LUKE 7
17 Outlines
Luke 7
TOUCHED BY JESUS
The Lord Jesus touched
the people mentioned in this chapter in some way.
Each received something
with his "touch".
A CONFIDENT CENTURION
WAS GIVEN HONOR Vss. 1-10
"I say unto you, I
have not found so great faith, no, not in
A CONCERNED WIDOW WAS
GIVEN HELP - Vss. 11-17
A CONFUSED PROPHET WAS
GIVEN HOPE - Vss. 18-23
A CONTRITE SINNER WAS
GIVEN HEALING - Vss. 36-50
The woman in this story
was truly converted.
A CRITICAL PHARISEE WAS
GIVEN HONESTY - Vss. 36-50
Jesus pointed out his
host's rudeness and lack of sorrow for sin.
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Luke 7:1-10
THE CENTURION
HIS REQUEST Vss. 1-5
HIS RELIANCE Vss. 6-8
HIS REWARDS Vss. 9-10
1. He was
complimented by Jesus
2. His servant
was healed
3. He is still
a testimony today
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Luke 7:1-10
MARVELOUS MAN OF FAITH
HE HEARD (of Jesus) Vss. 1-3a
HE ASKED Vss. 3b-5
HE HUMBLED HIMSELF Vss. 6-7a
HE TRUSTED Vss. 7b-8
HE BENEFITED Vss. 9-10
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Luke 7:1-10
MODEL OF FAITH
CALL FOR HELP Vss. 1-4
CONVICTION OF
UNWORTHINESS - Vss. 5-6
CONFIDENCE IN CHRIST -
Vss. 7-8
COMMENDATION OF FAITH -
Vss. 9-10
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Luke 7:1-10
WHEN IT HURTS
Life is full of hurts.
Nobody avoids them. There are times when despair can really get hold of
us. We are affected by hurts in the
family, hurts in church, hurts on the job or in school, and by hurts inside
that others might never know. When it hurts
we need to follow the example of the centurion in this passage.
TAKE YOUR BURDEN TO THE
BURDEN BEARER Vss. 1-3
HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE
THE HUMBLE ONE Vss. 4-7
(Jesus said that He was "meek and lowly
of heart.")
TRUST THE ONE WHO IS
TRUSTWORTHY Vss. 8-10
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AVAILABLE
Luke 7:11-17
The Lord Jesus was and is always available.
This story shows us the availability of the Lord Jesus.
From this passage we learn that:
JESUS IS AVAILABLE IN CRISIS - Vss. 11-12
Jesus had been in
Vs. 11 Jesus progressed to Nain, a days
journey, about 25 miles from
Vs. 12 Here is a crisis.
It is always
sad when someone dies, but it is especially hard when the ones left behind are
the parents or as in this case a parent.
We parents always expect our children to be burying us and not us
burying our children.
In this case the situation was even more difficult because the
only one left was a lone widow. There were no other children and no
husband. This would have been a great
emotional loss, but also a great physical loss.
Widows in Bible times had it hard when it came to making ends meet.
There was quite a procession which would have probably included
professional mourners and many people of the city.
The thing that strikes me is that Jesus was available.
As always, Gods timing was perfect. Jesus showed up just as the body was being
taken out for burial.
Is Jesus available today in times of crisis?
The answer, of course, is yes. John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5-6,
Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 4:14-16
JESUS IS AVAILABLE WITH COMPASSION - Vs. 13
Vs. 13 Jesus was a man of compassion because God is a compassionate
God. Lamentations
3:22-23
Jesus often showed compassion. Matthew 9:36,
John
Jesus told her not to weep.
Of course He knew that He would raise the man from the dead.
This reminds me that its okay and natural to weep, but there is
a time to stop crying.
There is a time to stop mourning and to let Jesus heal us.
JESUS IS AVAILABLE BRINGING
CHANGE Vss. 14 -15
Vs. 14 The bier was an open casket
Touching a dead body would render someone ceremonially unclean.
Jesus was not afraid to get involved in tacky situations.
And Jesus does not stand aloof in our times of hurt and sorrow.
Jesus told the young man to get up.
Vs. 15 The young man sat up and began to speak.
Jesus
presented the young man to his mother.
Jesus brought about many changes when He walked this earth.
He made cripples whole.
He made insane, demon possessed people, sane.
He made the blind to see.
He made the dead alive.
He changed the lives of his disciples.
And the Lord Jesus is making changes today.
First and foremost He changes every person who is truly born
again.
2 Corinthians
(When I preached this sermon I used the examples of Stuart
Hamblin, C.I. Scoefield, and Mel Trotter as those who
were dramatically changed when they were saved.)
