisoned he used to get a kick out of hearing John speak.
2.4.2. Some may have come as spies from the Pharisees just as many came from
that group to spy upon Jesus so that they might discern if his ministry was
from God (eventually they came to spy on Jesus so that they might find a reason
to put Jesus to death).
2.4.3. Finally, some may have come to John because of all of the teachers in
2.4.3.1. In our land and in the church it is often the case that many churches
and church leaders are just going through the motions spiritually and there is
little if any spiritual reality in their ministry and message.
2.4.3.1.1.
Many churches today preach a
gospel message that is basically “Easy believe-ism” and does not include
repentance from sin. People sometimes
respond to evangelistic messages in these churches but they are not brought to
salvation but rather to a false hope that cannot bring them eternal life.
2.4.3.1.2.
Sadly, most of the churches
that are growing in our country are “seeker friendly” churches which have short
Sunday services that last 30-45 minutes.
The worship band is professional and the quality incredible, though the
spirit of true worship is lacking as the band is more professional than worshipful. There is often an incredible drama production
put on that stirs the emotions (for instance some churches regularly even bring
elephants and camels onto their stages for the realism). The pastor preaches a short 15 minute maximum
sermon that doesn’t include words like sin, hell, and judgment, and emphasizes
the love of God and leaves out the justice and wrath of God, etc. People leave these churches feeling good
about themselves because they have been to the house of God however nothing has
changed in their life and they are no closer to God than they were before they
came in.
2.4.3.1.3.
Jesus questioned the motives
for the people coming out to see and hear John the Baptist and I think that it
would be good if people today in our land would consider their motives for
going to church. Are they going because
they love the Lord and really want to live their life so that it is pleasing to
Him, and thus they want to hear the truth from God’s word about their own life,
even if it may be uncomfortable information to take in? Sadly, I believe that the majority of people
in
2.5.
Jesus asks the multitude if
they came to see ‘a reed
shaken by the wind,’ which refers to a weak man of compromise? The people did not have to come out to John to
see people compromise in their faith and beliefs, the Pharisees were strict in
their keeping of laws which dealt with external observances and rites but
constantly allowed horrible sins of the heart to go unchecked. John the Baptist was not a compromiser but
rather his walk matched his talk, he was not ‘a reed shaken by the wind.’ John did not compromise the truth in his
message because of the fear of what man might do to him.
2.6.
Jesus asks the multitude if
they came to see ‘a man
dressed in soft clothing,’ which is an allusion again to the
Pharisaical spiritual leaders in
2.6.1. I am shocked and appalled at the people in our country who will listen
to and watch television evangelists and even support their ministries even
though they know that the televangelist is making millions of dollars a year
doing ministry. Can a minister be
legitimate and bring spiritual life if he is living for the things of this
world? Jesus told us this in Matthew 6:24, “ “No
one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or
he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
wealth.” You can’t serve the Lord
and ‘wealth’ or ‘mammon.’
2.6.2. When people came to John the Baptist they must have realized that the
only thing that John could give them was the Lord Himself for he had no other
possession in this earth. It was
worthwhile coming out to see John for this reason.
3. VS 7:26-27 - “26 “But what did you go out to see?
A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet. 27 “This
is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold,
I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way before You.’” - Jesus tells the crowd that
John the Baptist was more than a prophet, he was the one called to come and
prepare the way before the Messiah
3.1.
The people in
3.1.1. What the world needs today is churches where people are challenged in
their hearts as to where they are with the Lord. In 2
Timothy 4:3 Paul wrote, “3 For the time will come when they will
not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they
will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,”
however what people really need is to have their ears opened to the truth from
God’s word however it cuts.
3.1.2. Wouldn’t you rather be told
what you need to do to get your life right with the Lord than to be told that
everything is OK between you and the Lord and yet every day as you get closer to
the day you die you are just heading like a sheep to the slaughter, for you
shall send eternity in hell?
3.2.
Jesus tells the multitude that John was even greater than a
prophet. He states that John was the one
who was prophesied to come as the forerunner of the Messiah, preparing the way
for the Lord.
3.2.1. Jesus is quoting from
Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6 which is a reference to this unique individual who was
prophesied to come as the forerunner to the Messiah, “1 “Behold,
I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the
Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the
covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts… 5 “Behold, I am going to send you
Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 “He will restore the
hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children
to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.””
