unBelievable Forgiveness

April 24, 2022

Luke 7: 36-8:3

³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. ⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

8 ¹After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Read Luke 7:36-43

1. We have seen how the Pharisees are always trying (and failing) to catch Jesus doing something wrong. How many different potentially-wrong things would this Pharisee have observed in the first three verses?
2. Pretend you have never read this passage before. As we get to the end of verse 43, what do you think Simon the Pharisee is thinking? What do you imagine he thinks will happen next?

Read Luke 7:44-47

1. Earlier Simon questioned Jesus credibility as a prophet. How does his response to Simon actually validate Jesus’ ability to prophesy?
2. Jesus forgives her sins without being asked to. How do you feel about that?
3. Based on this passage, does Jesus forgive her because of her extravagant display? Or does her extravagant display demonstrate that she has already been forgiven? Why might this distinction be important?

Read Luke 7:48-50

1. Jesus declares her sins are forgiven. What does this suggest about who Jesus is?

Read Luke 8:1:3

1. Writing from within a deeply patriarchal culture, Luke takes time to identify a number of women who were instrumental in Jesus’ ministry. Why is this significant? Do you think this tells us more about Luke and his perspective or more about Jesus and his perspective? Why?
2. Have you ever received support or help from an unlikely and surprising source? Tell us a bout it. What happened?