March 27, 2013

From Gary V. Womack... LOVING LITTLE, LOVING MUCH



LOVING LITTLE, LOVING MUCH

Lk. 7:36-38 (text) 

A sinful woman lavishes Jesus with loving attention.

Events leading up to this scene:

Lk. 6 - Jesus' sermon on the mount 
           (abbreviated cf. Mt. 5-7)

The people's response to Jesus' preaching:

Mt. 7:28-29 "And so it was, when Jesus had ended 
                   these sayings, that the people were 
                   astonished at His teaching, (29) for He 
                   taught them as one having authority, 
                   and not as the scribes."

Consider these examples:

Mt. 5:20 (Jesus) "For I say to you, that unless your 
                          righteousness exceeds the 
                          righteousness of the scribes and 
                          Pharisees, you will by no means 
                          enter the kingdom of heaven."

vss. 21-44 "You have heard that it was 
                 said.....but I say to you...."

Mt. 7:21-23 (Jesus) "Not everyone who says to Me
                               'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the 
                               kingdom of heaven, but he who 
                               does the will of My Father in 
                               heaven. (22) Many will say to 
                               Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, 
                               have we not prophesied in Your 
                               name, cast out demons in Your 
                               name, and done many wonders 
                               in Your name?' (23) And then I 
                              will declare to them, 'I never 
                              knew you; depart from Me, you 
                              who practice lawlessness!' "

Jesus gains a following:

Mt. 8:1 "When He had come down from the 
            mountain, great multitudes followed Him."

At the city of Nain, Jesus raised the dead son of a widow (Lk. 7:11-17)

Lk. 7:16-17 "Then fear came upon all, and they 
                   glorified God, saying, 'A great prophet 
                   has risen up among us'; and 'God has 
                   visited His people.' (17) And this report 
                   about Him went throughout all Judea 
                   and all the surrounding region."

In the mean time, the Pharisees had rejected John's baptism

Lk. 7:29-30 "And when all the people heard Him, 
                   even the tax collectors justified God, 
                   having been baptized with the baptism 
                   of John. (30) But the Pharisees and 
                   lawyers rejected the will of God for 
                   themselves, not having been baptized 
                   by him."

Back to the text:

Lk. 7:36-38 Custom: Invited guests reclined 
                   around the table, uninvited guests 
                   sat around the dining room wall

Lk. 7:39 The Pharisee's self-righteousness seen 
in his thoughts Jesus responds to the questioning of His ability to know this woman's
heart, by revealing His ability to know the Pharisee's thoughts:

Lk. 7:40-43 Jesus' parable of 2 debtors - brings 
                   shame on the Pharisee

Lk. 7:44-47 Jesus makes the application of His 
                   parable

Water to wash the feet, a greeting kiss & anointing the head with oil - were customary acts of hospitality

Though not invited, she supplied these things as an expression of her love for Jesus.

How do we demonstrate our love for Him?

Obedience

Jn. 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My  
                commandments."

Jn. 14:23-24 "...If anyone loves Me, he will keep My 
                     word; and My Father will love him, and 
                     We will come to him and make our 
                     home with him. (24) He who does not 
                     love Me does not keep My words; and 
                     the word which you hear is not Mine 
                     but the Father's who sent Me."

Worship

Psm. 122:1-2 "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let 
                      us go into the house of the Lord.' (2) 
                      our feet have been standing within 
                      your gates, ' Jerusalem!"

Notice vs. 2: Speaks of preparedness - waiting inside the gates of the city for the doors of the temple to be open.

How much preparation goes into our assembling?

Are we habitually late? - Is this a sign of "little love?"

Illustration - Were we prompt when we were dating - in anticipating of our date?

Keeping the Lord's Supper:

Notice Jesus' great desire to share in its initiation:

Lk. 22:14-20 Do this to remember Me.

At Troas, Paul & the disciples assembled for that purpose:

Acts 20:7 "Now on the first day of the week, when 
                the disciples came together to break 
                bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, 
                spoke to them and continued his 
                message until midnight."

Would we have been there? Or Too long to sit & listen?


INVITATION

Mt. 25:31-ff Serving one another also 
                   demonstrates our love for Christ. 

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