“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 7:36-50:

In the final lesson of this chapter, we will discuss the interaction of Jesus with a Pharisee, and a sinful woman. In this lesson we will observe a great deal concerning the attitudes of the time and what they should have been! Also, we will learn:

1)  The absolute inability of man to atone for his sins on his own, great or small.

2)  All sin is against God and Jesus had the power while here on earth to forgive! John 10:30 “I and My Father are one.”

3)  Conventional respectability is not the gauge of guilt before God!

4)  Often those who wander furthest from God and have felt the worlds censure may realize more than anyone else the true goodness of God's forgiveness!

Text #1:

Luke 7:36 “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.”

Pharisee's House: We will find out that this Pharisee's name is Simon (not to be confused with Simon the leper, whom Jesus also stayed with and was anointed – Matthew 26:6-13 – this is a different Simon, house, and event). Not all the Pharisees had evil intentions towards Jesus (John 3:1-2), and we see that Simon believed Jesus to be a prophet (vs.39).

Text #2:

Luke 7:37-39 “And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

Sinful Woman: The label of sinner was at this time given to those who had disregarded the accepted rules of religious conduct. There is no need to discuss the severity of the sinful behavior to have gained her this label, as the label is given to express the Pharisee's attitude towards her and not what she has done. All sin is against God, yet, these Pharisees often held these labeled sinners guilty because of their station in life verses their actual violation or attitude towards God.

Jesus will recognize that the woman was in sin and in need of forgiveness and would show that she had the proper attitude of repentance to warrant forgiveness regardless of her transgression or station in life!

Alabaster Flask: Alabaster was a type of Gypsum that had a white semi-transparent appearance and was very costly. At this time they made many small vases, jars, and broad mouthed bottles out the material. These containers were used to store a wide variety of ointments and oils made of sweet smelling vegetable or plant essence, especially those made of Myrtle.

Washed His Feet: As Jesus lay reclined on the couch, on His left arm, the woman stood before Him ready to administer to Him. Her condition in comparison to this Man that she obviously perceived to be a Man from God, overcame her and her emotions took over. Her tears became the cleansing agent and her own unfurled hair became the towel.

If He Were A Prophet: Back in verses 16-1, we were told that public opinion saw Jesus as a Great Prophet! It seems that Simon had this same opinion of Jesus prior to this event.

To Simon this woman was unclean and thus unworthy to touch those who were perceived as true servants of God. He felt that Jesus should share his attitude towards this woman and should know without being told the condition and status if He were a true Prophet.

In Simons mind, he had now found reason to doubt what he had assumed to this point concerning Jesus. He knew that the Old Testament taught that true prophets of God should have the ability to discern her heart or spirit (see: Isaiah 11:2-4).

We will see that it was Simon who had the wrong attitude towards this woman as a sinner, not the Lord. This becomes an example of what Jesus taught against in the Sermon on the Plain in chapter six, note:

Luke 6:32-36 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies , do good , and lend , hoping for nothing in return ; and your reward will be great , and you will be sons of the Most High . For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful , just as your Father also is merciful.”

Text #3:

Luke 7:40-46 “And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.”

Simon, I Have Something to Say to You: Jesus knew the thoughts of Simon and the doubt he now felt because Jesus allowed this woman to touch Him. Jesus now will use this time to teach Simon that it was not Jesus who had a problem with this woman, but he did.

Simon would ask for Jesus to readily teach him not knowing the extent that Jesus was about to live up to this title!

Two Debtors: Jesus would begin His teaching with a brief parable of a certain creditor that had two who owed him money. A denarius was a silver coin issued by Rome that had the value of a days work. One owed the creditor 500 days work and the other 50.

Jesus, after establishing the value of the debt, would ask Simon who would love the creditor most if both were forgiven their debt? Simon rightly answered and Jesus told him to look at the woman, whom he recognized as an obvious sinner. Then Jesus commenced to describe to Simon that he should have also shown the same humility for his soul that she had shown. At this point, a thought of the Apostle Paul comes to mind:

1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Simon then became the lesser debtor and the woman the greater. Likewise, she having known the depth of the guilt of sin sought the blessing of God's forgiveness!

Text #4:

Luke 7:47-50 “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

The rest of this text is pretty straight forward; however, there are a couple of points that should be discussed before we close. First, is the righteous judgment that Jesus displayed was based on the heart and not appearance. Isaiah would speak of the Branch of Jesse and His righteous judgment (a Messianic term), note:

Isaiah 11:3-5 “His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist.”

Second, is the discussion between those at the table? In this case they did not accuse Him of blasphemy as in the case of the paralyzed man (Luke 5:17 -26). Here, no sign was given; Jesus did not rebuke them, he just sent the woman away in peace.

This may be a sign of the difference of these Pharisees from the majority. Although they were like their brethren in their attitudes toward their own people, they like many others believed in Jesus (John 12:42). It may also be that the teaching and boldness of Jesus just confounded them!

Next: “ The Parable of the Sower ”