SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: A Heart That Confronts - Jesus and a Pharisee - July 14, 2019
Video - EasyWorship Background - 5 minute
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
A leper - A heart that touches
A Centurian - A heart that marvels
The Samaritan woman at the well - A heart that accepts
The Two Daughters (bleeding and Jairus daughter) - A heart that cares
Jesus was always motivated by love.
Confrontation as love.
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Proverbs 27:6 NIV
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
Galatians 6:1 NIV
- A CASE OF OPPOSITES
“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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. 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.”
Luke 7:36-38 NIV
The Odd Couple - neat Felix and unkempt Oscar
Jesus was invited to come and visit
Local men would have been invited to gather around and listen
Simon the Pharisee
The Woman
Probably uninvited
"A sinner" term of one dedicated/devoted to sin i.e. prostitute or Gentile
Major contrast
Religious leader v. Sinful woman
2. A SCANDALOUS ACT
“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. 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. 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.””
Luke 7:37-39 NIV
A. Out of place entrance
B. Uncomfortable actions
1. Anoints Jesus' feet
2. Weeps enough to clean Jesus' feet
3. Wipes and dries Jesus' feet with her hair
C. Simon's judgment
1. She is a sinner
2. Jesus must not be a prophet
3. A REVEALING STORY
“Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 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?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.”
Luke 7:40-43 NIV
The power of story
A. Debt society
B. Amount of debt - a denarii equals 1 days wage
C. Debtors the same
The Bible Exposition Commentary says:
Simon's real problem was blindness: he could not seehimselff, the woman, or the Lord Jesus. It was easy for home to say, "She is a sinner!" But impossible for home to say, "I am also a sinner!" (See Luke 18:9-14). Jesus proved that He was indeed a prophet by reading Simon's thoughts and revealing his needs.
The parable does not deal with the amount of sin in a person's life it the awareness of that sin in his heart. How much sin must a person commit to be a sinner? Simon and the woman were both sinners. Simon was guilty of sins of the spirit, especially pride, while the woman was guilty of sins of the flesh (see 2 Corinthians 7:1). Her sins were known, while Simon's sins were hidden to everyone except God. And both of them were bankrupt and could not pay their debt to God. Simon was just as spiritually bankrupt as the woman, only he did not realize it.
4. A STRIKING REALITY
“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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.””
Luke 7:44-47 NIV
A. Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon . . . "
1. Did Simon see what Jesus saw?
2. Jesus saw her.
B. Her sins were forgiven
1. Forgiveness was the context in which this woman arrives on the scene
2. The result of salvation is a heart that works for God
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
C. The spotlight moves to the man beside Jesus
1. No water to wash Jesus' feet
2. No kiss for Jesus' cheek
3. No anointing for Jesus' head
5. A POWERFUL PURSUIT
“Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
Luke 7:48-50 NIV
A. Jesus claim to be God- the forgiveness of sin
B. Confronting the religious by uplifting the spiritual
1. The primacy of faith
2. The judgment of the knowledgable
3. Tearing down the idols
CONCLUSION
Confrontation
Jesus confronted his closest friends - Peter, Judas, Thomas, the Big 3,
"Do what feels right. Do what you want. Do your thing."
Confrontation takes more love than letting people harm themselves.
The prophetic voice of the church is heard in confrontation.
People will not listen without gentleness and love!
CHALLENGE
Confront someone with love and gentleness.
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