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The Gospel of Luke Chapter 7:24-50 Jesus' Commendation of John 7:24-25 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are in kings' courts! When John's messengers had left Jesus began to question the crowds around Him. What did they go out into the desert to see? Was John inconsistent in his faith and ministry? Did he waver like a reed blown by the wind, or did he stand by God’s Word regardless of the opposition of men? The questions are rhetorical, to highlight what the people had already witnessed John’s steadfastness and faithfulness to his prophetic calling. John was not dressed in a fine suit of clothes, like those who live in luxury, for John lived and ate as one who lived in the wild desert (Matt. 3:4). 7:26-28 What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is. The people had not gone out into the desert to see kings, princes or even pop-stars, but something far more powerful and important – a prophet of the Lord. Indeed, Jesus says that John was much more than a prophet, for he had access to a revelation of God’s purposes which was greater than any who had preceded him. He was of such importance that the previous prophets had predicted his coming; for he not only got the nation of Israel ready for the coming Messiah, he had even identified that Messiah to them (Malachi 3:1; John 1:29-31). Notice how Jesus links John’s importance to the level of revelation he had received concerning Jesus –he was the greatest ever born of women, and yet such is the revelation to child of God has, having been born of the Spirit, that his or her relationship with God is greater than that of John. 7:29 Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God's justice, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. When all the people heard this they acknowledged that Jesus words were true, and that God’s ways were right. Even the tax collectors had repented at the preaching of John, and had been baptized; meaning that their hearts were open and tender to God’s instruction. Through the forgiveness of sins they had been reinstated as being among the true people of God.
7:30 However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. The Pharisees and the experts in religious law on the other hand had hardened their hearts and rejected God’s way. They scorned God's purpose that they might repent and be saved. Refusing to be baptised by John, they excluded themselves from the renewed people Jesus had come to call.
There Ain’t No Pleasing You! 7:31-32 To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, 'We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.' When Jesus asked to what he could compare the people of his generation, he is thinking specifically of those who had rejected God’s purpose. Just like children who would not join in but just sulk whatever game was being played, so nothing God did would be accepted by these people. 7:33-34 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' John the Baptist and Jesus came with very different approaches and yet with the same purpose. Those who rejected the one rejected the other, for it was neither John’s ascetic lifestyle nor Jesus benevolent approach that was rejected but the underlying call and purpose of God which was evident in the ministry of both. It is sad that today many churches have failed to appreciate the meaning of Jesus’ words. If they reject the call of God in the gospel, they will not suddenly accept it just because you decide to dress it up in a cloak of social concern, or present it in a more contemporary style, simple language and up-to-date illustrations, perhaps accompanied by awe-inspiring pop music or even the most astounding miracles. It is God they are rejecting, and whatever clothes you put on his message will not alter that fact. 7:35 But wisdom is vindicated by all her children. John and Jesus’ different ministries in no way conflicted, for both had yielded their lives to doing God’s will, and so were justified in their actions before God. Obeying God’s call is the highest wisdom.
An Act of Worship - the Forgiveness of Sins 7:36 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. One of the Pharisees present in the crowd invited Jesus to dinner, quite probably only to find fault with him. Nevertheless Jesus went with him and sat down to eat. 7:37 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. During the meal a well-known prostitute in the town (who had head that Jesus was dining in that house) entered uninvited, carrying an expensive alabaster jar of fragrant oil. 7:38 As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil.
In those days dining tables and chairs looked different from today. Jesus was reclining at the table on a low couch with His feet out behind Him. So when the woman came behind him weeping, the tears fell on his feet. So she began to wipe them with her hair and kiss his feet. Then she anointed them with the fragrant oil she had evidently brought for this purpose. The woman’s actions reveal her broken and contrite spirit; her repentant heart had recognised who Jesus was and worshipped Him. Note that if no one else had invited this woman, Jesus had (Matt. 11:28; John 6:37). 7:39 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." When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw that he was apparently unperturbed by the woman’s actions thought within himself that if Jesus truly was a prophet then he would know what kind of woman was touching Him. Of course, Jesus did know what kind of life this woman had lived – but the Pharisee was making a judgment concerning what God’s response should be to such people. He saw God as rejecting sinners, but in this he was quite wrong. Jesus had come into the world to call sinners to repentance and save them (Luke 5:32; 1 Tim. 1:15). 7:40 So Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." He replied, "Say it, Teacher." Jesus revealed his all-knowledge to Simon by making known to him his own thoughts in this parable. Turning to Simon he said "I have something to say to you", to which Simon replied "teacher, you are free to speak". 7:41 A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. A money lender had two people who owed him money, the one five hundred denarii and the other fifty. 7:42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Neither of them had the means to repay what they owed so he kindly cancelled the debt of them both. Jesus asked Simon which of the two did he think would love him the most. 7:43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." Simon replied that he supposed that it would be the one who had the biggest debt; the correct answer. 7:44-46 Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. Turning his eyes upon the woman Jesus told Simon to notice her and what she had done. Simon had showed rudeness and discourtesy to Jesus by eastern standards; for when Jesus entered Simon's house he was offered no water to wash His feet; nor was he given the customary kiss of greeting, or the gift of oil to anoint his head. The woman, in contrast, had washed Jesus feet with her tears and dried them with her hair and she hadn't stopped kissing His feet since He came in, anointing them at the same time with fragrant oil. Her true repentance had been shown by her deeds; just as Simon’s hardened and unrepentant heart had been revealed through his. 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.
The love demonstrated by this woman was, as the parable implies, the result of her having a greater debt cancelled – she had been forgiven much and so lavished a reciprocal love on Jesus. Jesus words ‘he who is forgiven little loves little’ paradoxically reveal in fact that Simon had not been forgiven at all, because of his failure to repent and believe in Jesus. No one can be ‘forgiven little’; we all owe a great debt of sin (Rom. 3:23). 7:48-50 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Jesus reveals in these verses that the woman had been forgiven on the basis of her faith in him, and that this forgiveness brought her peace with God. On turning to the woman and declaring ‘your sins are forgiven’, Jesus’ opponents continue to question his authority for bestow pardon, which is the prerogative of God alone. © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org