Counterfeit believers don’t repent and worship because they think they’re good enough.
True believers repent and worship because they know they’re not good enough.
Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
Luke 7:36-38
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him — she’s a sinner!”
Luke 7:39
Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He said, “Say it, teacher.” “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
Luke 7:40-42
So, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” “You have judged correctly,” he told him.
Luke 7:43
Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:10-12
Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?
Luke 7:44
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.
Luke 7:44-46
Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.
Luke 7:47
We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
Isaiah 64:6
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:48-50
Do you look down on others or look up to Jesus?
Are you indifferent to Jesus or radically transformed?
Do you typically keep quiet or boldly confront self-righteousness?
What comes to mind when you think about what a disciple of Jesus should look like?
Read Luke 7:36-50. Though it might be unexpected, who does Jesus identify as having authentic faith; who does He identify as having counterfeit faith?
Are you typically more broken over your own sin OR of the sin of others? Explain your answer as specifically as you can.
Consider how Jesus contrasts the way the pharisee and sinful woman relate to him (in Luke 7:44-46). Who are you more like? That is, are you typically indifferent to Jesus OR are you worshipful and radically transformed? How might His grace help you as you fail in this regard?
What would the church look like if it committed to both consistently celebrating true repentance and challenging self-righteousness?
