Sermon Title: How to crash a dinner party.
Text: Luke 7:36-50

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 1 John 2:12

Point 1: We would do well to personally check out Jesus rather than base our opinions on hearsay.

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Luke 7:36

Point 2: Sinners are willing to go to great lengths and risk rejection and ridicule to be in the presence of Jesus.

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Luke 7:36-38

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Matt. 9:10-11

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.“ Luke 5:29-32

Point 3: Those who come to the understand that they are deplorable and depraved sinners deserving the full wrath of God and eternal damnation can and do fall to the feet of Jesus in humility, sorrow, and surrender, hoping for forgiveness.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Ps. 51:17

For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. Matt. 21:32

Point 4: We would do well to not judge others, but rather understand that we’re all sinners in the eyes of the Most Holy God.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32

Point 5: Jesus tells great stories…that cut to the heart.

And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Luke 7:40-43

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matt. 7:1-3

And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7

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.45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Luke 7:44-46

Point 6: Those who are forgiven little, love little; those who are forgiven much, love much.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:47-50

Application: We need to understand the depths of our sin before the Most Holy God. When you realize the enormous mercy that God has shown you, that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, that without Jesus, you would experience the eternal wrath of God, then, and only then, do you respond back to him in a love that is passionate and sustaining.