The Lord is also available to change us after we are saved.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, we will produce the
fruit of the Spirit which will actually be change.
We will change from hatred to love
From sorrow to joy
From turmoil to peace
From impatience to longsuffering
From gruffness to gentleness
From crookedness to goodness
From unfaithfulness to faithfulness
From pride to meekness
From being out of control to being under control (Galatians
JESUS IS AVAILABLE ACCEPTING
COMMENDATION - Vss. 16-17
Vs. 16 They did not recognize Him as God, but as a great
prophet. Jesus accepted the commendation
that came with this.
Today we recognize Jesus as God and it reminds me that He
accepts our commendation and worship.
As Christians we should be thankful and grateful for what he has
done for us. Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 96:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
JESUS IS AVAILABLE IN CRISIS -
Vss. 11-12
JESUS IS AVAILABLE WITH
COMPASSION - Vs. 13
JESUS IS AVAILABLE BRINGING
CHANGE
Vss. 14 -15
JESUS IS AVAILABLE ACCEPTING
COMMENDATION - Vss. 16-17
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Luke 7:11-16
ONE!
ONE DEAD MAN Vss. 11-12
ONE DEPRESSED WIDOW Vs. 12
ONE DEVOTED SAVIOR Vs. 13
ONE DEFINITE COMMAND Vs. 14
ONE DELIGHTFUL CONCLUSION Vss. 15-16
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Luke 7:11-17
MINISTRY TO THOSE WHO
HURT
There are 3 instances in
Scripture where are Lord raised people from the dead.
There is the raising of
the ruler's daughter from the dead.
There is the raising of
Lazarus from the dead.
And there is the
instance before us now, the raising of the son of the Widow of Nain from the dead.
As we study this passage
it is an opportunity to examine the ministry we might have to those who are
hurting. There are principles here that we can discover that will help us in
our ministry to those around us.
WE ENCOUNTER THE HURTING
IN THE COURSE OF LIFE - Vss. 11-12
Vs. 11 - Our Lord had
just healed the servant of a centurion. Now in the course of his travels he
came to the City of
Vs. 12 - Just as they
were entering the city a funeral procession for a young man came out.
You will find that the
hurting will come upon you at all different times in life.
You will find that they
will come from a various assortment of backgrounds and that they will often
show up unexpectedly.
Personally I've
discovered hurting people in all sorts of situations. I've often been called in
the wee hours of the night. I've encountered hurting people at church,
hospitals, funeral homes, and a host of other places. Even when I have made a
routine pastoral call, I've found people hurting.
Of course the source of
hurt is sin. As long as there is sin in
the world there will be hurting people.
But God has compassion
on hurting people and wants us to help them when possible. That's why He puts
hurting people into our paths.
THOSE WHO HURT HAVE REAL
PROBLEMS - Vs. 12
It might be easy for us
to downplay events in someone else's life, and say, "Why that's not so
great a problem." However we should not be quick to judge.
This widow had real
difficulties. She had already buried her husband and now she was burying her
only son. Perhaps the woman's only source of income was her son.
Down through the years
I've encountered people with real problems. (I suggest you itemize a few, but
be careful not to break confidentiality.)
THOSE WHO HURT HAVE
NEEDS - Vs. 13
When our Lord came and
saw what the situation was, he had compassion.
Compassion is something
that the hurting need. As representatives of the Lord Jesus it is our job to
show compassion.
Those who hurt also need
comfort, and again, it is our responsibility to share that comfort. As our Lord
comforted this woman, let us comfort others. Galatians 6:2, Romans 12:15
WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO
WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THOSE WHO HURT - Vss. 14-15
Our Lord, of course, had
some dramatic results when he helped people. He did what He could to help this
poor woman and her son was raised from the dead.
Although we do not have
the same abilities that our Lord, had, we are to do what we can to help relieve
the hurt. Galatians 6:10
Sometimes we can sit
with someone.
Sometimes we can just
listen.
Sometimes we can do work
projects around a person's home.
Sometimes we can go to
the hospital or to court with someone.
Sometimes we can give
financial assistance or groceries.
The important thing is
that we do what we can.
OUR HELP CAN BRING
SURPRISING RESULTS - Vss. 15
The surprising result in
this case was the young man's return to life.
And we never know what
surprising results we will see when we help those who hurt.
People will be
encouraged.
People will have their
physical needs met.
And sometimes people
will come to know Christ as Savior.
OUR HELP CAN BRING GLORY
TO GOD - Vss. 16-17
God was glorified as a
result of this miracle.
God will be glorified as
we minister to those who hurt. Matthew 5:14-16
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Luke 7:11-16
THE MASTER CARES
THE WITNESSES OF SORROW
AND JOY - Vss. 11-12, 15-16
There were two crowds,
one with Jesus and the other with the widow.
