Thursday, May 18, 2006
GO IN PEACE!
Vv.48-50. And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." 49. And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50. And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
No longer is Christ’s conversation being tossed over His shoulder, And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." This would reinforce the inner reality that this woman experienced as witnessed by her actions. This action was not due to her burden of sin but the overwhelming relief (love) that she had received. She had received forgiveness from the moneylender whom she was unable to repay. This is something the religious never understood as it is witnessed in verse 49: And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"
The religious are becoming more and more distanced from Jesus because only God can forgive sins, yet this Jesus is making such a claim on His own. We, like the Pharisees have but two choices; He is God or He is a lunatic.
The dinner party’s words are recorded, as were Simon’s thoughts. However the party received no response from Jesus. The final words were spoken to the thankful one: And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
No longer is Christ’s conversation being tossed over His shoulder, And He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." This would reinforce the inner reality that this woman experienced as witnessed by her actions. This action was not due to her burden of sin but the overwhelming relief (love) that she had received. She had received forgiveness from the moneylender whom she was unable to repay. This is something the religious never understood as it is witnessed in verse 49: And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"
The religious are becoming more and more distanced from Jesus because only God can forgive sins, yet this Jesus is making such a claim on His own. We, like the Pharisees have but two choices; He is God or He is a lunatic.
The dinner party’s words are recorded, as were Simon’s thoughts. However the party received no response from Jesus. The final words were spoken to the thankful one: And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
FORGIVEN LITTLE?
Continuing to speak to Simon, while facing the woman, He continues:
V47. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
Simon displayed little love for Jesus but this woman had totally forgotten herself and had become all consumed by the fact that spiritual reality had come to her in that she was no longer a guilty sinner in God’s eyes. She was born again, no longer what she had been but now a child of the King. Simon, on the other hand, considered himself quite capable of paying off his own sin debt as most men historically have and will.
One can always tell the regenerate because their sins are always before them and they recognize the fact that in them held the wrath of God. Sin holds no blessing and the regenerate are testimony to that fact. Show me a sinning believer and I’ll show you a miserable individual.
V47. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."
Simon displayed little love for Jesus but this woman had totally forgotten herself and had become all consumed by the fact that spiritual reality had come to her in that she was no longer a guilty sinner in God’s eyes. She was born again, no longer what she had been but now a child of the King. Simon, on the other hand, considered himself quite capable of paying off his own sin debt as most men historically have and will.
One can always tell the regenerate because their sins are always before them and they recognize the fact that in them held the wrath of God. Sin holds no blessing and the regenerate are testimony to that fact. Show me a sinning believer and I’ll show you a miserable individual.
Monday, May 15, 2006
THE CONTRAST
V43. Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly."
We gain insight into Simon’s attitude when he said, “I suppose.” Hendriksen labels him having a spirit of indifference, real or feigned. The Pharisee is wondering what Jesus is trying to prove. Jesus has proven that He does know this woman’s past and present condition. He also knows what Simon says to himself proving that He is a prophet able to discern hearts and minds.
Simon’s supposition is correctly ascertained in that the one whom is the most forgiven loves the forgiver more.
Vv. 44-46. And 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 she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46. "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
Luke paints us a picture telling us that Jesus, rolling away from the table, and turning toward the woman, He said to Simon. We can see this woman with red eyes, nose, and cheeks complete with matted up hair from Christ’s dirty feet through His eyes. Focused upon the woman He speaks to Simon and said, "Do you see this woman?” This is a rhetorical question; of course he can see her. The jest is that Simon sees her as she was and Jesus can see what she has become.
At this point Jesus draws a comparison between the master of the house and the perceived harlot. Jesus says to Simon, I entered your house; you failed to offer me common hospitality; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. (This woman was acting impulsively having no other resource than her own hair and tears to soothe the feet of her Savior.)
The second indictment: “You gave Me no [customary] kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.” The custom upon entry into one’s home was the kiss on the cheek viewed similar to our handshake. The kiss on the cheek was somewhat natural but to kiss one’s feet was symbolic of supreme adoration.
The third indictment: "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.” Simon the Pharisee, the religious leader of the banquet of religious leadership, couldn’t even display common courtesy but this ex-common street whore sees her only hope in the one whom is getting the least respect from the “God people”. She renders the finest perfume for Christ’s feet whereas Simon would not even anoint His head with simple olive oil.
