The Peace of the Forgiver
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Harmonizing the ideas of faith, forgiveness and peace in a world of conflict.
Text: Luke 7:48-50
Date: 08/28/2022, the Combined service.
Series: "Luke: Thy Kingdom Come" Part 74
Description:
As Luke brings this epic story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears to a close, the focus turns once again to Jesus as Messiah. When He tells this woman of ill-repute directly that her sins are forgiven, the table full of Pharisees reacts indignantly, questioning His authority to claim a power that is God's alone. Then, in a masterful shift, Luke introduces for the first time in his Gospel the idea of saving faith, as Jesus tells the woman that her faith has saved her. We will analyze Luke's discussion of faith to this point in his Gospel and try to understand what kind of faith the woman had and where it came from. And finally, we will turn our attention to Jesus' glorious parting statement as He bids the woman to "go in peace". After completing the exposition of the text we will incorporate Jesus' well-known teaching of the "narrow gate" to help illustrate the life change this woman faces, and the nature of the perfect peace that Jesus the Forgiver offers His forgiven.
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I. Introduction, John 15:19, Luke 6:22, Matt. 10:16,22,34,36; John 14:27, 16:33.
II. Exposition of the text, Luke 7:48-50.
A. Context
1. The expansive context.
2. The immediate context.
B. The words and work of the Forgiver.
1. The Forgiver and the forgiven, vs. 48.
a. Looking at the grammar.
i. The root of the word.
ii. The tense and voice of the word, John 8:34,36.
b. For whose benefit?
i. For those at the table.
ii. For the woman.
2. Grumbling at the table, vs. 49.
a. A familiar theme, Luke 5:20-24.
b. The focus shifts to Jesus.
i. Revisiting the greatness of John the Baptist.
ii. Revisiting the children in the marketplace.
c. Two kinds of people.
3. The "how" and "why" of redemption, vs. 50.
a. On faith and salvation.
i. A surprising shift, John 3:3, Eph. 2:8.
ii. Luke's discussion of faith.
1) Faith in Jesus' healing ministry.
2) Faith in the miraculous catch, Luke 5:5,8.
3) Faith in radical conversions, Luke 5:27.
iii. Summarizing the woman's faith.
1) The focus on the forgiven.
2) The focus on the Forgiver.
b. The glorious closing statement.
i. Interpreting the tone.
ii. Looking at the language.
1) The word "go".
2) The word "in", Matt. 25:21.
3) The word "peace".
III. Application
A. Standing at the narrow gate, Matt. 28:20.
1. The parable of the two gates, Matt. 7:13-14.
2. Melding the two images.
a. The broad road.
b. The narrow gate.
i. Losing the baggage.
ii. The assurance of salvation.
iii. Passing into a new life.
iv. A different kind of peace.
c. An invitation into shalom.
B. Going in peace.
IV. Conclusion, John 14:27, 16:33, Luke 7:50.
