Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon Text: Luke 7:36-50

Other Readings: 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

 

1. Our worship theme for this service was “The Believer’s Faith Trusts in God after Contrition and Repentance.” Contrition is Holy Spirit-worked sorrow over sin. How did the woman show the contrition which the Spirit had worked?

 

2. Did the woman’s display of sorrow earn her forgiveness or show her trust in God’s forgiveness? Use the parable in verses 41 and 42 to answer.

 

3. In our present day, who are some of the people we are tempted to look down upon as bigger sinners than we are, just as Simon looked down on the woman?

 

4. Verse 48 reads, “Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” When we deal with others and their sins, what can we learn from Jesus here?

 

5. Have you been forgiven much or little? How are you responding to this forgiveness? (See 7:47.).

 

 

1. She was moved to tears over her sin. She showed her reverence for Jesus by bringing him an expensive gift of perfume and anointing him, a high honor in that culture.

 

2. It did not earn her forgiveness. Just as the moneylender canceled the debt because he was nice and gracious, so God canceled our debt of sin because of his love in Christ, not because of what we have done or do. The woman’s actions display that she trusted Jesus was the only one she could go to for that free forgiveness.

 

3. Answers may vary, but when you read the Second Lesson from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, how do you react to those sins? That may display some of the areas where Satan tempts you to look down on others.

 

4. “Your sins…” Jesus does not pretend that she had no sin but acknowledges it. So we, too, do not pretend that other people are not sinners. Ignoring sin doesn’t deal with it.

“Are forgiven…” Jesus doesn’t put conditions on it and uses the present the tense. He also uses the word “forgiven,” not some cliché like, “It’s OK,” or, “It’s good.” So we, too, don’t put conditions when we forgive them and don’t use clichés. Consciences need to hear God’s exact word to them, “Your sins are forgiven.”

“Jesus said to her…” Jesus speaks directly to the woman. So we, too, speak directly to people who are hurting, no matter how uncomfortable or awkward we may feel. We speak directly to the heart and soul.

 

5. Each of us have been forgiven much, but how you are responding is for you to ponder; this question isn’t looking for a definitive answer.