Our Debt of Gratitude Base Text: Luke 7:36-50 I. Introduction A. Gracious, thankful, grateful people: a joy for others! B. We all appreciate people who appreciate what others do for them C. It is difficult to like those who are ungrateful and show no concern for others D. True also in spiritual terms E. There is an expectation that people will show gratitude for what has been done for their souls! F. In reality, God expects Christians to act in certain ways because of it! G. Let us consider our debt of gratitude II. The Contrast: Luke 7:36-50 A. Jesus helps us understand a noteworthy contrast between different types of persons in Luke 7:36-50 B. He is invited into the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36) C. A woman comes up to Jesus (Luke 7:37-38) 1. A "sinner" 2. Uses expensive ointment, wipes His feet with her hair, wets them with her tears 3. Very penitent, sorrowful D. Simon doubts Jesus' prophetic abilities since He has allowed this sinner to act in this manner (Luke 7:39) E. Jesus explains with a parable (Luke 7:40-47) 1. Involves Simon himself 2. Two men with different levels of debt, both forgiven 3. Which is more thankful? The one who was forgiven more 4. Jesus contrasts the actions of Simon and the woman 5. In the end, although she sinned much, she loved much and was greatly penitent, and she was forgiven 6. Simon, who perhaps sinned "less", since he loved little, was forgiven little! F. Woman's sins are cleansed, saved by her faith (Luke 7:48-50) III. Simon the Pharisee A. What a strong contrast! B. Consider Simon the Pharisee 1. A "religious person" 2. Devoted to the God of Israel, the traditions of the Jews 3. Devoted himself to ritual purity C. As with many Pharisees, however, he did not understand mercy or compassion (Matthew 9:13, Matthew 23:23) 1. Think about his internal reasoning in Luke 7:39 2. What does that thinking indicate? 3. Sinners are to be separate, left to themselves 4. They "defile" 5. He wanted nothing to do with them, felt superior to them, and Jesus was lessened in his own mind because He was merciful and compassionate D. In his "religiosity", Simon thought quite highly of himself 1. He indeed thought he was better than the "sinner" woman! 2. An attitude like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-11 3. In professing to be so close to God, Simon actually distanced himself from Him E. Jesus could do little for such persons in that state! 1. Such are the "righteous" or "healthy" of Matthew 9:10-13 2. Jesus did not come calling such ones 3. Such are not really "righteous" or "healthy"; they just think they are 4. Indeed, how can such escape the sentence of Hell (Matthew 23:33)? IV. The "Sinner Woman" A. And yet we see the sinful woman 1. No one doubts that she has sinned 2. She would not be the one whom you would expect Jesus to be around B. She comes to Jesus (Luke 7:37) 1. Recognition that even though Jesus is the Christ, to receive forgiveness, she had to come to Him 2. Parallel to James 4:8: we must draw near to God! C. She was highly repentant (Luke 7:38-39) 1. She brought herself down low 2. Acted in most humiliating ways, wiping His feet of all things with her hair 3. How many would stoop to such a level? 4. Such reflected the sorrow and pain in her heart on account of her sin 5. Such humility is a necessary aspect for those who would come to God (Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 23:10, James 4:10) D. She received forgiveness (Luke 7:41-50) 1. She walked out of the room more justified than the Pharisee! 2. Because of her penitence, she received that which she desired 3. Parallel to Luke 18:10-14: the tax collector and the Pharisee E. Such a woman represents exactly who Jesus came to save! 1. Luke 19:10 2. Such persons are the "sick" or "sinners" of Matthew 9:10-13 3. Their recognition of their past and desire for forgiveness leads them to God and He is willing to forgive them! V. What Shall We Do? A. It is clear from this passage, therefore, that we must be as the "sinner woman" and avoid being like the "Pharisee" B. But how? 1. As Christians, we must seek to live according to God's standard (Galatians 5:17-24) 2. We know that "bad company corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33) 3. How can we avoid becoming like the Pharisee? C. The way is spelled out for us in the New Testament D. