Archbishop Peter Jensen’s weekly online series on The Essential Jesus (the gospel of Luke). In each study the Archbishop will lead us through the book we intend on giving away to as many people as possible.
STEP 1: READING
Read Luke chapter 7, verses 31-50.
STEP 2: REFLECTION
Here is the clash between those who trust that they are righteous enough for God to accept them, and the righteousness of the moral and spiritual failures. Jesus finds the spiritual blindness of his generation perverse. They criticise both the austerity of the Baptist and the joyful acceptance of the sinners by Jesus. Simon the Pharisee exemplifies this attitude. He is antagonistic to the woman who comes into his house with an extravagant display of gratitude and love towards Jesus. But Jesus exposes this attitude for what it is - a complacent and unfounded belief in moral and spiritual superiority. The woman's life has been transformed by the forgiveness that Jesus has brought. She will no longer follow the path of sin. But her forgiveness has not been purchased by goodness. It comes from her faith in Jesus, the willing abandonment of all hope except hope in him.
STEP 3: DISCUSSION
1 Do we exemplify the attitude of Simon in our generation?
2 Why does forgiveness have the power to transform?
3 Is it faith, or faith-in-Jesus which brings salvation? Why?
Ask your questions
Ask your questions about each study as it goes up.
Previous studies click here and scroll down
Prepare for the next study by reading Luke chapter 8.
