Much Love from Much Forgiveness
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Faith, Hope & Love
Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 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. 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.” 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.” 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. 46 You 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.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Sermon Outline
Our love grows through an encounter with Jesus that both exposes and pardons us.
1. Getting Close to a Prophet
v39 “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.”
2. Learning from a Sinner
v42 “When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
vv43-47 “you… but she…”
3. Seeing the Savior
v49 “who is this, who even forgives sins?”
v50 “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”
Questions for Reflection
How well do you know yourself? What means do you use to understand who you are and what is going on within you?
What traits in others bother you most? Why?
What kinds of feedback have you consistently gotten from others? What do others say about you?
On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being “very bad person” and 10 being “very good person”, where would you place yourself? Why? What criteria helps you make that evaluation?
How do you respond when you are aware of your flaws, short comings and sins? What kinds of things do you do?
What is it about the offer of forgiveness through Jesus that you find most off-putting or hard to believe? What is it that is most compelling or attractive?
Why is Jesus’ love for this sinful woman and his treatment of her helpful for dealing with our own guilt and shame?
How are you keeping Jesus at a distance? What steps can you take to draw nearer to him in faith?
Prayer of Confession
Gracious and merciful Father, you have sent Jesus into the world to save sinners. We confess our membership in that group. Though we have tried, we have not fixed ourselves. Instead, we have sought to control, to excuse, to ignore – and we have molded ourselves in the likeness of a hypocrite. We confess our arrogance. We confess our loathing of others. We confess we hate the sins of others because we can’t bear the sin within ourselves. Thank you for bearing our sin. Who is like Jesus? Who else can pardon sins? Who else knows us, yet loves us? We look in faith to you for forgiveness, and ask for your peace to heal us and fill us with love. Amen.