Luke 7:34-50
Wouldn’t it be amazing if you had been given 256 names and you had to know them all before you went to your first day of Kindergarten! Actually, according to W. J. Patton, there are at least 256 names given to Jesus Christ our Savior in the Bible. 256! And, why not give Christ 256 names—He is infinitely more than 3 names or 30 names could ever express. Jesus’ names included: God, Savior, Lord, Emmanuel, Prophet, Priest, King, Advocate. But the name I want us to think about today is “Friend of sinners.” Look at it in your New Testament— Luke 7:34. “The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!”
This name was assigned to Jesus by “the Pharisees and lawyers” who “rejected the counsel of God against themselves,” Luke 7:30. It was a title first uttered to reproach Jesus, a put down, but it turned into an endorsement of Him by most of the people who came to really know Him. It was one of the few “truthful” statement made by the Pharisees, and they stumbled on to it! Jesus was not “a gluttonous man” or a “winebibber,” but He was a “friend of sinners.”
Supper, v. 36. How many enjoy a good meal? That would be everyone! We hope you will stay for a good meal at the conclusion of this service.
“The houses of well-to-do people were built round an open courtyard in the form of a hollow square. Often in that courtyard there was a garden and a fountain; and there in the warm weather meals were eaten. It was the custom of the east that when a Rabbi was at a meal in such a house, all kinds of people came in—they were quite free to do so—to listen to the pearls of wisdom which fell from his lips,” William Barclay, the Gospel of Luke, p. 92-93.
When an invited guest entered such a house he could expect five things: (1) kiss on each cheek (to show respect), (2) cool water for washing feet (roads were dirt and shoes were open...to comfort & cleanse), (3) olive-based anointment for the hair (to freshen up), (4) comfortable place to recline on a couch, (5) food.
Sharing a meal in Jesus’ day had a deeper significance than eating together does today. In first century Palestine it was an acknowledgment of mutual acceptance. In our day it is a casual thing, but in Jesus’ day it was the equivalent of becoming friends.
Simon, v. 40. The host of this supper was Simon, a Pharisee. Pharisees were the religious elite, and the majority hated Jesus. So, why did he invite Jesus? (1) Curiosity… secret admirer. (2) Hostility...setting a trap. (3) Celebrity...William Barclay suggests Simon was a collector of celebrities...patronizing Jesus, teacher-prophet.
Sinner, vs. 37-38. Regarding this woman who crashed this party, Herschel H. Hobbs says, “Luke notes that she was a ‘sinner’ (hamartolos). Literally, ‘which was in the city a sinner.’ Evidently she was (had been) a notorious woman of the town or a public woman,” The Exposition of the Gospel of Luke, p. 130.
With Jesus reclining, His feet sticking out in back, leaning on His arm, He talked across a short table. This woman knelled over Jesus’ feet, weeping, and with her tear washed His feet and kissing his feet and anointing His hair with perfume.
Shock, vs.39. J. Vernon McGee says, “This old Pharisee would not have spoken to this type of woman on the street. He might have done business with her after dark when no one could see, but he would not have anything to do with a woman of her reputation during daylight hours.” Thru the Bible, Vol. IV, p. 279. To the Pharisee this was a sure sign that Jesus was not a prophet
Story, vs. 40-43. “I have something to say unto thee.” Boy, does He! Are we listening?
· 2 men
· 2 debts—500 pence and 50 pence. A single “peance” (or a “denarii”) was one day’s wage. One owed 10 times what the other owed.
· Both were “frankly forgiven.”
Savior, vs. 44-50. This was show-stopping “after-dinner” speech.
· Who was really the bigger sinner—the woman or the Pharisee?
· This woman “had been” a big sinner, but was now a changed lady. She was now forgiven. Her “faith” in Jesus had ”forgiven” and “saved” her and she publicly showed she “loved” much and now she could live in “peace.”
If you become a friend of “the friend of sinners” what will you discover?