3.2.1.1. In Luke 1:13-17, the angel Gabriele made it clear to Zacharias that
when John the Baptist was born to Zacharias and Elizabeth that the baby will
not be Elijah, nor a reincarnated Elijah, but that he will come “in the
spirit and power of Elijah,” “13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your
petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you
will give him the name John. 14 “You will have joy and gladness, and
many will rejoice at his birth. 15 “For he will be great in the
sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled
with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 “And he will
turn many of the sons of
3.2.2. Isaiah also prophesied about
this forerunner to come before the Messiah in Isaiah 40:1-4, “1 “Comfort,
O comfort My people,” says your God. 2 “Speak kindly to
4. VS 7:28 - “28 “I say to you, among those born
of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he.”” - Jesus tells the crowd that in the Old
Testament era that none were greater than John the Baptist, however the least
one in the
4.1.
John had a vital role in
preparation for the coming of Jesus for his ministry of preaching of
repentance, and his baptism of repentance, prepared many hearts to receive the
ministry of Jesus when Jesus eventually began to preach the gospel to the
people.
4.2.
Jesus tells the multitude
that John was a great man, and he was for he was faithful to that calling that
he had from the Lord. John will be beheaded
not too many days from this time, and he was a man who, like the apostle Paul
at the end of his life, could say of himself in 2 Tim. 4:7-8, “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the
faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
4.3.
It is incredible to think
that Jesus actually places John the Baptist as being ‘greater’ than any
other faithful Old Testament prophet.
There were many great and faithful men in that list of Old Testament
prophets, many of whom Heb. 11:38 tells us the world was not worthy.
4.4.
But now, what is more
incredible than that is what Jesus next says.
He says that the ‘least’ one in His kingdom ‘is greater than
he.’ How can this be? How can every person who simply asks Jesus to
be his Lord and Master and thus comes to salvation be greater than John the
Baptist, the greatest man in all of the Old Testament era? Since it cannot be
strictly because of our faithfulness to the Lord, what causes each believer in
Christ to be greater than John the Baptist?
4.4.1. We in New Testament times have unique opportunities and
privileges. In the Old Testament era
there was not the opportunity to be born again and enjoy a personal
relationship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit, as is the case in the New
Testament times. Though the Holy Spirit
came upon God’s people at times it was not a consistent and pervasive
experience for God’s people.
4.4.2. We in New Testament times are living in the period referred to in the
scriptures as “the last days.” As
a result of being this much closer to the consummation of the ages, we are privileged
to see the Lord work in incredible ways through our’s and other’s lives.
5. VS 7:29-35 - “29 When all the people and the tax
collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been
baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the
lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by
John. 31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation,
and what are they like? 32 “They are like children who sit in the
market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for
you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 “For
John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say,
‘He has a demon!’ 34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking,
and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax
collectors and sinners!’ 35 “Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her
children.”” - Some accepted John the Baptist’s ministry,
others rejected it, Jesus compares those who rejected John to selfish children
5.1.
The common people and tax
collectors present on this day with Jesus rejoiced at this commendation that
Jesus gives to John the Baptist, for they had received of John’s ministry,
repented of their sins, and been baptized by John. These people were now going to be prepared to
receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
5.2.
There was another response
amongst the crowd on that day, that of the Pharisees in attendance. Luke tells us here that ‘the Pharisees and
lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.’ These Pharisees in attendance had not come to
John because their hearts were wanting more of the Lord and they wanted the
real scoop from heaven, rather they came as the religious police to spy upon
John. They came to be critic not to
participate and for this reason they were not made better by John’s ministry.
5.3.
Jesus next uses an unusual
illustration to liken what these Pharisees are like, and it is not obvious at
first glance what Jesus is saying. What
in essence Jesus is saying through this illustration is that the Pharisees are
like a bunch of spoiled children who refuse to play with other children because
those children aren’t playing according to their rules. The Pharisees are acting childish.
5.4.
