Pentecost 3 Luke 7:36-8:3 Forgiven by Christ
2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-14 Galatians 2:15-21, 3:10-14
You would have liked Simon. Simon was a well educated man. He knew the old Testament Bible, and all of the Hebrew law. He always dressed in fine clothes and traveled with the right people. It was an honor to be invited to one of his parties. He was a true professional and an outstanding member of the community. Simon took great pride in being a Pharisee.
But in our lesson for today, we see that Simon is upset. This woman, who is obviously a sinner, has come into a party that she was not invited to. In fact Simon is upset that she has entered his home. How embarrassing for Simon that this woman has entered into his house! How embarrassing for Simon that someone else is getting so much attention! In all likelihood, she is not educated and makes her living in a sinful manner. This unclean woman is now making a spectacle of herself.
This woman is exactly the kind of person that Pharisees like Simon cannot tolerate. In fact he finds her repulsive. Just being seen around such a sinful person could ruin his reputation.
This woman however, knows that she is a sinner, and that her sins are many. She sees that her good works can never make up for the mistakes she has made during her life. But she believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, sent by God to fulfill God’s promise. She knows that Jesus can free her from bondage to sin. She knows that the Pharisees despise her and is very much afraid that she will be scorned, shunned and tossed outside because of who she is and what she has done.
She also knows Jesus can offer her what she cannot obtain by her own efforts. Therefore she has summoned up her courage and entered into a place where forgiveness and salvation can be found. With tears of repentance, she washes her Lord’s feet. She dries them with her own hair and kisses them out of her love of what the Messiah can do for her. Then out of service and dedication to her Lord, she proceeds to rub ointment on Jesus’ feet.
Jesus is pleased; Simon is horrified. 'Why, if Jesus was any kind of a prophet at all, He would realize this woman is detestable and unclean.' But Jesus knows what kind of woman she is. He sees a sinful woman who is desperately in need of forgiveness. He sees a woman who has the courage to admit her sins and to go where salvation is to be found.
Even today, it takes courage for people to enter into a church. Many people are afraid that churches are full of people like Simon who will look upon them in disgust if they enter inside. Those in the church who understand the love of Jesus welcome those who seek His forgiveness. Those in the church who do not know Christ’s love compare themselves to others. Simon did not know God’s love.
For that reason, Jesus asks the question. A banker forgives the debts of two people, one owes a lot, the other owes a little. Which one will love the banker more? Wishing to show how smart he is, Simon answers, I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled. But notice how Simon doesn't really commit in his answer. He leaves himself a little room to wiggle out, if he answers wrong.
"You are right!" Jesus says speaking with authority. Simon has answered and Jesus doesn't leave any room for doubt. Then Jesus lowers the boom. You see this woman, Simon? The one you've been trying to ignore; the one who has washed and kissed my feet. This woman who has gone out of her way to seek me out, even though she knew she might not be welcome.
Because the woman’s many sins have been forgiven, she loves much. But, he who has been forgiven little loves little. Simon did not give Jesus water to wash His feet. He did not even greet Jesus with a kiss. These were common courtesies in those days, like a simple handshake is today. Simon looked at Jesus as an equal, as just another teacher. He saw Jesus only as a means of getting promoted in his profession. Therefore Simon showed little love for Jesus because he did not realize his need for a Savior.
Pharisees like Simon think that they can invite God into their lives by showing how important they themselves are. Pharisees see no need of tears of repentance; in fact they see repentance as a sign of weakness. They have no love for Christ. Neither is their service done out of dedication to the Lord. They may perform work for God, but they have no repentance or even acknowledgment of their sins in their hearts. Because they do not look at their selves as sinners, they would never dream of going out of their way to seek forgiveness from Jesus.
That is why for so many, success is more dangerous to their faith than constant difficulties. Power and success give a false hope based on self-reliance while sickness and infirmities cause us to turn to God in prayer and repentance.
Look at David in our Old Testament lesson. God had given him so much. He was anointed king over all Israel and Judah. He lived in Saul’s Palace with many wives and God was willing to give him much more. David began to forget what God had given him and blindly turned away from God’s word and fell into sin.
Because of David’s sins, those around him paid the consequences. Because of David’s affair, Uriah lost his life and the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David grew ill and died. Even though we may not see the effects of our sinful actions, the consequences of sin always bring sadness, pain and hurt.
Ultimately, the one who suffers for your sins is Jesus Christ. He suffered the terrible consequences of your sinful actions upon the cross. It does not matter that His suffering has ended; He still suffered for your sins so that you in turn would love Him with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.
Through His mercy you are spared from punishment and by His grace you are saved. God’s Grace gives you forgiveness that you don’t deserve. God’s mercy means He does not give you the punishment that you do deserve.
Jesus showed His mercy by taking upon Himself the punishment that should have been yours. God shows you His grace by giving you the forgiveness earned by Jesus Christ on the cross. Your faith can be summarized as your love for what Jesus Christ has done for you.
Your faith is manifested when you show your love for Christ by having the courage to come before Him with tears of repentance and a willingness to serve and obey Him.
The woman had faith that Jesus had come to cleanse her sins away. She showed her love through her courage, her tears, and her service to Jesus. Because of her faith manifested in love, she was forgiven for all of her sins and she is with Jesus in Paradise. It is important to know that just as she is not condemned by her sins, neither is she given eternal life because of her good works. Rather she is in Paradise, because of her love for Christ.
God desires to be surrounded in eternity by those who love and glorify Him; who give all the credit for their salvation to Jesus Christ. He will reject those who reject the work of Jesus and boast about their own good works. He will reject those who do not extend the love of Christ to those who seek His forgiveness. Therefore it is our task as members of His church, to get the word out that Jesus can be found within these walls and welcome those seeking salvation. When we realize just how much mercy and grace has been shown to us, it becomes easy to welcome fellow sinners into His house.
Within these walls, Jesus comes to sinners through the water and word of baptism, through the words of absolution given through the office of the pastor and through His very body and blood given to you for the forgiveness of your sins. As Martin Luther tells us in His explanation of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, “All this He does only out of Fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in you. For all this it is your duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.”
And to all who have come into the Lord’s house to confess your sins, to receive His forgiveness and to serve your Savior, I say to you the same words that Jesus said to the sinful woman. “Your faith has saved you, go in peace. In Jesus name, Amen.