Luke 7:297:29 –– 8:38:3
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GOSPEL OF LUKE THE EXTRAVAGANCE OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US Brian Purfield LUKELUKE 7:297:29 –– 8:38:3 VaryingVarying ResponsesResponses toto JesusJesus ’’ MinistryMinistry (7:29(7:29 --35)35) HospitalityHospitality && InhospitalityInhospitality inin thethe HouseHouse ofof SimonSimon (7:36(7:36 --50)50) WomenWomen MinisterMinister toto JesusJesus (8:1(8:1 --3)3) CONTEXT Ch.7:Ch.7: Forgiveness:Forgiveness: AA GentileGentile SoldierSoldier (7:1(7:1 --10)10) AA GrievingGrieving WidowWidow (7:11(7:11 --17)17) AA DoubtingDoubting ProphetProphet (7:18(7:18 --35)35) AA RejectedRejected SinnerSinner (7:36(7:36 --50)50) CONTEXT ForgivenessForgiveness is:is: NeededNeeded byby allall GodGod ’’ss giftgift ChangesChanges liveslives VARYINGVARYING RESPONSESRESPONSES TOTO JESUSJESUS ’’ MINISTRYMINISTRY (7:29(7:29 --35)35) Comment from Luke (7:29-30) Reflection from Jesus (7:31-35) LKLK 7:327:32 --3535 Chiastic (7:32-34) A: Celebration (flute playing/dancing) B: Wailing/weeping B’: Austere ministry of John A’: Celebratory ministry of Jesus Wisdom’s children (7:35) HospitalityHospitality && InhospitalityInhospitality inin thethe HouseHouse ofof SimonSimon (7:36(7:36 --50)50) Greek symposium? Important teaching Context of hospitality Eucharistic overtones WOMANWOMAN ANOINTSANOINTS JESUSJESUS WomanWoman anointsanoints JesusJesus ’’ headhead atat BethanyBethany (Mk(Mk 14:314:3 --9;9; MtMt 26:626:6 --13)13) MaryMary ofof BethanyBethany anointsanoints JesusJesus ’’ feetfeet && wipeswipes themthem withwith herher hairhair (( JnJn 12:112:1 --8)8) LkLk 7:357:35 --5050 –– similaritiessimilarities && differencesdifferences WronglyWrongly identifiedidentified asas MaryMary MagdalenMagdalen SIMON THE PHARISEE More realistic portrayal of Pharisees (Lk) “Separated” ones Change in power Identity & name THE WOMAN Sinner – no hint of nature of her sin Depth of her response Shocking description SIMONSIMON ’’SS REACTIONREACTION Negative thoughts Jesus tries to bring such thoughts to surface Parable of Two Debtors (Lk 7:41-42) 1 denarius = a labourer’s daily pay God’s forgiving love cannot be measured in human terms Does Simon fully understand? TWO RESPONSES [Simon] [The Woman] I came into your house & you yet she has bathed my offered me no water for my feet feet with her tears and (= did not bathe ). wiped them dry with her hair. You gave me no kiss , yet ever since I arrived, she has not ceased kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head yet she has anointed my with oil feet with perfume. VERSE 47 Understood in either of two ways: Her many sins were forgiven as a result of her great love Her actions of great love show her state of forgiveness Lk 7:48-50 “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you: go in peace” Faith & salvation Cf. Zechariah’s Canticle (1:77, 79) TWO LESSONS GodGod ’’ss mercymercy isis alwaysalways therethere beforebefore anyoneanyone asksasks OutOut ofof forgivenessforgiveness flowsflows lovelove WOMEN MINISTER TO JESUS (Lk 8:1-3) Lukan summary of Jesus’ ministry Male-female balance in Luke Role of significant women in Lk/Acts NEXTNEXT WEEKWEEK Zacchaeus Exchanges Hospitality with Jesus: Lk 19:1-10.