Jesus proves His argument
that the Pharisees are acting like a bunch of spoiled children who refuse to
play with other children by describing the fickleness they display because of
the way they criticize both John the Baptist and Jesus:
5.4.1. John the Baptist and Jesus were opposites in their lifestyle.
5.4.1.1. John the Baptist lived an austere lifestyle and thus didn’t eat bread,
but rather locusts and wild honey. Plus,
because of his Nazarite vow John did not drink any wine. They labeled John the Baptist as having ‘a
demon.’
5.4.1.2. However, Jesus had no such restrictions on His life. Jesus lived a normal life eating bread and
drinking wine, and they labeled Him ‘a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
5.5.
People will find anything
that suits them in order to speak or think poorly of God’s people who are
simply trying to live out and share the truth with them. People sometimes lie and spread false rumors
about Christians in order to calm their own consciences and justify their own
life of sin. Persecution of Christians
occurs on many levels in our world.
5.6.
The statement that ‘wisdom is vindicated by all her children’
seems to say that the true children of God will see clearly and judge things
rightly, having the wisdom which comes from God to do so.
6. VS 7:36-38 - “ 36 Now one of the Pharisees was
requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city
who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in
the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and
standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with
her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet
and anointing them with the perfume.” - Simon the Pharisee asks Jesus to come and
dine with him and at the meal a sinful woman comes in and anoints Jesus’ feet
with perfume and her tears, wiping them with her hair
6.1.
Simon the Pharisee may have
genuinely been seeking the Lord in having Jesus over to his house for
dinner. The scripture does not tell us
his motive for having Jesus over.
6.2.
Even though the Pharisees
were now becoming Jesus’ enemies, Jesus did not turn down an invitation to this
man’s house for He sought to win to Himself everyone who would listen to the
truth.
6.3.
This is not the same story
related in Matthew 26:6-7 where Jesus is at the house of Simon the Leper and a
woman came and poured a vial of expensive perfume on His head, causing the
disciples to become indignant that such an expensive bottle of perfume had been
wasted on Jesus. Nor is it the case that
this woman is Mary Magdalene, for Luke will introduce Mary in the near future
and if it had been her in this story her name would have been listed.
6.4.
We do not know the specific
sin which caused this woman to be know as being a sinful woman but it has been
suggested that it may have been immorality and that she may even have been a
prostitute. However, the woman’s
expression of deep love and devotion for Jesus seems to indicate that the woman
has already turned from her life of sin, plus the scriptures tell us that we “love
because He first loved us,” or because we have first responded to His love
for us.
6.5.
In Jesus’ day, when dining
at a table people would lay down upon the floor on their side facing the table,
with their legs spread out behind them.
The tables were very low to the ground.
This is surely the way that Jesus and His disciples were dining on that
last night before Jesus’ crucifixion. In
this position, a woman from the city who is described as being ‘a sinner’
comes behind Jesus and begins to anoint His feet with perfume and her tears.
6.6.
This perfume that the woman
uses was expensive and had cost her a bunch, and to anoint His feet in this way
the woman is moved by her love for Jesus.
6.7.
In Matthew’s account of this
story this event followed Jesus preaching to the people that if any were weary
or heavy laden that they should come to Him and that He would give them rest. This woman had possibly responded to that
invitation to come to Jesus and was overwhelmed with the grace of God that He
would call her to Himself in spite of her life of sin.
6.8.
The woman’s response is very
emotional as expressed by wiping Jesus’ feet not only with perfume but also
with her tears. In even greater humility
and devotion she also begins to wipe off Jesus’ dirty feet with her hair.
7. VS 7:39-46 - “39 Now when the Pharisee who had
invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would
know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is
a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to
say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender
had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When
they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them
will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one
whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44
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. 45 “You gave Me no
kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46
“You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with
perfume.” - Jesus reasons with Simon the Pharisee why it
was appropriate and important for this sinful woman to anoint His feet
7.1.
When Simon sees Jesus
allowing this sinful woman to touch Him and anoint His feet, he begins to doubt
Jesus’ discernment and role as a prophet.
Though he doesn’t say anything out loud he is thinking to himself that
if Jesus were truly a prophet of the Most High God He would realize how sinful
this woman is and not allow her to get too close to Him.
7.1.1. It is wonderful and amazing that the Lord draws sinful people to
Himself.