We gain insight into Simon’s attitude when he said, “I suppose.” Hendriksen labels him having a spirit of indifference, real or feigned. The Pharisee is wondering what Jesus is trying to prove. Jesus has proven that He does know this woman’s past and present condition. He also knows what Simon says to himself proving that He is a prophet able to discern hearts and minds.
Simon’s supposition is correctly ascertained in that the one whom is the most forgiven loves the forgiver more.
Vv. 44-46. And 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 she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46. "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
Luke paints us a picture telling us that Jesus, rolling away from the table, and turning toward the woman, He said to Simon. We can see this woman with red eyes, nose, and cheeks complete with matted up hair from Christ’s dirty feet through His eyes. Focused upon the woman He speaks to Simon and said, "Do you see this woman?” This is a rhetorical question; of course he can see her. The jest is that Simon sees her as she was and Jesus can see what she has become.
At this point Jesus draws a comparison between the master of the house and the perceived harlot. Jesus says to Simon, I entered your house; you failed to offer me common hospitality; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. (This woman was acting impulsively having no other resource than her own hair and tears to soothe the feet of her Savior.)
The second indictment: “You gave Me no [customary] kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.” The custom upon entry into one’s home was the kiss on the cheek viewed similar to our handshake. The kiss on the cheek was somewhat natural but to kiss one’s feet was symbolic of supreme adoration.
The third indictment: "You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.” Simon the Pharisee, the religious leader of the banquet of religious leadership, couldn’t even display common courtesy but this ex-common street whore sees her only hope in the one whom is getting the least respect from the “God people”. She renders the finest perfume for Christ’s feet whereas Simon would not even anoint His head with simple olive oil.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
PARABLE OF TWO DEBTORS
Vv 40-42. And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he replied, "Say it, Teacher." 41. "A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?"
Jesus answered and said to him (who had not spoken his question) making it clearly evident that Jesus had no problem reading the thoughts of this Pharisee. Tenderly He says, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Simon is brought out in the forefront of his dinner guests to be tested and invited to the same forgiveness that the contrite city prostitute had publicly displayed. Simon is left with little option so he replied, “Say it Teacher.”
The parable is now spoken for all to hear but for Simon to evaluate: A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?"
We must understand that parables are examples easily understood in a natural sense but hold deeper spiritual meaning that frankly some will never understand. In this parable we find a certain money lender who had two debtors. Life is great for lending agents so long as revenue steadily returns with interest. Life is also good for debtors who can faithfully repay their debts. This is where the difficulty lies in all three businessmen. Two debtors are in over their heads with debt and they were unable to repay. This situation common to both of these debtors is their inability but they differ in their accountability to the moneylender. The moneylender must react with some kind of response simply for good business practice.
The debt incurred was based on the denarius, or the equivalent of one day’s wages. One debtor owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty; five hundred days of earnings and the other fifty days wages. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the moneylender is out a minimum of 550 day’s wages.
As Simon is doing this same calculation to arrive at a sum, or at least an analogy of what should be done, the moneylender graciously forgave them both. It is at this point that Jesus clears Simon’s slate and poses the question, “Which of them will love him more?”
Jesus answered and said to him (who had not spoken his question) making it clearly evident that Jesus had no problem reading the thoughts of this Pharisee. Tenderly He says, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Simon is brought out in the forefront of his dinner guests to be tested and invited to the same forgiveness that the contrite city prostitute had publicly displayed. Simon is left with little option so he replied, “Say it Teacher.”
The parable is now spoken for all to hear but for Simon to evaluate: A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?"
We must understand that parables are examples easily understood in a natural sense but hold deeper spiritual meaning that frankly some will never understand. In this parable we find a certain money lender who had two debtors. Life is great for lending agents so long as revenue steadily returns with interest. Life is also good for debtors who can faithfully repay their debts. This is where the difficulty lies in all three businessmen. Two debtors are in over their heads with debt and they were unable to repay. This situation common to both of these debtors is their inability but they differ in their accountability to the moneylender. The moneylender must react with some kind of response simply for good business practice.
The debt incurred was based on the denarius, or the equivalent of one day’s wages. One debtor owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty; five hundred days of earnings and the other fifty days wages. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the moneylender is out a minimum of 550 day’s wages.
As Simon is doing this same calculation to arrive at a sum, or at least an analogy of what should be done, the moneylender graciously forgave them both. It is at this point that Jesus clears Simon’s slate and poses the question, “Which of them will love him more?”
