Free Christian Sermon About Forgiveness on Luke 7:36-50

It's a simple story of a Savior, a saint and a sinner.

It begins with a reluctant dinner invitation. Jesus is the visiting preacher in town. Simon, the Pharisee is the local religious leader, and it's his social responsibility to invite the traveling preacher to his home for a meal.

He's not happy about doing that since he's not impressed with Jesus. But neither does he want to commit a social blunder, so he extends the invitation. He's not a very good host. There are certain things that you did for your guests. You greeted your guest with a kiss. You offered a basin of water to wash up, and a towel to dry off. You provided some olive oil to soothe the skin from the dry climate. Simon did none of these things.

Then she came along. Uninvited, unescorted, and unwanted. The town harlot. She couldn't bear to watch these slights against Jesus. She comes over to where Jesus is recling at the dining table, feet pointed away from the table as was the custom, and she began to weep at his feet. Her tears falling on his feet, and in effect washing them.

She's not about to speak to Simon and ask for a towel. Women don't speak to men, and certainly not a harlot to a religious man like Simon. So she removes the pin from her hair! It was considered an indecent act for a woman to let down her hair in front of other men. A Jewish man could divorce his wife for such a move. But she must, because she needs to dry Jesus feet, and all she has is her hair.

Next she takes the oil that she would use to seduce men, pours it on Jesus' feet anointing and soothing them.

Simon is standing there watching all this in disbelief. Thinking to himself, "Now I know this man is no prophet. Anyone can look at this woman and know what kind of woman she is. And look at what he is allowing her to do!"

Of course, Jesus is a prophet and a good read on people. He knows what Simon is thinking. He tells Simon a story about two men who owned sums of money, one owing much more than the other. They couldn't pay, so the lender forgave their debts. Jesus asks Simon, which man appreciated it the most. Simon states the obvious answer, "The one who was forgiven the most."

Forgiveness

Credit: Free Christian Clip Art

Copyright: Free Christian Clip Art