Abide: Luke 7:36–50

Looking back:

Question: How have you fished and followed since we last met?

1. Follow: This is a question of how are you spending time with the Lord personally, how you are praying, studying scriptures and how you are growing in the faith.

2. Fish: This emphasizes on the great commission, how you are sharing the gospel and making disciples.

Looking Up: The plight of a sinful woman (Luke 7:36 –50)

Read through Luke 7:36 and analyze the passage using the questions below.

 What do we learn about God?

 What do we Learn about people?

 Is there sin to avoid or confess?

 Is there a promise to claim?

 Is there an example to follow?

 Is there a command to obey?

Take time and dive deeper

1. What was the social status of the woman who anointed Jesus' feet? How did this impact the reactions of Simon the Pharisee and the other guests at the dinner?

2. In what ways did the woman demonstrate her love for Jesus? How might her actions serve as an example for us today?

3. Why did Jesus tell the parable of the two debtors? What was the point he was trying to make to Simon and the other guests?

4. How did the Pharisees view sinners like the woman who anointed Jesus' feet? How did Jesus challenge this view?

5. How did Jesus respond to the woman's actions? What does this tell us about his character and his message?

6. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus? How did the woman demonstrate her faith through her actions?

7. How did the woman's act of anointing Jesus' feet compare to other acts of worship in the Bible? How might this impact our understanding of worship?

8. What role did forgiveness play in this passage? How did Jesus extend forgiveness to the woman, and what can we learn from this example?

9. Why do you think Luke included this story in his gospel? What message was he trying to convey to his readers?

10. How can we apply the lessons from this passage to our own lives? How might we demonstrate our love and faith in Jesus through our actions?

Theological thought bubble

Why is it significant that the woman anointed the feet of Christ and not His head?

This is an interesting question; I have heard various views on this topic, the best one so far was the one I heard mentioned that this was one of the steps in preparation for burial. This powerful encounter is rich with theological implications that can shed light on why she chose to anoint Jesus's feet instead of his head.

1. Humility and Repentance: Anointing someone's head was a common practice reserved for kings and respected figures. By anointing Jesus's feet instead, the sinful woman demonstrated her humility and recognition of her unworthiness before the divine. She acknowledged her sins and sought forgiveness, using the most humble and symbolic gesture to express her repentance.

2. Recognition of Christ's Lordship: The woman's choice to anoint Jesus's feet signifies her understanding of Jesus's divinity and lordship. By anointing His feet, she acknowledges that He is not just a human figure, but the Son of God, worthy of reverence and worship.

3. Love and Gratitude: The act of anointing Jesus's feet could be seen as an expression of profound love and gratitude. She knew Jesus had the power to forgive sins and offer salvation, and this act was her way of showing immense love and thankfulness for the grace and mercy she received.

4. The Role of Feet in Scripture: Throughout the Bible, feet often carry symbolic significance, representing various aspects like guidance, humility, and service. Anointing Jesus's feet exemplifies the desire to follow His teachings, to be led by Him, and to serve Him wholeheartedly.

5. A Contrasting Example: In the same story, Simon the Pharisee, the host of the dinner, fails to extend basic hospitality to Jesus. He did not offer water to wash Jesus's feet, nor did he greet Him with a kiss. The contrast between Simon's lack of respect and the woman's profound act of devotion emphasizes the transformative power of Jesus's forgiveness and the boundless grace available to all who turn to Him in faith.

In conclusion, the sinful woman's decision to anoint Jesus's feet rather than His head in Luke 7:36-50 reflects her humility, repentance, recognition of Christ's divinity, love, and gratitude for His redemptive ministry. This powerful gesture serves as a theological reminder of the transformative power of Jesus's forgiveness and the boundless grace that awaits all who seek Him with a contrite heart.

Response

 Let everyone say who they plane to share this story with,

 Set goals for which passion of scripture they will study this coming week.

 Plan on who they are going to share the gospel with and when they will do so within the next week.

 Pray before moving to the next phase

Apply: Salvation Story

Once there was a man named James, who lived a life of sin and debauchery. He was a successful businessman, but his success came at a cost. He was addicted to alcohol, drugs, and women. He was living life on the edge, constantly pushing the limits, and never stopping to think about the consequences of his actions.

One day, James hit rock bottom. He lost everything he had worked so hard for. His business collapsed, his friends abandoned him, and he was left alone with nothing but his addictions. He was hopeless, lost, and desperate.

In his moment of despair, James remembered something that his grandmother had told him when he was a child. She had told him about Jesus, and how he could save him from his sins. James had never taken it seriously before, but in his moment of need, he decided to give it a try.

He went to church that Sunday and something miraculous happened. As he listened to the sermon, he felt a sense of peace and hope that he had never experienced before. He felt like Jesus was speaking directly to him, and that he was being called to a new life. He surrendered himself to the Lord, confessed him as Lord, and believed.