1. Jesus “FELLOWSHIPS” with Sinners, v. 36.
Jesus talked and eat with sinners. Think about it. If He didn’t, He would have eaten every meal by Himself and He would have talked with no one ever, since all men and women are sinners, and He was the only sinless One.
Who were the people with whom Jesus associated? Unscrupulous tax-collectors… Untouchable lepers...Unholy prostitutes...Unlearned fishermen… Undesirable Samaritans...Unworthy thieves...Uncouth Roman soldiers.
We love this idea that Jesus is a “Friend,” but because of our hearts are so wicked we resist the “sinner” part. Some people have the idea…
…they are “not that bad” to be labeled a sinner.
…others, believe they are “too bad,” “too big a sinner” for Jesus to have anything to do with or be able to help.
One of the things Jesus did to become a “friend of sinners” was to “fellowship” with them...to eat and drink with all kinds of people, so they might get to know who He was and why He had come to earth.
Luke has been called “the Gospel of Hospitality,” Ragg.
· Luke 5:30 “Why do ye eat and drink with sinners?” Talking to sinners was something you didn’t do in Jesus day, like talking to a street person today. But Jesus eat with them, implying a desire for a level of friendship.
· Luke 7:36 “And one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.”
· Luke 11:37 “...a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and He went in, and sat down to meat.”
· Luke 14:1 “And it came to pass, as He went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat brad on the sabbath day, that they watched him.”
· Luke 24:30-31a “And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to him. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him…”
What does this mean for us?
There are some who try to gain approval for certain behavior by hanging with people they shouldn’t have with because Jesus did it. They say, “Don’t judge me. Jesus hung out with sinners. I’m just doing what Jesus did.”
Hay, let’s get something straight: YOU ARE NOT JESUS! Agreed? Jesus also walked on water. I don’t suggest you try that. Jesus prayed all night. Have you tried that? You don’t have the focus, the power, the wisdom of Jesus. Jesus had a mission on this earth that no one else has ever had.
Now, having settled that, who would Jesus have associated with and for what reasons? Remember, all men and women are sinners. Jesus was the only person NOT a sinner.
Human pride is a wicked thing. It is human pride that fosters the idea that some people don’t measure up. In the gospel you find Jesus spending time with...
· Non-Jewish people who were considered “heathens.”
· The sick were believed to be reaping sickness because of some act of sin they had previously sown.
· Women were not respected as real people.
· Slaves were material property.
· Tax-collectors were hated by everybody.
· The bereaved.
What does that list represent? It is about people who had “needs.” They were outcast, they were sick, they were looked down on, they were in grief.
2. Jesus “FORGIVES” Sinners, v. 37, 39, 44-48.
Jesus didn’t hang out with sinners just for the “fun” of it. Why do we go to the doctor? To hang out? No, we go to get help, to be healed.
Jesus said on a previous occasion when asked why He eat and drank with sinners, “They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance,” Luke 5:31.
Jesus wasn’t with sinners to “party” with them but to reveal their need (they were sick) and to call them to repentance, to be available to forgive them. Jesus was a “doctor” that made house calls. Jesus became friends with people to “call them to repentance.” “Repent” means “to turn from sin.” Why would it be necessary to call sinners to repentance if Jesus condoned their sinfulness?
Now look at what went on in this passage. Jesus is fellowshipping in the house of a Pharisee and openly forgave a well-known sinful woman, vs. 44-48.
How could Jesus so freely, so fully, so finally “forgive” this woman of so much? It seemed too easy. Did Jesus just write this off legally as just so much bad behavior—sinners being sinners? Did Jesus forgive her because emotionally He saw her as out-cast and under-privileged and needed a break? With just some “words” did Jesus forgive this sinful woman?
No, Jesus forgave this woman of her sins because on a divinely appointed day He would go to the cross and pay the penalty for her sin by His bloody death. Jesus freely forgives sinners because He paid the price for their sins.
