WHO IS THIS MAN THAT FORGIVES SINS
LUKE 7:36-50
Key verses: vv. 47-49, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”
Introduction:
The Lord was speaking to a Pharisee whose name was Simon, (v. 10), who had invited Him to eat with him (v. 36). We know nothing of this man, but some think perhaps that the Lord had healed him of some disease and he was showing Him his gratitude by inviting Jesus to eat with him. They reclined at a table and began to eat
In vv. 37-38 we see “a woman in the city, which was a sinner” who had heard that Jesus was there came and “brought an alabaster box of ointment 38 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.”
I. THE WOMAN WAS RECOGNIZED AS A SINNER
A. Doubt in the mind of the Pharisee, v. 39; John 7:12, “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.”
B. He saw himself as being different, Isaiah 65:5, “Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.”
1. Simon was a religious zealot or Separatist, Matthew 23:23, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
2. He was self-righteous, Matthew 23:25, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.”
B. What manner of woman was she?
1. She was a sinner, v. 39; Luke 18:13, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
a. Peter considered himself as a sinner, Luke 5:8, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
b. The Apostle Paul was a sinner, 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
2. She was in need of a Savior, Acts 5:31, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
a. She was called to repentance, Matthew 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
b. She sought forgiveness of her sins, Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”
3. She knew her Savior and loved him.
a. She washed his feet with her tears, v. 44; Judges 19:21, “So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.”
b. She had kissed the Lord’s feet, v. 45; Exodus 18:7, “And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.”
The kiss was a token of affection or a common mode of salutation, and Simon had even neglected this mark or welcoming him to his house. It was often used among men as a sign of salutation.
C. Jesus came to seek and to save sinners, Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
II. WHO IS THIS MAN THAT FORGIVES SINS?
A. A very pertinent question. Who could He be but God? Luke 5:21, “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
1. Instead of believing on the Lord, they thought he blasphemed, Mark 2:7, “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?”
2. They had seen the miracles that He did, but still did not believe, Romans 3:3, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”
B. “Who is this that forgiveth sins ALSO?” Mark 6:3, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
See comment:
“Who (i.e., Jesus)[was] not content to transgress the traditions of the elders, by ADMITTING A SINFUL WOMAN TO TOUCH HIM, but assumes that to himself which is peculiar to God, TO FORGIVE SIN: this they said, not as wondering at him, what manner of person he must be, that with such authority pronounced the forgiveness of sin, as Grotius thinks; BUT RATHER AS OFFENDED WITH HIM, and FILLED WITH INDIGNATION AGAINST HIM, and so censuring and REPROACHING HIM for wickedness and blasphemy.” —John Gill’s Expositor.
1. Peter preached Jesus as the Son of God who came to forgive sins, Acts 13:38, “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:”
2. Paul preach that Jesus came to open our eyes of the blind to the truth, Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
3. In Him is redemption through His blood, Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
CONCLUSION
WHO IS THIS MAN THAT FORGIVES SINS? He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the Savior of those who will trust Him as Savior. In v. 50 “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”