7.2.
Jesus reveals to Simon that
He is a prophet both by exposing the thoughts that Simon was having at this
moment as well as explaining via this parable why it was appropriate for this
woman to express her love and devotion to Jesus in this manner.
7.3.
Jesus directs His comments
directly to Simon here (as if to say to Simon that He has a word from the Lord
for Simon), saying ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ Simon acts polite and respectful as he
replies to Jesus telling Him to speak what He has to say, and then calling
Jesus, ‘teacher.’
7.4.
In the parable Jesus speaks
to Simon, He compares two debtors of a moneylender and categorizes their
respective debts using monetary units of denarii which were used in
7.5.
This parable illustrates a
very important principle. God is the
moneylender in the story. Each of us as
people are sinful and thus we owe a debt of sin to the Lord. Some owe more because our sins are more
numerous or heinous, however everyone owes a debt. None of us are able to repay our debt and are
completely at the mercy of the Lord because of our debt of sin. We deserve only justice and the punishment of
hell. However, the Lord does not give us
what we deserve. Instead, out of His
grace and mercy alone He sent His only begotten Son to come and go to the cross
of
7.6.
Like many living in our day,
Simon for his part sees the sin of this woman as being great for she was
notorious in the community for living a life of sin. However, he doesn’t see the blackness of his
own sin. He believes that he is not as
good as some but surely not as bad as many and that the Lord surely overlooks
his own sin because of the greatness of other’s sins, and, he thinks that his
sin is not an issue between himself and the Lord. However, he doesn’t realize the great truths
of
7.7.
Next, Jesus speaks directly
to Simon in a way of rebuke and tells him that in comparison to this woman that
he didn’t wash Jesus’ feet or kiss Jesus, and he didn’t anoint Jesus’ feet with
oil. In saying this, Jesus is revealing
to Simon that all people need to have the love and devotion of worship to Jesus
that this woman has. In other words, the
actions of this woman should be the normal response to receiving the grace of
God in one’s life. Simon shows through
his life that he does not value having his sins forgiven by Jesus nor see his
need to be forgivenm. Simon senses no
need for an expression of gratitude to Jesus.
7.7.1. If you confess the Name of Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I want to ask
you today how you show your gratitude for the huge debt you owe Him for dying
on the cross in order to forgive you for each of your sins?
7.7.2. It seems today that many people in the church would be more likely to
respond to Jesus with a “high five” rather than an emotional expression of deep
love and gratitude for Jesus’ love and grace dispensed to them. This is not the fruit of a genuine salvation
experience...
8. VS 7:47-49 - “47 “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.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins
have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with
Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives
sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in
peace.”” - Jesus tells the sinful woman that her sins
have been forgiven her
8.1.
Jesus says here that ‘for
this reason’ that this woman’s sins ‘which are many have been forgiven.’ Jesus is not saying that this deed caused the
woman’s sins to be forgiven, rather He is saying that the deed is the
reflection of the fact that she is a genuine believer in Him and has truly come
to have saving faith in Him. This is
very similar to James remarks in the book of James where he teaches that “faith
produces works.”
8.2.
Jesus further tells this
woman that she has come to be “saved” and that what has caused her to
come to salvation is her ‘faith.’
It is not her works but her faith in Jesus that has brought salvation
this woman.
8.3.
Jesus now reassures this
woman that her sins ‘have been forgiven’ her. It is great news of rejoicing when a person
finds out that his sins have been forgiven him.
What a blessing it is to have that assurance. I believe that the Lord wants every believer
in Christ to have assurance that if he has truly repented and turned over his
life to the Lord and truly believe upon Christ and His work alone to forgive
him of his sins, that he is forgiven, and, that as a result that he shall spend
eternity in heaven with the Lord. In 1
John 5:12-13, we are given this incredible promise of assurance of our
salvation, “12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does
not have the Son of God does not have the life. 13 These things I
have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may
know that you have eternal life.”
9. CONCLUSIONS:
9.1. Have you
responded to the pardon for your sins which Jesus procured for you on
9.2.
How have you responded to the incredible grace and mercy
that the Lord has extended to you? Do
you seek to worship and deeply honor and reverence Jesus just as was the case
of this sinful woman at Simon’s house?