· 2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus was “made to be sin for us, who knew no sin.”
· 1 Peter 2:21-24 “Christ also suffering for us…Who did not sin…Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
· On the cross, Jesus “died for sinners,” Romans 5:8.
Jesus is a “friend of sinners” because He is the “Savior of sinners.”
Since Jesus “fellowshipped” and “forgave” sinners, some conclude He must have had a passive, tolerant, ‘easy-going’ approach with sinners. Think again.
Jesus is unique in so many ways. Consider the matter of “sin” and “sinners.” Jesus had this absolutely unique relationship of “having no personal sin” in His own life. Hebrews 7:26 says Jesus was “separate from sinners.” And yet while living daily “among sinners,” Jesus felt their suffering, He heard their moans, He sensed their guilt, He saw their tears.
3. Jesus is “FIRM” with Sinners.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of His friends.” What does that mean? It at least means that a true friend will confront and expose areas in the life of a friends that is in danger. There is a kind of “friendship” that people want that is merely “back patting.” I suggest, there are times when you need to drop down and do a little “rear kicking” when necessary!
Jesus was often blunt and demanding. He never backed down.
· Jesus told a man who had been healed of a 38-year sickness, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee,” John 5:14. Jesus was saying, “You better not go out on the town partying. You better go home praying.”
· To a woman guilty of open adultery whom Jesus had forgiven, He said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more,” John 8:11. “Lady, you will find a new line of work.”
· To a rich young ruler Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me,” Mark 10:21. It was either turn from your empty life of selfish materialism and follow me, or go on the way you are going and end up in hell.
· To a high-ranking religious man Jesus said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again,” John 3:7.
· In Matthew 18:17 Jesus commands His church to regard church members who do not repent as “an heathen man and a publican.”
· In Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus radically reacted to those playing church by turning over their tables, giving them a good whipping and called them a bunch of thieves.
Jesus befriended sinners whom He openly called to turn from their sins. And the sinners ended up hanging with Jesus because they had repented of their sins and had begun to follow Jesus in righteousness obedience.
Jesus didn’t laugh off or ignore or turn His back on sin.
The truth is, unless you receive Jesus as your LORD and SAVIOR He is not in reality your FRIEND because one day He will be your JUDGE.
4. Jesus promised a “FUTURE” for Sinners, v. 50.
The last word of the narrative says it all. Do you see it? “Peace.” Sin causes so much confusion and tension and chaos. But Jesus offers “peace.”
· Peace with God.
· Peace of God.
· John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
The friendship of Jesus is offered by an extended nail-scarred hand. All we need to do is take His hand. By His salvation we are able to enjoy a relationship with God we never thought possible.
Jesus told His disciples one day, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God...It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,” Mark 10:23, 25.
Jesus said to the Pharisees, the most religious people of His day, “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you,” Matthew 21:13. Why was that? Because they repented and believed.
Conclusion:
Years ago, an old preacher was on a train, sitting across the aisle from a young man. He could see the boy was deeply troubled. He went over and said, “Son, I’m a minister. I don’t want to pry, but do you have a problem?” The boy said, “Yes, sir. Many years ago, I had a fight with my parents. I left home and slammed the door behind me. I said I would never come back.” He said, “I have received word that my daddy is sick, and I don’t want him to die without my apologizing to him and asking his forgiveness.” He continued, “This train runs close to my house, and out by the tracks is a large tree. I told them if they would let me come home, to tie a handkerchief on that tree. If I don’t see it, I will know to keep riding.” The preacher said, “You pray, and I’ll look.” And the old preacher in his heart said, “O God, let there be a handkerchief on that tree.” The train came around a curve, and he said, “Son, look!” That old couple had gotten every handkerchief, every towel, and every bed sheet that was white and put them in that tree. It looked like a mountain of snow.
God loves you!
· The good Shepherd is seeking you.
· The Holy Spirit is shining His light on you.
· God the Father has His arms open wide.
They are all saying, “Come home!”