Like No Other || Forgiveness Like No Other || March 9, 2025

Luke 7:36-50 ESV

1. BOLD APPROACH

• Luke 7:37–38 (ESV) And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

1. This woman didn’t allow ANYTHING to keep her away from Jesus
2. She knew where her hope was
3. She runs TO Jesus and not away.

• Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
• Psalm 34:18 (ESV) The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

1. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP

• Luke 7:37–38 (ESV) And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

1. She holds nothing back in worship
2. Alabaster Flask: 
3. She gave EVERYTHING in worship.
4. What are we willing to give up in our worship of God?
5. What resources do you have that you need to USE for worship of God and to bless God?
6. She is completely vulnerable before Jesus
7. She knew the depth of the forgiveness she had been given.
8. BEING A “SORT OF”

• Luke 7:39 (ESV) Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

1. Simon saw her for sin and only saw her as that.
2. Simon failed to see who he truly was in the presence of Jesus
3. Simon knew the law

• Romans 3:23–25 (ESV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

1. Simon seemed to think that holiness meant separation from sinners but Jesus reveals that true holiness is bringing restoration to sinners.
2. Simon needed the same forgiveness the woman received but couldn’t realize it because he thought he was “GOOD.”
3. UNMATCHED FORGIVENESS

• Luke 7:48–49 (ESV) And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

1. She had already been forgiven 
2. She was responding in worship of the One who had forgiven her.
3. Her debt had been paid.
4. Jesus paid it on the cross.

• Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

1. A NEW LIFE OF PEACE

• Luke 7:50 (ESV) And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

1. Can you imagine how little peace she must have had with the life she lived?
2. She sacrificed everything to come to the feet of Jesus and poured out all she had to worship God - the God who forgave her and saved her.
3. There is PEACE where forgiveness lives.

Reflection & Application Questions:

1. What do you think the woman felt as she approached Jesus?
2. How does her worship challenge the way you approach Jesus?
3. In what ways might you relate to Simon’s judgmental attitude?
4. How does Jesus’ forgiveness change the way we see our own past?
5. How does this story challenge how we treat others, especially those with difficult pasts?
6. What does true worship look like in your life?
7. How do you respond to Jesus’ forgiveness?
8. Do you struggle to believe that Jesus fully forgives and restores? Why?
9. How can you extend the same grace Jesus showed to this woman to others?
10. What steps can you take to live in the peace Jesus offers?

QUESTIONS TO ASK WHILE READING SCRIPTURE

What does this reveal about God?

What does this reveal about you in relation to God?

What do you need to do about it?