Let's use our imaginations today. Suppose someone set up an arrangement so that this church had two applicants for membership, but only one could actually join. We would have to vote on which person could join the church. In real life, we would accept both members with open arms, but just for today, assume we can accept only one. Let's look at the two candidates and see which one we would choose.

Candidate one is a religious leader. He owns his own home, indicating that he has some financial means. A gracious host, he entertains prominent people in his home. Confident in his faith, he recognizes quality people when he sees them.

We do not have to try hard to make the case for this candidate. As a religious leader, he would add prestige to the congregation. After all, we always need more people who are serious about their religion. He has all the right credentials. As a homeowner, he has roots in the community and knows how to take responsibility for and how to care for things. He might make a good council member, and could surely add valuable expertise to decisions we might have to make.

As one who likes to entertain, he could host get-togethers in his home. That always comes in handy when we want to impress prospective members. He has a certain discernment about people. He can judge talent, knows a sinner from a righteous person. He could help us on the nominating committee that picks the rest of the officers for the church. Let's not forget that as a homeowner, he obviously enjoys some financial comfort. Such a member would help us meet our budget. Keep all of that in mind as we are voting.

The other candidate is a woman with a bad reputation. Everyone knows her as a "sinner." We do not know her particular sin, because "sinner" can mean anyone who is not scrupulous about keeping the Ten Commandments. Her religious practice is sort of hit or miss. We don't know her true financial status, but she does have the means to afford an alabaster jar of ointment. But for all we know, that is the only thing of value she owns. Who knows where she lives or what she does for a living. When we watch her actions, well, we don't come away with a good feeling...

Remembering the old rule that if you can’t say something nice….. I guess, since there is not much good to say, I should just quit talking.

And, no, we don’t have to vote on receiving anyone into membership this morning. But who would we rather have as a new member here? Someone who is able to recognize their need for a Savior and His forgiveness, or someone who thinks they don’t need that same forgiveness?

How about us? Do we all see our need for a Savior and his forgiveness, or are we feeling pretty secure in our sins?

Maybe I have digressed a little from our text. But there can be no argument that we certainly have a contrast in the people Jesus is dealing with. The presence of this sinful woman at the home of the Pharisee and her interaction with Jesus as he is trying to eat is in some ways sort of an odd story.

Why didn’t the Pharisee simply have a couple of his servants remove this woman from his house? How did she get in in the first place? Was he trying to use her actions as a way to make Jesus look bad? Sure, Jesus was known to associate with these disreputable people from time to time, but this was overly personal and inappropriate behavior.

Luke tells us the Simon the Pharisee says to himself that "If this man (Jesus) were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." In the Pharisees mind, Jesus has shown himself to be a charlatan, and no prophet at all.

Maybe the Pharisee mumbled his complaint under his breath. Maybe he just thought it to himself. When Jesus asks to speak, the Pharisees response "Say it Teacher" has an almost sarcastic quality to it. But now that Jesus has asked for the floor, the Pharisee must give it to him.

Jesus uses the parable of the two debtors as the occasion to speak about the depth of gratitude to those who have been freed from their sins. Those who believe they need little forgiveness love little

in return. They remain self-focused and self-absorbed. In contrast, those who know the depth of their sin are those who realize they are most in need of a Savior. Those who are complacent in their sin do not.

When Jesus arrived at the Pharisees home, there was no customary welcome kiss. There was no water offered so Jesus could wash his feet. The Pharisee saw no reason to kiss Jesus’ feet or his cheek, because the Pharisee simply has no need of Jesus. The Pharisee sees himself as moral and upright. He has no debt in need of repayment, so there is no one to whom he needs to express any gratitude.

Even though the Kingdom of God is in his presence, he does not see it. He refuses to see it. He cannot see it. The Pharisee thinks he has everything, and as a result, he lacks everything. Most of all, he lacks the one thing he really does need, he lacks Christ.

In contrast, the woman kisses Jesus’ feet because she’s heard the Good News of the Kingdom. She understands that in Christ there is forgiveness for her sins. Despite her sinfulness – and at the same time – because of her sinfulness, she flees to her only hope of redemption and salvation.

Out of thankfulness for what Christ has done, the woman washes and anoints and kisses his feet. Her great love and service are the result of Jesus’ work on her behalf. She rejoices in the words that give her life and hope, the words that give all the dead and despairing hope – "Your sins are forgiven."

The woman understood the words of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament; "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’ " What a wonderful reason to kiss his feet!

Verses 48-50 establish the real point of both of the stories in our text, the sinful woman and the parable of the two debtors. Because of the person and work of Jesus, human sin is forgiven. And as the one who came to carry human sin to the cross Jesus has the authority to speak the word of grace and forgiveness.

Although the woman who weeps at Jesus' feet and anoints him with oil surprises us with her strange actions, she teaches us about grace. Unlike the Pharisee, she understands that God has forgiven her sins. We might assume that the Pharisee is the kind of church member we need, but the woman teaches us true devotion and worship from the heart. Having been restored to God from her sinfulness, she has been freed to serve her Savior.

There are a lot of different people in our text this morning; the Pharisee, Jesus, the sinful woman, the moneylender and the debtors. But one of these people was not like the others. Who would you say didn’t belong? Who would you say was out of place? I’ll bet you guess the sinful woman. She was most certainly out of her element.

Maybe you guessed the Pharisee. But it can’t be him. He’s the host. It was his house. Surely he belongs, and he would have agreed completely. He was – in his mind – the most successful and moral person there.

But frankly, that’s the problem. He saw himself above the woman who knelt at Jesus’ feet, kissed them, and washed them with her tears. As one who had no business being at any banquet, she knew that Christ’s having made provision for her to be present made all the difference.

So if it’s not the woman or the Pharisee, who is it?

The one not like the others is Jesus himself. The woman is a sinner who knows exactly what she is, and the Pharisee is a sinner who doesn’t think he is. But Jesus is the one who is like us in all things, except sinning. Yet this one has taken on all sin – the sin of the woman, the sin of the Pharisee, your sin and mine.

And he has taken that sin and nailed it to the cross once and for all. It is taken away and God remembers it no more.

Through faith in what Christ did for us on the cross, we are empowered, not only to serve Christ, but to serve others. May we never lose sight of our need for Jesus. May we, in gratitude for sins forgiven always remain devoted to Jesus and worship him from the heart. Amen.