Luke 7 - Why Jesus Loved Hanging Out With Sinners?

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The Faith of the Centurion

After Luke records Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, Jesus enters into Capernaum. Jesus encounters a Roman Centurion, whose servant was very ill. A centurion was a leader of 100 Roman troops. He was a man of authority. Apparently he was in a good relationship with the Jewish elders, because he sent them to Jesus asking him to heal his servant. The elders reveal that indeed this Roman Centurion had helped them build their local synagogue. 

We see that the centurion is very respectful, as when he hears Jesus coming, he humbly says he does not deserve for Jesus to come to his home. The centurion was a man who knew the meaning and role of authority, and he recognized Jesus as an authority higher than him. He had so much faith in Jesus and his authority over sickness that he said, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed!"

Jesus recognized his great faith and said he had not found such faith in all of Israel. When the man returned to his home, his servant was healed. His faith became sight. 

The church I serve is near Camp Pendleton, so we have many marine families in our congregation. I find the marines very respectful and recognize the authority of a pastor more than most people do. I extend the same respect to them. 

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

Once again the crowds got bigger as the news of Jesus spread, Jesus then went to the town of Nain. 

Nain is “a town today located in the Jezreel plain, six miles southwest of Nazareth.” (Pate)

Jesus came upon a widow whose only son had died. This meant she had no one to carry on their family name, and also no one to take care of her when she got older. Jesus saw her pain and it says, "His heart went out to her". He said, "Don't cry". 

We are specifically told of the compassion of Jesus on this occasion. He instantly understood the situation and had sympathy upon the widow, giving her hope despite the tragedy of the situation. 

In one of Jesus most magnificent miracles, Jesus stops a funeral possession and puts his hand on the young man, as they were carrying him in a coffin. Apparently the coffin was open, because the young man got up and began to talk. Then, Jesus gave him back to his mother. 

The people were filled with awe and said, "A great prophet has come to us!" Little did they know Jesus was more than a prophet. 

On more than one occasion Jesus broke up funeral processions by raising the dead. This was also true for Jarius’ daughter (Luke 8:41-56) and Lazarus (John 11:1-45). Jesus didn’t like death, and He regarded it as an enemy that had to be defeated. - Guzik

Jesus and John the Baptist

John's disciples told him all about what was happening, so he sent two of his disciples to see if Jesus really was the one they were hoping for. It is interesting he didn't go himself. Jesus basically said, "The proof is in the pudding". 

"Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor." 

These would have been the type of things that Isaiah would say were signs of the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled all of the expectations of a biblical Messiah. The problem was the people were looking for an earthly Messiah, who would return them to political power. 

Jesus then makes a very interesting statement about John the Baptist to the crowd. 

"I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

What does he mean by this?

John the Baptist was the greatest prophet because he announced the coming of Jesus the Messiah. There were no greater words a prophet had ever uttered. And yet, the Holy Spirit had not come to dwell on the prophets like they would at Pentecost. The prophets and apostles of Jesus did the very same things that Jesus did like heal sickness, cast out demons. They even raised some people from the dead. Jesus wasn't denigrating John in any way, he was giving a preview of coming attractions. 

Finally, Jesus says, 

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

When someone doesn't want to listen to someone, they will find any way to reject them. The Pharisees thought John had a demon because of his ascetic and strict lifestyle. Meanwhile Jesus hung out with tax collectors and other sinners, so they assumed "guilt by association". 

He wasn’t a friend of tax collectors and sinners in the sense that He was like them, or in the sense that He helped them commit their sin. This is what the religious leaders meant by their accusation, and it was a false accusation.

· He was a friend of tax collectors and sinners in the sense that He loved them; He did not despise them or push them away. He genuinely wanted to help them and rescue them from the guilt, the shame, the power, and the penalty of their sin. - Guzik

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Following the accusation that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners, it is interesting Jesus is in the home of the Pharisees when a sinful woman approaches him boldly. Some thought this was Mary Magdalene, though we have no proof of that supposition. I am sure Jesus healed and cared for many sinful women. This one happened to come back and give Jesus an extraordinary thank you gift. 

This tells us more than that she was a sinner in the sense that all people are. She was a particularly notorious sinner – most suppose that she was a prostitute. Her presence in the Pharisee’s home showed courage and determination. - Guzik

She came with an alabaster jar of perfume, which was a very expensive commodity in Jesus' day. The woman was so overcome with gratitude to Jesus for the life changing unconditional love he had given her, that she poured the perfume on this feet, which became mixed with her tears. She then washed his feet with her hair. 

It is hard to understand what all this meant, especially within the context of the culture Jesus lived in. Here are some commentator's thoughts that help us to unpack this dramatic scene. 

“People reclined on low couches at festive meals, leaning on the left arm with the head towards the table and the body stretched away from it. The sandals were removed before reclining.” (Morris)

"Normally, this oil was used on someone’s head. “In all probability, the woman intended to anoint Jesus’ head with her perfume. But, because Jesus, like the other participants, reclined with His head toward the table, the closest the woman could get to Jesus was His feet.” (Pate)

“To have her hair flowing would be deemed immodest…[she] kissed fervently, again and again.” (Bruce) 

We can only imagine how awkward this scene was, and how everyone silently watched the woman and her emotional display. No one said anything until Jesus broke the silence in the following verses.

The Pharisee who had invited Jesus was indignant this kind of woman had not only entered his house but that Jesus allowed her to do this to him.  Jesus tells a short parable about a money lender who cancelled the debts of two debtors. One owed him approximately a month's worth of wages, the other a year's worth. 

Jesus asked Simon, "Which one do you think will love him more?"

The answer is obvious, and Jesus goes on to rebuke Simon pointing out that he had done little to welcome him or even put oil on his head, which would have been fitting for a king. The woman felt too ashamed to pour oil over Jesus' head, so she washed his feet with her hair, her tears, and costly perfume. 

Jesus concludes by saying, "Whoever is forgiven much, loves much!"

The reality is we have all been forgiven "much". Though some sins may make a more public appearance, sin is sin in God's eyes. In some ways Simon might not have thought he needed to be forgiven at all. 

In the end Jesus announces the woman's forgiveness of her sins. The crowd is astonished saying, "Who is this that even forgives sins?"

This the second time now Jesus has claimed to have the authority to forgive sins. This is something only God has the authority to do. Thus Jesus is claiming to be God!