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Titus 3:3-8 1. We must never forget from whence we came! 2. We were once foolish and disobedient 3. We were once lost in sin 4. The difference is that we have come to the realization of the truth in Christ Jesus 5. That does not mean that we're great or wonderful all of a sudden, or better than unbelievers E. Indeed, God expects that on the basis of our salvation, we act appropriately! 1. Hebrews 2:1-4 2. Romans 6:6-13 3. 1 John 4:9-11 4. The fact that we have been delivered in ways that we could never deliver ourselves should not lead us to be complacent, but indeed to act with fervent zeal and desire for the Lord! F. God gave His best, and He expects us to give our best back to Him! 1. He expects us to obey His Son Jesus and to do His will 2. Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:3-7 3. We are to put ourselves to death so that we can be more like Him G. We will never be able to repay the debt 1. ...but that is not what is expected of us! 2. Instead, we are to live as a people released from that debt and who act accordingly! 3. Since we have been so forgiven, we forgive (Matthew 18:21-35) 4. As we have been deeply loved, so we love (1 John 4:9-11) 5. As we have received mercy, we show mercy (Luke 6:36) 6. As Christ humbled Himself to be exalted, so we must humble ourselves (Philippians 2:5-11) H. If we do such things, we demonstrate that the death of Christ on our behalf was not in vain! VI. Conclusion A. It is hard to love ungrateful people 1. Such persons never know how good they have it, and never appreciate what has been done for them 2. We often gripe about such ones! B. As we have seen, it is important that we do not become ungrateful to God for what He has done! 1. We have seen the Pharisee and the sinner woman of Luke 7:36-50 2. The Pharisee thought he was well and good, not grateful to God for what he had or who he was, and showed open contempt for others 3. The sinner woman, however, humbled herself before Jesus, and received pardon C. We must be as the sinner woman and not the Pharisee! 1. We must always remember from whence we came 2. That memory ought to lead us to live lives in accordance with God's will D. Let us show God our gratitude for His work on our behalf, not merely in word, but also in the way we live our lives! E. Songbook/invitation Scripture, Meditation, and Application 1: Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table (Luke 7:36). One may have difficulties seeing it from the perspectives of the New Testament, but Jesus and the Pharisees had more in common with one another than they differed, especially compared with the Sadducees. The Pharisees were more than the caricature many make of them from the New Testament. They sought to glorify the God of Israel and wanted to obey Him. But they did fall prey to hypocritical and sanctimonious tendencies. The people of God are always tempted to do so. Why would a Pharisee want to eat with Jesus? 2: Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil (Luke 7:37). An anonymous woman received a great testimony in the faith. She had sinned greatly; no one suggested differently. For many she was thus "untouchable"; but she felt compelled to come and humble herself before Jesus. She had sinned much, certainly; but she also loved much, and found life in repentance. Do God's people have the right to write anyone off from salvation? 3: Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner" (Luke 7:39). The Pharisee could not believe Jesus would allow a sinful woman to anoint His feet. How could He suggest He was a prophet, even the Son of God, and yet allow a sinful woman to touch Him? Yet such was the Pharisee's definition of holiness, not Jesus'. In truth, the Pharisee was a sinner as well. The Pharisee should have acted as the woman did. Those who have ears to hear, let him or her hear. How do we fall prey to the temptation to comport ourselves like the Pharisee? 4: "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:47). Jesus held up the example of this anonymous woman to the people of God. She was a sinner; we are all sinners. It is not for us to judge and condemn one another; none of us have the standing to do so. Instead, it is for us to love others as God has loved us; to forgive others as we have been forgiven; to embody Jesus as Jesus suffered for us. We should not be known for hectoring condemnation but for unimaginable love, mercy, grace, and compassion. How can we live more like the sinful woman than the Pharisee?