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