Week Service 28th febr. 2018
Text: Luke 7: 44-48:
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Theme: Seeing the woman
1.The perspective of Simon
2.The perspective of the woman
3.The perspective of Jesus
Liturgy:
Psalter 128: 1-3
Luke 7: 19-50
Psalter 362: 1-3
Psalter 416: 1, 2, 5
Psalter 228: 1, 3
Citation:
“That everyone examine his own conscience, whether he purposeth henceforth to show true thankfulness to God in his whole life, and to walk uprightly before him; as also, whether he hath laid aside unfeignedly all enmity, hatred, and envy, and doth firmly resolve henceforward to walk in true love and peace with his neighbor”.Form for the Administration of the Lord's Supper.
Heidelberg Catechism: Lords Day 12
Question 32: Why are you called a Christian?
Answer: Because I am a member of Christ by faith
and thus share in his anointing,
so that I may
as prophet confess his name,
as priest present myself
a living sacrifice of thankfulness to him,
and as king fight with a free and good conscience
against sin and the devil in this life,
and hereafter reign with him eternally
over all creatures.
Further reading:
John 12: 1-11 (anointing of Jesus by Mary)
Rom. 12 (living sacrifice)
Discussion questions:
1. What is the relationship between Luke 7: 29-35 and the text of the sermon?
2. Jesus was invited by Simon. Who was Simon and why was Jesus invited by him?
3. Which examples does Jesus give to show that Simon has no (or little) love for Jesus (verse 45, 46, 47)?
4. The woman who entered the dining room was a well-known sinner. Most likely she committed adultery. Maybe she was a whore. Discuss with each other some (contemporary) examples of adultery. How can we protect ourselves from such sinful temptations?
5. How could the woman just enter Simons private dining room?
6. Why did the woman weep and anoint Jesus’ feet?What does this say about how the woman saw herself? What can we learn from what she did for Jesus? What’s hereby the meaning of HC – Lords Day 12 (question 32)?
7. Simon was speaking within himself, saying: “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner” (verse 39). Why can’t Jesus be a prophet in the opinion of Simon? And why is this judgment incorrect?
8. Jesus told Simon a parable. Then, Simon must had to draw the conclusion (verse 42). Why did Jesus ask him to do that?
9. What is Jesus’ judgment about Simon's love for Him (verse 47)?
10. Jesus told Simon that all the sins of the woman were forgiven. Why did Jesus repeat that against the woman (verse 48)?
11. From Whom does Jesus have the power to forgive the sins of a human being?
12. What judgement does Jesus have about you? Are you welcome at the Lords Supper next Sunday? We read in the Administration Form: “All those, then, who are thus disposed, God will certainly receive in mercy, and count them worthy partakers of the table of his Son Jesus Christ”.