Sunday, July 23, 2000   

This woman who had been a wicked sinner stands at Jesus feet behind Him weeping. As she weeps, she washes the feet of Jesus with the hair of her head and anointed His feet with ointment from the alabaster box (verse 38).

Now in verse 39, the heartlessness of the Pharisee comes out. When he saw what the woman is doing, he thinks and says to himself: "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner." The Pharisee spake within saying: ... "she is a sinner." "Is"-- present indicative, meaning action taking place as the Pharisee is speaking to himself. He accuses Jesus of not being able to discern when he, the Pharisee, is the one who has missed the boat. Verse 37 tells the story: "Behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner." This woman, whose name we do not know, had been pardoned by faith in Christ. Yes, Jesus knows all thoughts and ways (John 4:15-1 8).

Jesus says to Simon: "I have somewhat to say unto thee, " He said: "Master, say on." And at this point, Jesus gives the parable of the two debtors.

I. THE KEYS TO THE PARABLE

      A. Now that we have the history of the parable, we also have the keys to the interpretation.

           1. The creditor is Jesus Christ.

           2. The two debtors are Simon and the woman.

      B. As we shall see, both debtors are hopelessly bankrupt and to both forgiveness is offered.

II. THE TWO DEBTORS REPRESENT THE BANKRUPTCY OF ALL SINNERS

      A. Verse 41, Remember what Jesus said in verse 40: "Simon, I have somewhat to say to you."

           1. Jesus is teaching Simon a lesson.

           2. Jesus, the creditor, has two debtors in the parable.

                a. Simon

                b. The woman

           3. One debtor owes five hundred pence- five hundred days labor. The other owes fifty pence or fifty days labor.

      B. Verse 42, This scripture begins by saying "when they had nothing to pay." Both debtors were in the same condition-utterly bankrupt.

           1. All sinners are in the same condition as the two debtors, bankrupt, nothing to pay.

                a. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned..."

                b. Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death..."

                c. Ezekiel 18:4 " The soul that sinneth it shall die..."

                d. Romans 3:10, "There is none righteous, no not one."

           2 All sinners owe the penalty of sin.

                a. The fifty pence sinner and the five hundred pence sinner are sinners owing a debt they cannot pay.

                b. The fifty pence sinner and the five hundred pence sinner will both die in their sins and go to hell if they do not believe on the Lord Jesus (John 3:18, 36).

           3. Those who cannot pay, the bankrupt, face numerous temptations.

                a. Forget about it or put it off.

                    (1) Ignore the fact that I owe it. Ignore the bills don't open them.

                     (2) There are those that ignore God's message from the Bible. They won't open it.

                     (3) Don't ignore the fact, friend. You are a sinner. You owe a debt. A debt you just cannot pay.

                     (4) You block it out of your mind. You get involved with some amusement. The word "amuse" means "not to think" (Hutson 161). That's the temptation of every sinner.

                     (5) You will either face your debt here or in the life to come. Your debt has to be paid. Face it here or face it in hell.

                b. Another temptation of the sinner that is like many bankrupt men is to make a good show of it.

                     (1) Some who cannot pay, some who are bankrupt put on a front- driving expensive cars and wearing jewelry. But the books still say bankrupt!

                     (2) Sinner, putting on a front is not going to get you out of debt. Going to church, being a good husband, father, and neighbor will not clear the debt of sin in your heart.

                c. Yet another temptation of the bankrupt man is to lie to himself and say; "I don't owe it." Knowing that he does.

                     (1) Sinner, you owe sin's debt.

                     (2) Lie to yourself all you want. You still owe!

                d. Promises, promises. This is still another temptation.

                    (1) "I'll pay you next week."

                (2) The bankrupt sinner makes promises of what he will do.

                     (a) I'll get right soon.

                     (b) I will accept Christ after I get this or that right.

                (c) I want more time. Give me time and I promise I'll consider Christ. James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow ..."

III. FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE

      A. Verse 42, And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both..."

           1. The forgiveness given was free.

                a. This forgiveness was a demonstration of the goodness of the creditor.

                b. Our salvation is because of God's goodness and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

           2. Salvation is not earned. It is the gift of God (Romans 6:23b).

                a. We cannot earn salvation by any works of our own: "Not by tears, prayers, agony of the soul or promises to do better" (Hutson 162).

                b. Salvation is all of grace. While we owed a great debt of sin, god demonstrated His love toward us in sending Jesus to pay our sin debt (Romans 5:8).

      B. Forgiveness is available to those who will only trust Jesus.

           1. Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins...."

           2. Colossians 1:14, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

      C. If you feel as though you are a five hundred pence sinner, too great a sinner, then you are the kind of sinner that Christ is able to save. Christ told the woman taken in adultery: "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more".

IV. GREAT FORGIVENESS INSPIRES GREAT DEVOTION

      A. Verse 42c, Jesus asked Simon a question that goes to the heart of his thinking; "Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?"

      B. Verse 43, Simon's answer shows the self-righteousness of his heart.

           1. He saw himself as a fifty pence sinner. His answer showed where he was spiritually.

           2. The woman saw herself as a five hundred pence sinner; she saw no hope for her but Jesus and was saved.

           3. I believe Christ wants us to realize that we are all sinners and need a Savior.

                a. The Pharisee really didn't see himself as bad enough to need salvation.

                b. The woman knew she was a sinner.

                c. Win. M Taylor said: "He who makes light of sin makes light of salvation. But he who has a profound, conviction of the evil of sin as the abominable thing which God hates, will have an overwhelming sense of God's love in granting him forgiveness. The deeper the apprehension of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the greater will be our love to him who gives us deliverance from it" (221).

      C. Verses 44-48 illustrates what Jesus was teaching Simon. The woman had great love and devotion for Christ because she had been forgiven much.

           1. "The outpouring of love results form the sense of having been forgiven" (Hendriksen 409). That is what Jesus is teaching.

           2. The Pharisee showed little or no love to Jesus because he had not been forgiven for he saw no need.

CONCLUSION:

      Nothing to pay! Yes, nothing to pay!
     Jesus has cleared all the debt away.
      Blotted it out with his bleeding hand!
      Free and forgiven and loved you stand.
      Hear the voice of Jesus say,
      Verily thou hast nothing to pay!
      Paid is the debt, and the debtor free!
      Now I ask thee, Lovest thou me!
           Frances Ridley Havergal,
           Lines from "Nothing to Pay!"