The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-04-11
Sun.-Psalm xii.


The title of the lesson this week might well be the
title of every lesson: 'Jesus the Sinners Friend"
But the compassion of Jesus his yearning desire to
bless and save beautifully shown in this story Of
the woman that sinner. 1t is Il narrative of
what occurred at certain entertainment. There
is strong contrast between the grace and forgving
love of Jesus and the hardness and rejection of the
Pharisee who entertained him
l. The Unexpected GueSt-Vs $3.50. Jesus ac
cepted an invitation to dinner from a Pharisee The
Pharisee was bent inquiry into the character
and work of his guest and Jesus not unwilling
to be Investigated, and to the opportunity to do
good. Jesus usually went to the homes into which
he invited, and he does There was scant
courtesy shown him, shown very soon,
theless it to him open door. An unwecome
guest came into the Pharisee's house, "a woman in
the city, which sinner" She would never have
entered that house, but that Jesus there and
drew her powerful magnet. She heard him say,
Come unto me, all We that labour and heavy
laden" and that her bidding. She drought an
alabaster box of ointment" Her heart was deeply
moved by the amazing love of Christ, and She wanted
to show her gratitude. 1t perhaps the only thing
of value that she possessed 1t very costly but
nothing was too precious to show her love. She
stood at his feet he reclined at the feast weep
ing She burst into tears of penitence and love-
Her tears fell upon the Lords feet and i'm her utter
Devotion she wiped his feet with her hair and kissed
his feet, and anOinted them with the ointment" The
sacrifices of God broken heart. "Tum We to
me with all your heart and with weeping, and rend
your heart, and turn unto the Lord your God" 1t
the love of Jesus that brought her to repentance
The treatment of the Pharisees would have driven
off, unforgiven and mblessed. The Pharisees rea
soned that if Jesus were indeed Il prophet he would
know that this "a sinner, and would have
forbidden her to touch him. There was no pity and
no forgiveness with the Pharisees He knew she was
sinner, and therefore longed to redeem her from
sin forever. He welcomed her that he might save
her.
3 Jesus Rebuhes the Pharisec VS.. 4O46-This
the opportunity Jesus desired. "Simon have
somewhat to say unto thee" He spake the parable
of the creditor who had two debtors, one in great
amount and the other in much less Having nothing
to pay the creditor forgave them BOTH. lie asked
the Pharisee to say which of these debtors would
love most and compelled him to admit that he to
whom he forgave most would have the most grateful
love Then Jesus declared to him that this was Just
the case. The Pharisee debtor we'll as the
woman. There difference in their enmity OF
heart toward God And they both had nothing to
pay. Jesus himself the creditor all sin was
against him. and he was God. The supreme assump
ton is wrought into his words beyond question
Then he challenged the Pharisee as to the differ
ence in the treatment he had received from these two
debtors. He who had invited him to his house had
esteemed him so poorly that he had neglected the
most common courtesies customary in the land But
this woman had washed his feet and kissed them and
anoined not his head but his feet. In her grateful
love for the forgiveness of all her debt she Rad done
everything in her poverty that he had failed to do in
his abundance.
B. forgiveness and lore oHd the Bcpcdicfion Of
renee vs. 400 Jesus said that her love proved that
she was forgiven sinner. She was not forgiven be-
cause she loved for her faith had saved her but hcr
sense of forgiven sin led to her great love He did
not make little of her sins "Icr sins which are many
are forgiven" And turning to the weeping woman
he said; "Thy sins are forgiven That was the out
spoken, public announcement. Of what she had al
ready experienced. She had the sure word row and
could go saying to all 81 know my sins are forgiven
Some said "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?"