THE FORERUNNER of THE MESSIAH- JOHN THE BAPTIZER

          Luke 7:29-30

V: 29-30     These verses are the key to the following rebuke by JESUS.

          THE EXAMPLE OF THE FAULT-FINDING CHILDREN

Luke 7:31-35

V: 30         What are the leaders of Israel, the Pharisees and lawyers in V: 30 like?

V: 32           (A) They are like spoiled, rotten, rebellious children.

(B)     We have piped – played a wedding song and they have not danced.

(C)     We have mourned – played a funeral durge and they have not morned..

(D)     Who is the  we? – Jesus and John the Baptist

V. 33           John the Baptist was too serious!

V: 34           Jesus was not serious enough!

V: 35           (A) JESUS’ point is they didn’t know what they wanted!

                   (B) But, beneath the uncertainty was a very determined resistance to God.

                         They did not want Him!

                   (C) So, the LORD is asking” What do you really want?

                   (D) Revelation 3:15-16 – lukewarm – in Greek, khlee-ar-os: to warm – tepid -

       neither hot nor cold.

SIMON’S BANQUET

Luke 7:36-39

V: 36         (A) It’s not just JESUS and Simon. Verse 49 makes it clear it is a                         banquet of others with the very same attitude as Simon.

(B) The banquet was because JESUS was being proclaimed as the     

Messiah and the Pharisees gave it at Simon’s house to investigate Him.

                   (C) A banquet required that the door be left open for uninvited guests

       and along the wall were cushions for them.

(D) As host for the banquet, Simon would greet the guests with the customary

      kiss on the cheek.

(E)      Servants would wash their feet and anoint them with oil.

V: 37-38     (A) How could Simon forget the words of David? 

      Psalms 51:17, Isaiah 1:18, 57:14-16 & 66:2

                   (B) What concerned Simon is that the woman toucheth him. Which he feared

                             would render him ceremonially unclean.

V: 40                  Only a sinner needs a Savior – Simon could not love!

V: 41-42     (A) Which debtor we identify with, the sinful woman or Simon, will show how         

       we would receive the LORD into our house today.

(B) Can we think of those who have a greater need of forgiveness than me?

V: 43           (A) Gratitude is the true motivation of love.

                   (B) Simon had offered sacrifice in the temple, as all Jews were obligated to do.

                   (C) But Simon had no personal experience or feelings that it (the sacrifice) was  

      for him personally.

                   (D) Simon was a hypocrite! Proverbs 26:18-28.

                   (E) Simon could not admit that he was not always true. Psalms 14:1-7.

                   (F) Simon had to maintain an image! Matthew 23:1-7.

V: 44-46     (A) How could Simon justify his lack of common courtesy?

V: 47           (A) In order to be one who loves, we must let GOD forgive us! 

                   (B) Growing in grace means an ever increasing sensitivity to the areas of our

                          life that need forgiveness and restoration.

V: 48                 The KJV says Thy sins are forgiven, but this is a past tense verb in the Greek

      and should be translated has or Thy sins have been forgiven!

V: 49           (A) The parable went right over their heads.

                   (B) HE, who forgiveth sins also, is GOD in the flesh! John 1:1& 14

V: 50                  Peace – Hebrew shalom  -  JESUS, the Messiah, said shalom only to the                           woman!