Luke 7

1.     Roman Centurion’s Servant   (vs. 1-10)

a)     After teaching  - Sermon On Plain

b)     2^nd year of ministry

c)      Vs 2 – His headquarters after hometown rejection (Matt 4:13)

d)     Centurion in chrg. of 100 soldiers

e)     Understood authority essential (just say the word) – Jesus impressed….bigtime!

2.     Jesus Resurrects Widow’s Son  (vs. 11 – 18)  

a)     Full of compassion

b)     He just happened upon funeral procession.

c)      Jesus acting in His sphere of influence – Fully man – could

Only deal with those in immediate area – not everyone in Israel.

d)      Jesus did influence the world. Although He did heal and teach

Many, He did it within a radius of about 150 miles. He did not

Heal or teach everyone in the world at that time, just those within His immediate sphere of influence.                                 

                       

                                                                                                                                  (maps courtesy of  Generation Word) 

e)     Power over death by Holy Spirit without measure.  (John 3:34)  

f)        He had not yet conquered sin and death but soon would. (Romans 6:, Rev 1:8)                                                                                                      

3.     John The Baptist’s Questions (vs. 19-20)

a)     John in prison  (Matt 4:12)

b)     John must have wondered why he was in prison if Jesus doing miracles.

c)      Perfect God, our understanding is imperfect 

d)     The isolation of prison will make you question many things; who your friends are, what they are thinking, why they do the things you think they are doing, etc.

e)     John was a righteous man, committed to his calling and knew Jesus well. At Jesus’ baptism he was sure Jesus was the Messiah but the isolation of prison made him confirm what he once knew to be true.

f)       I’m convinced John wanted to know whether his ministry was over, if it was time to step aside or keep proclaiming the coming Messiah. 

g)     John became unsure if Messiah was military leader as well as spiritual like everyone else?                                 

4.     Jesus Answers Questions   (vs. 21 – 23)

a)      Jesus understood where John was coming from and did not get offended.

b)     Jesus instead of a rebuke gave John a clear answer from scripture. Jesus knew John knew the signs from The Law and Prophets but just needed to be “coached” that he was right.

c)      Lesson on infallibility of Law. Is what New Testament based on.  (Luke 16:17, Gal. 3:24)

d)     Jesus came to fulfill Law, not abolish it. We are not under Law because He kept it for us. Impossible for man to keep law in fallen state.  (Luke 16:17, Gal. 3:24)

        5.   Jesus’ Testimony Of John The Baptist  (vs. 24 – 29)

               a)   Jesus not only pointing out character of John but also pointing out Johns faithfulness to his calling     

b)   Jesus once again pointing out infallibility of Law and Prophets (Isa 35:3-6)

c)    Prophesy fulfilled  (Mal 3:1, Isa 40:3)

d)   John’s baptism and message was one of repentance – being sorry for not keeping law  and future purification through The Messiah.  (John 1:26-27) 

e)   cannot be emphasized enough:  Pharisees believed they had nothing to repent of,              

5.     Jesus On Unbelief  (vs. 30 -  35)

a)     Pharisees reject baptism because they though themselves had no need to repent and they did not want to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. I believe they knew who He was all along. To acknowledge Him would be to deny self – which is the whole point.  (Gall 2:20)

b)     vs. 35 even babies and children believe – faith of a child (Psalm 8)

6.     First Anointing   (vs.36 – 40)

a)     I am always amazed at the fact that this woman had the fortitude to go to that Pharisees’ house as he was a very powerful man and had great social standing. Would this not be like crashing a party?

b)     Nothing could keep her from worshiping her Lord and Savior.

c)      Not same event as in John, Matt or Mark

7.     Parable Of Creditor  (vs. 41 – 47)

a)     In eyes of Jesus, all are equal, all people are precious an of same value.  

·         Acts 10:34  Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

b)     All sin and forgiveness the same in eyes of Jesus but not man. Man’s mind finite – must see in degrees to comprehend.

c)      Parables for those looking for truth – “those with ears to hear”

        

         8.   Jesus Forgives Woman Of Sins  (vs. 48 -50)

a)                Did not speak in a parable, wanted to give clear answer so everyone would understand.

b)     Jesus not snotty ever. Sometimes He seems to give a snotty answer, but I am convinced that we think that because the question was. I believe it was not in His nature to be rude.

c)      Jesus was of course critical of the Pharisees.

d)     He was annoyed by the fact that they were controlling people through their position – in essence using God.

                    Once again shows Himself to be God

            e)    Shows compassion

             f)   Her faith in and acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord and Savior cause Jesus to forgive    

                     the sin of her fallen state.  

g)   The fact that she came there despite the disdain of the Pharisees, she wouldn’t be stopped            from worshiping her Lord and Savior.