1. Who was she
1.1. A prostitute
1.2. Known to everybody
1.3. Treated like she had a disease
1.3.1. Luke 7:39 (NLT) 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
1.4. Easy to dismiss her as a ...
1.4.1. How did she get there
1.4.2. No welfare
1.4.2.1. Widow?
1.4.2.2. Sold to pay off parents debts?
1.4.2.3. A woman alone in the ancient did not have very many options.
1.5. She is there because she knows Jesus is a friend to people like her.
1.5.1. Luke 7:34 (NLT) 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
1.5.2. She is "poor" Just the one Jesus was anointed to bring good news to.
1.5.2.1. Luke 4:18–19 (NLT) 18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
1.5.2.1.1. Isaiah 61:1 (NLT) 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.
1.5.2.1.2. Isaiah 61:2 (NLT) 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
1.5.2.2. Luke 7:22 (NLT) 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
1.5.2.2.1. Good news being preached to the poor
2. Where do I see myself
2.1. To often I can be the Pharisee
2.1.1. "Well, I'm not as bad as that guy"
2.1.2. Self help gospel.... lacking passion and abandonment
2.2. I need to know, in my heart and mind, I am the woman
2.2.1. Grace is there and if you knew how much you would lay it all down in gratitude
2.2.2. None of us actually fits in a “lesser debtor” category
2.3. This is not cheap grace
2.3.1. Grace comes with responsibility
2.3.2. Forgiveness is without limits but not without responsibility
2.3.2.1. Confession
2.3.2.2. Truth
2.3.2.3. Even restitution
2.3.2.3.1. Rich young ruler
2.4. The Pharisee saw the sin Jesus saw the sinner
3. Luke 7:41-43
3.1. Luke 7:41 (NLT) 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.
3.2. Luke 7:42 (NLT) 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
3.3. Luke 7:43 (NLT) 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.
3.3.1. You really can't talk about the two debtors without talking about the Pharisees house and the woman that washes Jesus feet. It is because of the woman being criticized that Jesus tells the parable.
4. Context is important
4.1. Luke 7:36 (NLT) 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.
4.2. Luke 7:37 (NLT) 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.
4.2.1. Some think it was Mary Magdalene, but there is nothing in the text to suggest that.
4.3. Luke 7:38 (NLT) 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
4.4. Luke 7:39 (NLT) 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
4.4.1. "This man" is Referring to Jesus in a very derogatory way
4.4.2. Jesus shows He is God by knowing what the Pharisee is thinking.
4.4.3. To the Pharisee, Jesus could not be a prophet since he did not understand what kind of woman touched him, but, with some irony in the narrative, Jesus shows that he is a prophet because he knows what is in the Pharisee’s heart
4.5. Luke 7:40 (NLT) 40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
4.5.1. Proves his Divinity after being belittled by the S.B.O.F.C.
4.5.1.1. I mean Pharisee...
4.6. Luke 7:41-43
4.6.1. Luke 7:41 (NLT) 41 Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.
4.6.1.1. A denarius is one day’s wage for a common laborer.
4.6.2. Luke 7:42 (NLT) 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
4.6.3. Luke 7:43 (NLT) 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.
4.6.3.1. The people there would know the connection between "canceling debts" and forgiving sins"
4.6.3.2. This is not what the powerful want. Debt/dependance, grants power to the provider.
4.6.3.2.1. Proverbs 22:7 (NASB95) 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
4.6.3.3. Hosting the dinner would place the guests in the the Pharisees debt.
4.7. You didn't - She did Luke holds back how Jesus was slighted to have greater impact here.
4.7.1. Luke 7:44 (NLT) 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
4.7.1.1. You didn't offer water
4.7.1.1.1. She washed with tears
4.7.2. Luke 7:45 (NLT) 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.
4.7.2.1. You did not greet properly
4.7.2.1.1. She went over and above
4.7.3. Luke 7:46 (NLT) 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
4.7.3.1. "Neglected the courtesy", disrespectful and rude
4.7.3.1.1. She anointed feet with perfume
4.7.3.2. Josephus, Ant. 19.239 reports that Claudius Agrippa, when summoned to the Roman senate, anointed his head with perfumes (myrois) as if he had arrived from a banquet, which suggests that such anointings may have been customary at luxurious banquets in Rome,
4.7.4. They were against John the Baptist and no doubt invited Jesus to try an snub Him, dominating him in the eyes of the people.
4.8. "By the way, I'm God"
4.8.1. Luke 7:47 (NLT) 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”
4.8.2. Luke 7:49 (NLT) 49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
4.8.2.1. Luke 5:21 (NLT) 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
4.8.3. Luke 7:50 (NLT) 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
4.9. Like the Gentile centurion (7:1–10), so this woman exercises remarkable insight into the nature of Jesus’ mission
4.9.1. Luke 7:8 (NLT) 8 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
4.9.2. Luke 7:9 (NLT) 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”