Sermon Title: Observation or Adoration?
Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:1-10
Three weeks ago, we talked about the centurion. I am not worthy, you are worthy (centurion) – but I ask you to bring your power into my life on the basis of something other than my moral virtue. Two weeks ago we contrasted the widowed mother with the centurion and learned that God is relentless in dispensing grace. Last week we learned that when trapped in the prison of circumstance (providence), we are often blind to the goodness of God. It is okay to ask questions and even doubt, but we must beware of becoming a brat.
What do I want you to know this week?
Saving faith is transferring your basic fundamental life trust from where it is to Jesus (Timothy Keller)– It is not just believing in Jesus, it is shifting our trust and depending on His power on the basis of His goodness and mercy. The “transfer or shift” happens through worship.
This morning we will see what authentic worship is in the life of this unnamed lady.
This narrative is unique to Luke. The lady was a professional prostitute. She does two things that are just as astounding as the centurion.
“We will then discover the striking fact that the woman whose actions are recorded here most probably owed her conversion to those well-known words, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28). (J.C. Ryle).” [2]
Read Luke 7:36-50
Luke 7:36-37a
The opening two verses “set the table” as Jesus sits between the Pharisee and the woman who “was a sinner.”
“The Greek text of verse 37 literally reads, “and behold” (kai idou), emphasizing that a startling, shocking thing was about to happen. What was shocking was that this woman was well-known in the city as a sinner, a term for the most despised people in society. In all likelihood, she was a prostitute, a professional adulteress; immoral, impure, and living a flagrantly sinful life at a public level. There is no reason to identify her, as some do, with Mary Magdalene. Mary is introduced just a few verses away (8:2) as if for the first time; if she were this sinful woman, Luke would have named her here, not later” (John MacArthur). [1]
This passage describes two kinds of people: those who stand out on the peripheral and observe Christ and those who dive head-long into worshipping Him. The Pharisees prerogative was to examine Jesus, while the woman’s prerogative was to worship Jesus.
The difference between observation and adoration…
Luke 7:37b-38
The act of the woman letting down her hair in public is an act of intimacy – rabbis ruled that if a married woman let down her hair in public it was grounds for divorce – this is something that she had never done a) in public b) for free – before. The flask was tied around a woman’s neck. This is ancient times before deodorant, air conditioning, hot climate – body odor was incredible. For a woman to walk around with this flask around her neck – it was very expensive and it set her apart from the other women. For a prostitute to wear this, it would have been the essence of her trade. This flask is the way she would make money.
Her desirability was the only thing in the world she had going for her. She shifts her trust from her beauty and desirability to Jesus.
In her worship of Jesus she is freed from what previously enslaved her. AS SHE WORSHIPPED, WHAT ENSLVAVED HER WAS BROKEN. You worship your way out…
“Wet” (brecho) literally means, “to rain.” Kissing is an intense word and describes a striking expression of affection. The emotional dam had burst.
Luke7:39-40
Simon used a very respectful term for Jesus here (teacher).
The contrast is between Simon and the woman. He invites Jesus into his home. Hospitality meant “Jesus I want to be your supporter.” Look in v. 39 – Simon thought there was a great chance Jesus was a prophet. Jesus says, “Simon, why haven’t you been letting your hair down since I came in.” Jesus was saying, this is the type of faith that transforms – this is the type of faith that saves. Have you pulled the flask from around your neck – is there passion – is there weeping – is there letting down of hair? Or are you just interested in Jesus like Simon.
What is her purpose? Why is this happening? How can you have life-transforming faith like this?
As we have discussed, there is a simultaneous absolutely free and extremely costly grace that God provides. Because God is just (which makes Him good), when He forgives believers’ sins He incurs their debt.
Jesus tells how to move from Simon faith to her faith through the parable. Quantity is not in view here; realization is. The person who most understands the debt forgiven will be filled with the most transforming love (Matthew 18). Simon, you think I am a prophet who has come to teach you how to live right – but she sees me as the one who has come to bear the cost for not living right.
You have invited me in – but she has poured her life out – the reason you are not pouring your life out and she is, is because she understands what Isaiah says in Isaiah 53. Simon came through compulsion (it is the right thing to do) – she came through attraction – there was a passion created by her understanding – without that kind of passion you can never be free. The Pharisee sat in judgment of Jesus, while the woman resolved to sit at the feet of the judge.
“It is a wise thing to be responsive to the one who wields the gavel” (Bock).[3]
Jesus has to become your master. Where there is weeping, there is freedom. Her attraction for Jesus moved her away from the flask to Jesus.
If you feel forgiven little you love little. This is the point. To the degree you see me pouring my life out for you – to that same degree you have love, joy, patience with all the people around you.
This faith takes you to freedom and assurance. She doesn’t care what people think (this is why we don’t evangelize). Do you have Simon faith or her faith?
“More doing for Christ is the universal demand of all the churches. It is the one point on which all are agreed. All desire to see among Christians more good deeds, more self-denial, more practical obedience to Christ’s commands. But what will produce these things? Nothing but love. There never will be more done for Christ until there is more love from the heart toward Christ himself. The fear of punishment, the desire for reward, the sense of duty are all useful arguments, in their own way, to persuade men to be holy. But they are all weak and powerless until a person loves Christ. Once let that mighty principle get hold of a person and you will see his whole life changed” (J.C. Ryle).2
2 Corinthians 5 – The love of Christ compels us
Romans – The goodness of God leads us to repentance
Titus 2 – The grace of God teaches us to renounce ungodliness
Closing vv. 49-50
There is no middle ground. Jesus claims to forgive sins, which either makes Him God or a heretic. You cannot merely observe Him. You must make a decision to pour your life out or strip Him of all credibility. Those are your only two options.
Will you observe or adore? Will you denounce or embrace? There is no middle ground.
- MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 1-5. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009.
- Ryle, J.C. Luke. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1997.
- Brock, Darrell. Luke 1:1-9:50. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1994.
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