FORGIVENESS
Luke 7:36-50; John 8:1-11
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Little boy, rock/sling shot, kills g-mo pet duck, sister sees, makes work, finally confess, g-mo knew, waiting, forgives
FORGIVENESS can be a hard thing to get hold of
Pride keeps from asking God for it
Fear keeps us from accepting it
Insecurity keeps us from forgiving ourselves
Jesus came to earth to forgive
He forgave more than He healed or taught
I. RECEIVING FORGIVENESS SINFUL WOMAN
SCENE: Galilee
Jesus just healed Centurion’s servant close to death
Next day stopped funeral procession, son to life
Rumors about young Rabbi flying everywhere!
Last time in town Jesus preached in synagogue
Prostitutes, gangsters, etc came – converted!
Rel rulers said too bad to be forgiven
Simon (rel ruler) wanted to get to bottom of it all
arranged dinner party to meet Jesus
Luke 7:36 Meal started, everything going well
unexpected guest -a woman (not allowed) -a prostitute
Lk 7:37-38 eat in open courtyard, others watch, show off
Recline on couches on side, eat with fingers
Servant wash feet, dirty from walk, not done for Jesus
slipped in and started washing His feet herself
woman knew rejected, unwanted –she touched unclean
love for Jesus greater!, wrong to neglect Him
came to see Him, hear of His love, acceptance
knelt with tears, showed her love of Him, He let her!
KNELT at Jesus’ feet, He saw Her & smiled
God loves all Ps. l03:8-14;Num 14:18
Tears – guilt, love, shame, hurts
Hair always bound, down = immodest
Perfume – only resourced, around neck, expensive
Lk 7:39Assumed Jesus didn’t know kind of a woman it was
Jesus no prophet, certainly no Messiah!
1. Would know about the woman
2. Wouldn’t let her touch Him. Unclean
Jesus knew all, what simon thinking
Lk 7:40-43a BOTH debtors – neither could pay debt!
Woman – large debt; Simon – small debt, but still debtor
both debts forgiven, new start – if ask humbly for it
-only woman has done so so far
Lk 7:43b-478
SIMON self-righteous, proud, didn’t see self/sin as God saw
WOMAN knew terrible sinner, humbled self for forgiveness
most who followed Jesus terrible sinners
She did what Simon should have done!
JESUS TO SIMON “Simon, think better than this woman!
You’re wrong, she’s better than you!”
Lk 7:48 She didn’t ask for forgiveness, did she?
She certainly did! – before even anoint feet
Greek perfect tense: done awhile ago in past, results continue
NOT: forgiven because she washed & anointed
BUT: washed & anointed because she was forgiven!
Jesus just pointing out what had happened awhile ago!
HE paid for our sins on cross – forgiveness free & final
God forgives & forgets, WHAT sin???
God forgives sins I Jn 2:1-2, 12
Prairie fire, go in burnt over place
Lk 7:49SIMON & others missed it
Lk 7:50Saved NOT by love, washing & anointing, etc
BUT by faith in Him before entering
OTHERS would never accept her (you know how people are
Jesus forgives & accepts her!
Her record clean, as if she never sinned!!!!
TRANSITION
Jesus always offering forgiveness
Jesus removes, gives freedom & grace
Another similar example happened shortly before crucifixion:
II. RESPONDING TO FORGIVENESS
THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY
Jesus in Jerusalem, cross near, RelRulers want to kill Him
Feast of Tabernacles (1 of 3x all men to Jeru)
Jesus went, into temple to teach, RelRul try to trap
John 8:1-6a
LAW: anyone caught in adultery was to be stoned
TRAP: KILL HER: people not like, want to return death penal
Trouble with Rome, contradict own teachings
NOT KILL HER: break God’s law, not Messiah
BAIT: woman caught in adultery, flimsy tents everywhere
WOMAN: don’t know, not a prostitute, husband gone a lot?
Lonely, away from home, strange city
Drink too much, stranger nice to her
MAN: let go – law said stone both!
Rel rulers not interested in fairness
Put self in woman’s place: wrong and sinful
disheveled, not properly dressed or groomed
embarrassed beyond words, totally humiliated
Top men in all Israel and talk-of-the-town young Rabbi
all gathered around her!
All eyes shift to Jesus?
What will He do?
How is He going to get out of this one?
Jn 8:6b-8a ‘katagraphein’ write a record against someone
Perhaps Jesus writing the names & sins of rel rul
THEY deserving of death, too!
If cast stone, God uses same standard them
Jn 8:8b “Without sin” can also mean “without sinful desire”
they just as lustful inside, just not do it/caught!
NOT: don’t commit adultery – not all guilty
BUT: don’t lust in heart – all are guilty!
Oldest more mature, better perspective
can’t keep continually convincing self they’re OK
knew best their own sinfulness
Jn 8:9-11aNoticed something different about this young Rabbi
SIN pointed out, wrong, not overlooked
SHE not rejected as person because of it
hated her sin, but not her!
Jn 8:11bNOT: “I forgive you” for she didn’t ask for forgiveness
but not overlook her sin, either
gives her a chance to repent and believe on her own
“You have a choice: keep living as have been. Sin gets easier.
Or repent (cahnge of mind & life) and believe/\.
Ask for forgiveness.
Use second chance to live for God, not self.”
Soccer, score for other team, want to quit, must come do best
Jesus stood up and talked to people still watching:
John 8:12 Called woman & people out of darkness into light!
Ps 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”– and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
I Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
HOW DIDTHE STORY END?
What did the woman do with second chance?
Don’t know – romantic in us says she believed.(????)
More important question: what about YOUR 2nd chance?
SIMON: Self-righteous, not see need for forgiveness?
Live by leaglism, focus on others’ sins
RELIGIOUS RULERS: know sinful too, walk away
WOMAN IN ADULTERY: met Jesus, get 2nd chance —
PROSTITUTE: See sin, no matter how bad, humble self
for forgiveness and cleansed?