They saw the sorrow. They experienced the joy.
THE WIDOW WHO LOST HER
SON - Vs. 12
THE WARMTH OF THE MASTER
- Vs. 13
Jesus has compassion for
those who hurt, especially those who are His.
THE WONDER OF THE
MASTER'S TOUCH - Vss. 14-16
Jesus still touches lives
today with His wonderful salvation, and intervention in the lives of believers.
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Luke 7:11-17
PRESENT TO HELP!
The Widow Of Nain was
hurting! The Lord was present for her,
and He is for us when we are hurting.
CROWD AND CRISIS Vss. 11-12
COMPASSION AND COMMAND Vss. 13-14
CHANGE (Life!) AND COMMENDATION Vss. 15-17
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Luke 7:11-30
HANG IN THERE!
My wife, Dottie, says
that the whole Bible can be summed up in three words, "Hang in
there!" And indeed that's exactly
the message that the Lord Jesus gave John the Baptist, when he expressed some
doubts.
A TERRIFIC MIRACLE -
Vss. 11-16
A TROUBLED MESSAGE -
Vss. 17-20
John heard about Jesus'
miracles. However, John was in prison
and was probably depressed. I believe He
asked his doubtful question because of his depression and because he expected
Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth in a more rapid manner.
A TRIUMPHANT MANDATE -
Vss. 21-23
The messengers sent to
Jesus were witnesses of many miracles which the Lord performed.
Then the Lord sent a
message to John giving a brief summary of Jesus' ministry and encouraging John
to "Hang in there!"
A TERRIFIC MAN - Vss.
24-28
Jesus tells the crowd
what a great man of God John was. I
believe that truly great people usually do not grasp how great they really are.
John didn't.
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Luke 7:19-30
WHEN DOUBTS ARISE
Even the greatest of the
Lord's servants are attacked with times of doubt.
John the Baptist was not
immune from times of doubt.
He had stood mightily
for God (Luke 3:1-18). As a result,
Herod had thrown him into Jail (Luke
As John sat in prison,
he began to doubt. Evidently, he
expected the Messiah to set up His kingdom immediately. He did not understand
that Jesus must first die for sins, and then set up the kingdom at a later
date.
THE CONCERNED PROPHET -
Vss. 19-20
John sends
representatives to ask Jesus if He is the one who is the Messiah, or if they
should they look for someone else.
THE CHALLENGED PROPHET -
Vss.21-23
First Jesus worked
miracles before the eyes of John's disciples. He showed that He was Messiah by
His deeds.
Second, He sent a
message to John encouraging Him to continue believing.
THE COMMENDED PROPHET -
Vss. 24-30
The crowd is made to
understand what a great man of God John really was!
At that moment John, in
prison, may have felt like a complete failure.
Instead, John through
his obedience to God, was a total success!
Many people will be
surprised what great successes they were when they stand before the Judgment
Seat of Christ.
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Luke 7:36-50
PICK ONE!
Call up two people from
the audience and have a small prize in each hand held behind your back. Let
each "Pick one!" I used candy
bars.
Many of us are familiar
with "Wheel of Fortune". On that television show everyone is asked to
make picks one at a time. They pick a letter. They pick a vowel. At the end of
the show, before the bonus round, they pick an envelope containing a prize. If
they correctly solve the puzzle, they win the prize.
Life is full of choices.
Every day you are invited to pick. You pick what you are going to eat, what you
are going to wear, how you are going to act, what you are going to do, and
where you are going to go.
In this message you also
have a choice.
I am inviting you to
pick one! You chose who you are like in this story, the Pharisee or the woman.
It is your pick. The good news is, if
you want to change your choice at the end, you can.
NOTE: If you are
teaching or preaching in this passage you will need to begin by telling the
story of the woman and the Pharisee as described in Vss. 37-42. You will want
to point out that the woman was already saved, but coming to show her
appreciation. You will also want to point out that the Pharisee was very
self-righteous and resentful of the woman.
Give attention to Jesus' parable and how both of the debtors could not
pay. You will probably want to point out that every sinner is equally lost and
in debt to God. Jesus died to pay that debt. It was the woman's faith that
saved her. Vs. 50
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - Vs. 44
It was a common courtesy
of that day to have a servant wash the feet of a guest. They wore open sandals, and though every
other body part might have been clean, feet very easily got dirty. A servant
was sent around to wash the feet. Simon failed to do this for Jesus.
The woman, on the other
hand, not only washed Jesus feet, but used her own tears, and dried the feet
with her own hair.
I believe this action of
the woman speaks of acknowledgement.
