09.17 Sermon Notes
September 12, 2023

The Gospel of Luke - The Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

This is not the same story as “Jesus Anointed at Bethany” found in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 12

The Dinner

  • The Pharisees’ main concern was that the Jewish people would be pure and faithful to God’s law.
  • The Pharisees were curious and cautious, and at times hostile, towards Jesus, yet he is invited over for dinner.
  • Simon, the Pharisee, does not offer any of the normal hospitality that would be expected (i.e. washing of feet, greeting with a kiss, or anointing with oil).

The Woman

  • The woman’s actions are bold and very counter-cultural
  • She is notorious for her sin, yet she comes to the home of a religious leader
  • Women were not allowed to touch men who were not their husbands, and were not allowed to let down their hair in public
  • While feet were washed by a host or servants, kissing the feet was almost unheard of and very intimate
  • She is absolutely broken, crying so many tears that she wets the feet of Jesus

Simon’s Reaction vs. Jesus’ Reaction to the Woman

  • In his thoughts, Simon shames the woman (v. 39)
  • Jesus turns the attention on Simon (v. 40)
  • Jesus defends and honors the woman, he does not reject her but meets her with compassion
  • Jesus presents an honor challenge: The parable of the two cancelled debts
  • He reminds Simon that the woman did everything Simon failed to do in order to bring honor to Jesus: she provided her tears and hair for cleaning his feet, she never ceased kissing his feet, and she anointed his feet with her perfume
  • Jesus saw her

Great Forgiveness, Great Love

  • The woman is conscious of her many sins, responds to Jesus’ call for faith, and expresses immense gratitude for forgiveness
  • She brought everything to the feet of Jesus, in humility, she was desperate for Jesus
  • She gave a very valuable material item because she knew what she was receiving was way more valuable
  • She discarded the opinions of man because she knew God’s love for her meant so much more
  • She recognized her need for a Savior
  • Forgiveness is for ALL of us (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8; Romans 5:8)
  • When we recognize the depth of our sin and the greatness of God’s forgiveness, the debt that Jesus paid, how could we not have a greater love for Him?

The woman may have come to the dinner called “a sinful woman”, but Jesus has called her forgiven!