The Scandal of Grace • Luke 7:36-50

Apr 6, 2010 9:54:13 AM

"The Scandal of Grace"

Luke 7:36-50

Introduction.
Common denominator: ENRON... Watergate... Tiger Wood's —> SCANDAL
scandal = "an action or event that causes public outrage"

What if MY life were a scandal? To heaven, it is. The good news is that this passage is
about a scandalous woman who experiences grace...

Exposition.
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's
house and took his place at the table.

The Pharisees- a sect of Judaism that pursued strict obedience to the law / religious
CRITICS (like movie critic- stood above to judge)
He plans to evaluate and judge Jesus as a possible prophet.

37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he
was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of
ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet
with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and
anointed them with the ointment.

"a woman of the city... a sinner" — bad reputation

a dramatic show of emotion and devotion
this is not worked up emotionalism, but an involuntary response of affection

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this
man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who
is touching him, for she is a sinner."

the Pharisee's critique/evaluation/judgement— Jesus is NOT a prophet

SHE is a SINNER – he is looking down

40 And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And
he answered, "Say it, Teacher." 41 "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One
owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he
cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon
answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said
to him, "You have judged rightly."

Here we have the confrontational Jesus

Aparable
His problem: Simon can't see his own debt / so he can't love / can only be critical and
judgmental
judgmental
Some of us should be under conviction right about now! I am...

44 Then 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 from the time I
came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which
are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves
little."

Jesus contrasts Simon and the sinful woman...

The woman loved Jesus b/c she had been forgiven MUCH— her love is evidence of
grace / inside out change
Jesus does not soft peddle sin!
She needed forgiveness "her sins, which are MANY" ... but so does Simon— just as
badly, if not worse!

Simon didn't have the capacity to love b/c he had never experienced grace/forgiveness
For him, love is reward that is granted for good behavior/performance
Since she was "bad," simon could never love her / or even TOUCH her!
HIS PROBLEM: the law was his gospel!

48 And [Jesus] said to [the woman], "YOUR sins are forgiven."

Three questions:
To whom are those words most powerful?
To whom are those words merely words?
A personal question: Am I Simon or the woman?

49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is
this, who even forgives sins?"
Mark's gospel adds, "for only God can forgive sins."
Her ultimate sin was looking for love, approval and acceptance in all the wrong places
—it wasn't just the behavior that was the sin; it was her needy heart pursuing God
substitutes!
Don't we do the same thing?
- approval from peers
- we want to fit in, be liked, affirmed
- so we try to know the most, win & be successful, concerned with appearance...
- this woman didn't care about that anymore-- SHE WAS FREE from the opinions of
others!!!

50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Faith vs. religious works/performance/obedience to the law (self-rtns.)

Rather than Simon being the model to follow, the sinful woman is held up as the
model!
 Jesus is saying, "Be like her!"

Illustration. "Be like Mike" Gatorade commercials... drink what he drinks/Air Jorans- wear
what he wears...

Application. Who are your heroes/role models?

- know the most?
- win the most / successful?
- look the best?
- love the best?

Redemption. That is what we see in Jesus– he loves the best. She poured out a jar of perfume /
JESUS POURS OUT HIS LIFE... Romans 5:8, "God shows his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Jesus
died for us."

Conclusion. So, what are we to do?

1. Face the Simon that resides in all of us (the religious, conservative Simon, or the
irreligious, liberal Simon)

- Ask the hard questions:

"Why am I so critical? so quick to judge? to complain?"
"Why do I not love well?"
- For some of us, it is hard to receive love- so performance oriented
- Do I use some law/personal rules as my gospel?

2. Be like the woman– let your life be a scandal of grace!

- receive grace (be changed)
- extend grace (influence others)

Invitation.
What if... —> freedom, joy, intimacy, IMPACT!

Prayer.

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