This woman looked back
at her past life.
This woman looked back
at her failures.
This woman looked back
at the forgiveness which Jesus gave her and shed tears of sorrow and gratitude.
I wonder how many of us
have been forgetful about how much the Lord Jesus has done for us.
We need to remind
ourselves of what we were before we were saved. We need to remind ourselves
that we had past failures, many of them, but Jesus has forgiven every last one
of them.
We need to remind
ourselves that even today, when we sin we have a Savior who forgives us, and
restores us to fellowship as we confess. 1 John 1:9
It wouldn't hurt us to
shed some tears of sorrow and gratitude for what He has done.
AFFECTION - Vs. 45
Another custom of that day
was to greet a guest with a kiss on the cheek.
Simon did not offer that kiss. The woman however covered Jesus feet with
kisses!
This woman not only
acknowledged her sin, but she showed her affection for the Lord Jesus. She
loved Him for what He had done for her!
The kisses were the sign of her affection.
How does your Lord Jesus
know that you love Him?
Do you tell Him that you
love Him?
Do you sing songs of
praise and worship from the heart?
Do you thank Him for all
that He's done?
Are you loyal to Him?
Do you spend time with
Him?
Do you speak up for Him?
Are you there when
needed?
Will you do anything
that He asks?
Do you obey Him? John
14:15
APPRECIATION - Vs. 46
Another custom was for a
host to anoint his guest's hair with oil. Simon had offered no oil!
The woman took a flask
of expensive perfume and anointed Jesus' feet.
She showed her appreciation for all that Jesus had done for her. Has it
occurred to you that what we give to the Lord is an indication of how much we
appreciate Him?
When we give our tithe
to the local church, we are showing our appreciation.
When we give to missions
we are showing our appreciation.
When we give to those in
need, we are showing our appreciation.
CONCLUSION - Vss. 47-50
Vs. 47 - The woman's
love for Jesus was a reflection of how much she had been forgiven.
She realized just how
great a sin debt had been paid!
Oh, may we realize the
great debt of sin that has been paid for us, and may we love Him accordingly!
Have you been forgiven
much?
Do you love the Lord Jesus
accordingly?
Vss. 48-50 - The woman
was reassured, and those who didn't believe didn't understand that Jesus could
forgive sin.
But now it's time for
you to Pick One!
Are you like the
Pharisee or the woman in the story? You can change, and become like that woman.
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Luke 7:36-50
APPRECIATION
You might want to tell two stories to introduce this
message.
Tell a story that shows true appreciation for
something someone has done. Also tell a story about someone who showed a lack
of appreciation.
Our text tells the story of two people. One was
repentant and showed appreciation for what Jesus had done for her. The other
was unrepentant and showed no appreciation.
May we, by our words, thoughts, and actions always
show appreciation for our Lord Jesus!
THE PEOPLE, Vss. 36-39
A Repentant Sinner, Vss. 37-38
A Self-Righteous Pharisee, Vss. 36, 29
THE PARABLE Vss. 40-43
The one who is forgiven the most is the most
appreciative.
THE POINT Vss. 44-50
The Pharisee had not sought for, nor received
forgiveness of his sins, therefore, he showed no sign of appreciation.
The woman had sought for and received forgiveness by
faith. She showed her appreciation in her actions.
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7:36-50
DINNER PARTY
In the days of Jesus when someone had a dinner party,
it was open for outsiders to come and watch.
Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a Pharisee.
This unique dinner party featured:
A REPENTANT SINNER Vss. 37-38
A RIGHTEOUS PHARISEE Vs. 39
A REBUKING MASTER Vss. 40-47
A REASSURING SAVIOR Vss. 48-50
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Luke 7:36-50
PENETRATING QUESTIONS
Jesus went to a dinner party given by a Pharisee. A
woman who had been forgiven by Jesus showed up to show her appreciation. The Pharisee was critical. This event and Jesus response leads us to
some very penetrating questions to ask ourselves.
DO YOU CRITICIZE YOUR MASTER FOR WHOM HE FORGIVES?
Vss. 36-39
DO YOU CONSIDER HOW MUCH YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN?
Vss. 40-43
DOES YOUR CONDUCT REFLECT YOUR CONVERSION? Vss.
44-47
DOES YOUR COMFORT COME FROM THE LORD? Vss. 48-50?
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Luke 7:44-50
A REPENTANT WOMAN
SHE BROUGHT THE WATER OF WELCOME Vs. 44 Her Tears
SHE GAVE THE KISS OF AFFECTION Vs. 45
SHE USED OINTMENT OF APPRECIATION Vs. 46
SHE RECEIVED WONDER OF FORGIVENESS Vss. 48-50