Do you believe life is full of second chances? Most of us have been given a second chance at some point in our lives. When we admitted we made a big mistake, there was a person in our lives willing to see past that mistake and to help us move forward. That individual’s offer of forgiveness, assistance in moving forward, and opportunity to prove ourselves, caused us to appreciate and love that person in a deeper way. This should also be the response we have to Christ’s forgiveness. Living in the reality of His forgiveness should prompt expressions of love, thankfulness, honor, and gratefulness. This is the focus of the Explore the Bible Study: Loved.

Luke closes this portion of his Gospel by returning to the theme of forgiveness. Jesus is going to teach another lesson regarding forgiveness as He dines with a Pharisee named Simon. In order to fully grasp the events, one needs to read what unfolds leading up to the key passages found in Luke 7:36-39:  Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 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 38 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. 39 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!” (CSB)

We do not know why Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him. Perhaps he wanted to get to know Jesus better, or perhaps he was hoping to get some new evidence with which to accuse Him. What we do know is that Simon was embarrassed and even appalled when this woman of great sin came into his house to anoint Jesus! This could have been a life-changing experience for Simon, but he was too blind to see the truths involved.

Simon the Pharisee most likely felt that he was favored by God because of his standing as a Jew and as a religious leader; therefore he was better than the woman and was not in need of forgiveness. Jesus turns this into a teachable moment regarding the need to receive God’s forgiveness, the depth of God’s love, and the surety of His forgiveness.

Luke 7:40-50 begins the lesson Jesus is going to teach on this particular day. As you study or lead the study, consider the lessons Jesus desires to teach you regarding how you embrace and express your gratitude for the forgiveness offered to you by Jesus Christ. Here are some things to consider as you study the passage:

Luke 7:40-43

• The Holman New Testament Commentary asks an interesting question regarding this passage. It’s a question we too should consider: “What would your church do if you showed Christ’s love to a person with the kind of reputation the sinful woman had? How can your church be sure it ministers to the people Jesus sought out rather than just to people who are just like you socially, economically, religiously, and racially?”
• Consider which person’s attitude describes your view of forgiveness – that of Simon the Pharisee or that of the woman. Would you say you are absolutely amazed by Christ’s forgiveness, or is it something you have taken for granted?
• What actions would demonstrate that we are totally amazed at, grateful for, and humbled by the forgiveness we have received from Christ?

Do you have a membership or a reward program in which you participate or to which you belong? It might be a gym membership, a shopping membership, or a hotel rewards club. If you do, what are some of the rules you have to follow or observe? Have you ever had someone correct you when you didn’t follow the rules? How did you respond? Luke 6:1-11 of the Explore the Bible Study: Reigns, focuses on conflicts that arose when Jesus didn’t follow all the man-made rules and rituals that had become a part of Sabbath.

The Jewish religious leaders during Jesus' day had created a system of control that totally missed the purpose of the Sabbath. Because Jesus addressed the way the Sabbath had been misused and clarifies how we should view the Sabbath, there needs to be an understanding of the background regarding the Sabbath command.

Exodus 20:8 tells us to Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  This 4th command included in the 10 Commandments that were given to Moses by God. There are three R words that will help you understand the purpose of this command:

1. Remember – We are commanded not to forget this day. It’s a day to remember God’s creation and His salvation. For the Israelites, the day was to honor Almighty God, the God of creation and to recount the story of deliverance God provided for them when He saved them from the bondage of Egyptian slavery and brought them to the Promised Land. In the Old Testament period, death was the penalty for violating this commandment (Exodus 35:1–3). We too, as believers, should set aside a day each week to remember that the God of creation has delivered us from the bondage of sin and restored us into a right relationship with Him.
2. Rest – The word “sabbath” comes from the Hebrew “shabbat,” meaning “to cease” or “desist.” The primary meaning is to cease from all work or to rest. Sabbath also means “seven;” therefore, it was to be observed on the 7th day of the week just as God rested on the Seventh day of creation. We should stop and rest with God. We should rest in the salvation which He has provided. And, yes, we should set time or a day aside in order to focus on this rest or sabbath.
3. Revere – The Sabbath day is declared holy by God (see Exodus 20:11); therefore, it should be revered as holy. The word holy means to “consecrate,” “set apart,” or “sanctify.” Believers should strive to practice setting aside or setting apart a Sabbath day, and it should be revered or given the reverence it is due because it is a holy day. Additionally, we should strive daily to be holy in all our conduct because God commands us to Be holy, because [HE] is holy (1 Peter 1:16) - we have been set apart, consecrated, and sanctified.

What we must understand about the Sabbath is something Jesus is going to teach us today. It’s a day that is to shape our entire week and how we live our faith daily. We are to remember the work of Christ daily, we are to rest in His salvation daily, and we are to revere holiness daily. While we set aside a day for Sabbath, which today includes a time for gathering with other believers in corporate worship and Bible study, everyday should be an expression of the Sabbath in the life of the believer. 

This brings us to the conflict in today’s passage between Jesus and the Scribes and Pharisees. During the period leading up to Jesus’ arrival, the Sabbath had become the heart of the law, and the prohibitions were expanded. The 39 plus man-made rules that were added to God’s commands had created a climate of legalism and control. The day had ceased to be a day to remember, rest, and revere, and had become a day to control, call out, and correct those who violated all the expanded rules. In the process, the commandment to love God and love others was forgotten. Jesus plans to clarify this!

3 Questions Answered

Most people, and quite possibly you and I, ask Jesus to heal someone physically more often than we ask for forgiveness. This poses a question that will be asked by Jesus in the Explore the Bible Study: Forgives. In Luke 5:23, Jesus asks the question, “Which is easier? To say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?”

We need to look at our expectations of Jesus today as we examine this passage and ask what we truly believe He can and will do. Do we truly believe He forgives sin completely? If so, how do our lives demonstrate that we have been forgiven? How do our prayers and actions toward others demonstrate that we believe Jesus can forgive sins? Or do we only look to Jesus as a healer of disease, a protector from danger, a provider of blessings, or a deliverer from danger? None of these are bad, but we must understand that the primary reason Jesus came was to provide forgiveness of sin.

When you examine how Jesus healed the paralytic in Luke 5:17-26, you will discover that He challenged the Pharisees, the scribes, a house full of people, and us about the power He has to, not only heal the physical body, but to forgive and restore the spiritual brokenness that is caused by sin. He is the only One who can forgive sin.

As you study or guide a study of Luke 5:17-26, consider the following:

• Are you a friend to others who need to get to Jesus for forgiveness? Will you do everything in your power to bring them to Jesus? Don’t be like the crowd or the Scribes and Pharisees. Be like the paralytic’s friends and make a way for others to come to Jesus so they can receive forgiveness.
• Are you a walking witness of Christ’s forgiveness? Are you celebrating His forgiveness and spiritual healing by how you live?
• Is it hard for you to believe that Jesus can forgive someone or even forgive you? Perhaps this is why your (our) prayers focus more on physical healing, protection, direction, blessings, and not on forgiveness. Never forget that when someone comes to the Lord and asks Him to save, cleanse, and forgive them, He does; they’re forgiven and placed into the family of God.

Romans 4:7 reminds us, “Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered.” If you have received Christ as your personal Savior, then you are forgiven! Celebrate it, live like one forgiven, and bring others to Jesus so that they might be forgiven!