"THE WOMAN WHO WAS A SINNER"

LUKE 7:3

A. "AND, BEHOLD A WOMAN IN THE CITY WHICH WAS A SINNER, WHEN SHE KNEW THAT JESUS SAT AT MEAT IN THE PHARISEE'S HOUSE, BROUGHT AN ALABASTER BOX OF OINTMENT, AND STOOD AT HIS FEET BEHIND HIM WEEPING AND BEGAN TO WASH HIS FEET WITH TEARS, AND DID WIPE THEM WITH THE HAIRS OF HER HEAD, AND KISSED HIS FEET, AND ANOINTED THEM WITH THE OINTMENT"
  1. This Bible scene has a special appeal to my heart:
    1. The nameless name of the woman in question is most unusual
    2. What she did for and on Jesus is singular and out of the ordinary
  2. The attitude of the Master:
    1. Is in complete harmony with His messianic mission - Matt. 1:21
    2. It gives one a broader view of the plan of salvation - John 3:16
B. A CAREFUL READING OF LUKE'S ACCOUNT OF THE WOMAN THAT WAS CALLED "A SINNER" EMBODIES A NUMBER OF GREAT GOSPEL TRUTHS
  1. The nameless woman that was a sinner:
    1. Luke does not give us any information who this woman was, nor does he give us any information of her family connections
    2. But that does not matter, and it could serve no particular purpose
    3. "Which was a sinner" - the implication is that she must have lived a low and immoral life - John 8:1-11
  2. Simon the Pharisee:
    1. He too was a sinner - coming far short on the glory of God - Rom. 3:23
    2. But his inner thought found fault with the woman and with the attitude of Christ toward the woman that was a sinner - Luke 18:11-14
  3. The difference between the attitude of the two sinners:
    1. The woman who was a sinner realized her fallen condition; and she saw hope in the Messiah whose feet she washed with tears and whose head she anointed with ointment
    2. Simon the Pharisee looked down upon the woman that was a sinner; he found fault with the deep expression of sorrow because of sin, and the very unusual humility the woman manifested in her deeds
C. NOTE PLEASE THREE SPECIFIC OBJECT LESSONS SO CLEARLY REVEALED IN THE SCENE BEFORE US
  1. A deeply penitent sinner in the presence of the Redeemer:
    1. She realized her fallen condition
    2. "God be merciful to me a sinner;" - Luke 18:13
    3. Her attitude in the presence of the Lord revealed true penitence, acceptable unto God - Is. 1:17-20; Ps. 55:1-11
    4. She did what she did because she believed in God's mercy and attempted to show her deep appreciation of this mercy toward a sinner
  2. The reaction of the Messiah was instant and appreciative:
    1. "Thy sins are forgiven thee" - Luke 7:48
    2. "Thy faith hath saved thee" - Luke 7:50
    3. "Go in peace" - Luke 7:50
  3. That made the former sinner a saint, a new person altogether - 2 Cor. 5:14-17
    1. Christ had cast all her sins behind His back - Is. 38:17
    2. "There is, therefore, no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" - Rom. 8:1, 31-39
    3. Since all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God; what advantage do we as sinners have of the woman that was a sinner
    4. None whatsoever - the atoning blood of Christ places all of us into the same category - Rom. 3:9-22
  4. The scene of our text has a special message to all sinners:
    1. It is an invitation to sin-sick, heavy hearted souls to come to Jesus for soul- rest - Matt. 11:28-30
    2. It matters not how deeply stained our life may be the blood of Jesus Christ will made us whiter than snow - Is. 1:17-20; I John 1:7-9
    3. That scene was not a judgment scene, but a manifestation of God's unspeakable mercy - Rom. 5:20-21


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