From that moment on, James devoted his life to following Jesus. He gave up his addictions and started living a life of service to others. He started volunteering at the church and found joy in helping those who were less fortunate than himself.

As James started to share his story with others, he realized that his experience was not unique. Many people had gone through similar struggles and had found hope and redemption in Jesus. He started sharing his story with anyone who would listen and soon became known as the "miracle man" in his community.

James' story touched the hearts of many and inspired them to share their own stories of how they came to Christ. His journey from despair to hope, from darkness to light, was a testament to the power of faith, and a reminder that no matter how lost we may feel, there is always hope for redemption.

Real talk

Today’s real talk is about our walk-in salvation

 Take time and let everyone share about their personal walk with the Lord.

 Speak about how you came to the Lord, be honest and share if you have not yet accepted the Lord in your life.

 Share about any struggles you may have with sin; talk about times you stumbled and fell.

 Talk in detail about your questions and concerns about the Lord

Advance

Find time this coming week to do these assignments

Extra reading

Luke 7:36-50 is a well-known passage in the New Testament that tells the story of a woman who anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume and her sins are forgiven. Here are some additional theological readings that can shed more light on this passage:

1. "The Significance of the Anointing of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50" by Darrell Bock - In this theological reading, Bock explores the significance of the anointing of Jesus' feet by the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50. He argues that the anointing is a symbol of the woman's repentance and that Jesus' forgiveness of her sins is a sign of his authority and power to forgive sins.

2. "Jesus and the Forgiveness of Sins" by N. T. Wright - In this theological reading, Wright examines the concept of forgiveness of sins in the New Testament and its relation to Jesus' mission. He argues that forgiveness of sins is central to Jesus' message and that it is a sign of the coming of the kingdom of God.

3. "The Role of Women in the Ministry of Jesus" by Elizabeth A. Johnson - In this theological reading, Johnson explores the role of women in the ministry of Jesus and their significance in the gospel narratives. She argues that women played an important role in the early church and that their inclusion in the gospel narratives challenges traditional patriarchal structures.

4. "The Importance of Humility in the Christian Life" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer - In this theological reading, Bonhoeffer reflects on the importance of humility in the Christian life and its relation to the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50. He argues that true humility is characterized by a recognition of one's own sinfulness and a willingness to serve others.

5. "The Grace of God and the Sinful Woman" by Karl Barth - In this theological reading, Barth reflects on the concept of grace in the story of the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50. He argues that the forgiveness of sins is a gift of grace that is freely given by God and that it is a sign of his love and mercy towards sinners

Theological and apologetic arguments

Theological Argument:

This passage is a powerful example of the nature of forgiveness and salvation. Jesus forgave the woman's sins because of her faith and repentance, not because of any good works or religious observances she had performed. This underscores the fact that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned or deserved. Instead, it is received through faith in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins on the cross.

Apologetic Argument:

This passage also addresses the question of whether Jesus is truly able to forgive sins. Simon was skeptical of Jesus' ability to forgive the woman's sins, but Jesus demonstrated His power by healing the woman and affirming her faith. This serves as evidence for the truth of Jesus' claims to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Moreover, the woman's actions show that those who have truly experienced forgiveness are compelled to express their gratitude and love for Jesus in tangible ways. This is further evidence of the transformative power of Jesus' forgiveness in the lives of those who believe in Him.

Daily study questions

I challenge you to answer three of the questions a day for the next seven days.

1. What does it mean to repent and believe in Jesus Christ? (Mark 1:15)

2. How can we demonstrate our repentance and belief through our actions? (Acts 26:20)

3. Why is it important to repent and believe to receive salvation? (John 3:16-18)

4. What role does faith play in our ability to repent and believe? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

5. How does repentance and belief in Jesus Christ lead to a transformed life? (2 Corinthians 5:17)

6. What does it mean to turn away from sin and turn toward God in repentance and belief? (Acts 3:19)

7. How can we share the message of repentance and belief with others? (Matthew 28:19-20)

8. What does it mean to repent and believe in the gospel? (Mark 1:15)

9. Why is repentance necessary for salvation? (Luke 13:3)

10. What is the difference between true repentance and worldly sorrow? (2 Corinthians 7:10)

11. How does God's kindness lead us to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

12. What role does faith play in repentance? (Acts 20:21)

13. How does repentance lead to a transformed life? (Acts 3:19)

14. Can a person truly believe in Jesus without repentance? (Luke 24:47)

15. How does repentance affect our relationship with God? (Isaiah 59:1-2)

16. What does it mean to confess our sins when we repent? (1 John 1:9)

17. What happens when we repent and turn to God? (Acts 3:19)

18. How does the Holy Spirit help us in the process of repentance and belief? (John 16:8-11)

19. What are some practical steps we can take to repent and believe in our daily lives? (James 4:8-10)

20. Can someone who has turned away from God still repent and believe again? (2 Peter 3:9)

21. Why is it important to continue repenting and believing throughout our lives? (Matthew 24:13)