This is an exposition of Luke 7:36-50, delivered by Pastor Rod Harris at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 18, 2012.
Intro:
It is the mark of a great book or movie. You figure it all out early in the story. You know who did it and why. You are putting all the pieces together as the story unfolds. You are feeling smug and confident as the story reaches it’s climax – then it happens. Your suspect dies. It wasn’t him after all. But wait, how can that be? The ending shocks you. You are amazed and yet now it all makes sense. “Of course!” Why couldn’t you see that before? It is the last thing you would have ever suspected and yet it is the only way that makes sense. You were caught completely off guard. The storyteller exploited your bias and made his point.
Luke the physician and traveling companion of the apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, took events, teachings and encounters from the life and ministry of Jesus and wove them together in a fascinating tale for his friend Theophilus. His purpose in writing was to demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of the Jews and the Savor of the world. His goal was to bring his friend to faith in Jesus as the Christ. Luke, with the skill of an artist and the depth of a master storyteller, creates a powerful account of the life of Jesus.
In the seventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel we find the account of a dinner party. This was no ordinary dinner party. Especially when you consider it took place in the home of a Pharisee. Here a Pharisee was entertaining a rebel rousing itinerate preacher and in walks the town prostitute! It makes for an interesting evening and more importantly; it reveals a profound truth.
A truth that is appropriate for us to consider as we approach another Thanksgiving. Thursday is a day of remembrance. A time for looking back and acknowledging the grace of God. A time for reflecting on the blessings of the past and to turn with assurance and confidence to the future. Now we know instinctively that we are to thank God for all that we are and all that we have. We say the words easily enough – but do we mean them? Are they genuine? For after all, Thanksgiving is a matter of the heart. Let’s take a look at our text and learn something of heart-felt gratitude.
Text: Luke 7:36-50
The story is simple.
In fact its simplicity is the secret to its beauty.
Luke, through an economy of words, tells a powerful story.
Two different people.
Two very different lifestyles.
One extremely religious the other a notorious sinner.
Both were exposed to the teaching ministry of Jesus.
And as you might expect – there were two different responses.
One was gloriously transformed.
The other was hardened in their sin and driven further from salvation.
But which was which? That is the surprising part.
Luke’s account reminds us of this truth:
Thesis: The heart touched by the grace of God abounds with genuine thanksgiving.
This passage is about the heart of the Gospel – for it is about grace.
God’s unmerited favor. God granting to us what we do not deserve.
In fact it is more than that – it is granting us life and hope and peace when we are deserving of the exact opposite!
And that is precisely what Simon and his fellow religious leaders could not see. They failed to grasp the heart of His message. They couldn’t get past their rules to see His grace. Their problem was they didn’t understand the depth of their own sin – they were unaware of their own depravity. Oh, they knew God was Holy. They knew they were not holy. They understood the need for ritual cleansing and sacrifice – but they were so caught up in the symbolism they failed to understand the substance. Ritual they understood. Rules they obeyed. It is the reality of their predicament they failed to recognize. Keep that in mind as we watch the evening unfold.
Let’s examine first the life of Simon as we discover:
- The heart untouched by grace is filled with arrogance and contempt. (7:36-40)
- The heart touched by grace exhibits an acute awareness of the extent of God’s grace granted to those who believe. (7:41-43)
- The heart touched by the grace of God overflows with love and devotion.
Conclusion:
Thursday is Thanksgiving. It is my prayer that you will enter into a time of genuine thankfulness. That more than a token “saying of grace.” More than a solemn pronouncement of thankfulness that you will be overwhelmed by a profound sense of God’s goodness and grace. You say, “but pastor – you don’t know my circumstance this year. You don’t know what I’ve been through.” I know this. Whatever you have, you have more than you deserve. Whatever you have, you have by the grace of God. For when you were still a sinner. When you were at your worst in stubborn, sinful rebellion against God – He loved you. “For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If you have turned from your sin and trusted in Christ – you’ve been forgiven. Cleansed. Made a child of the living God. What could be greater? “Oh pastor I know that but…I’ve got this need, I have this problem.” I know this. If you are a child of God He has promised never to leave you or forsake you. He has promised to walk with you. He has promised to meet your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Oh listen friend. There is ample reason for a heart of genuine thanksgiving. Provided your heart has been touched by the grace of God.
- The heart untouched by grace is filled with arrogance and contempt.
- The heart touched by grace exhibits an acute awareness of the extent of God’s grace granted to those who believe
- The heart touched by the grace of God overflows with love and devotion.