Failing to See Our Own Sin
Jesus teaches us to see the depravity of our own hearts and to recognize our need for mercy, just like Simon did, and to extend his mercy to others.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the danger of self-righteousness as illustrated by the Pharisee Simon, who failed to recognize his own sin while judging a sinful woman who sought Jesus' mercy. The sermon highlights how Jesus, aware of Simon's thoughts, teaches him about compassion and forgiveness through the parable of the two debtors. Wilkerson urges believers to examine their hearts and extend mercy to others, just as Jesus did, reminding us that we all need forgiveness and restoration. The message calls for a heart that sees the brokenness in others and responds with love and grace.
Text
"One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil" (Luke 7:36-38).
Simon, this Pharisee, also invited a select group of religious leaders to join the supper table. It was clearly a religious gathering, made up of men who fancied themselves the holy men of their generation. Then a "woman of the city" crashed the scene and knelt at the feet of Jesus. She bathed his dusty feet with her tears and wiped them clean with her hair -- something no decent woman of that day would have done in public. Finally, she opened an alabaster box and poured perfume on Jesus' feet.
The Pharisees were indignant, thinking, "How shameful! If Jesus were really a prophet sent from God, he would have known this woman is evil and stopped her." Indeed, Scripture says those were Simon's exact thoughts (see Luke 7:39). Jesus read his thoughts and announced, "Simon, I have something to say to you" (7:40). Jesus told the story of the two debtors, one with a huge debt and one who owed less, who were freely forgiven by their creditor. Then the Lord pointed out Simon's arrogance, judgmental spirit and lack of compassion. "Simon, you don't see the depravity of your own heart. You judge this broken woman but fail to recognize that you need as much, or even more, mercy."
Jesus showed the spirit of forgiveness and restoration in the Pharisee's house that night when he turned to the woman and said, "Your sins are forgiven" (7:48). He came to befriend and restore the fallen, the friendless, those overtaken by sin, and he is saying to us today, "This is what my ministry is all about. Let me enlarge your heart to see hurting, broken people so that you may extend my mercy to them."
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Pharisee's Supper
- A. Jesus invited to a Pharisee's house for supper
- B. A woman crashes the scene and anoints Jesus' feet
- II. The Pharisees' Indignation
- A. They think Jesus should have known the woman's evil nature
- B. Jesus reads their thoughts and announces a story
- III. The Story of the Two Debtors
- A. One debtor with a huge debt and one with less
- B. Both debtors are freely forgiven by their creditor
- IV. Jesus' Rebuke to Simon
- A. Simon's arrogance and judgmental spirit
- B. Jesus points out Simon's need for mercy
- V. Jesus' Ministry of Forgiveness and Restoration
- A. Jesus forgives the woman's sins
- B. He comes to befriend and restore the fallen
Key Quotes
“You don't see the depravity of your own heart. You judge this broken woman but fail to recognize that you need as much, or even more, mercy.” — David Wilkerson
“This is what my ministry is all about. Let me enlarge your heart to see hurting, broken people so that you may extend my mercy to them.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We need to recognize our own sinfulness and need for mercy, just like Simon did.
- We should extend Jesus' mercy to others, especially those who are hurting and broken.
- We should have a heart of compassion and forgiveness, just like Jesus did.