1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Let us pray. Simon answered and said, I suppose that 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: he to whom he forgave most. And he said, unto them, 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: thou hast rightly judged Luke seven forty three. When I 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: feel the weight and burden of my past, when I 5 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: begin to feel the shame and guilt from the abuse 6 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: of my past, I will come before you Jesus, then 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: bring to you whatever strength and worship I have left. 8 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: I will pour out my praise and worship to you 9 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: like the woman with the alabaster box of oil, because 10 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 1: I know that in your presence is love, acceptance, and forgiveness. 11 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: As I bow before you in prayer, I thank you 12 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: for forgiving me and redeeming me from any past afflictions. 13 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: Even in the midst of scoffers and haters, I know 14 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:13,199 Speaker 1: that you are pleased and touched by my active surrender. Lord, 15 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: Use me to help redeem others who may be in 16 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: a similar position. Use me to take those who feel 17 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: unworthy and to reconnect them to their value and true 18 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: worth in Jesus name. Amen. Listening to these daily prayers 19 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord 20 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: by listening to today's Bible in a Year brought to 21 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot. 22 00:01:46,480 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: Com Broken and forgiven. In our last story Glory, Jesus 23 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: healed the centurion servant. He was restored because the centurion 24 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 2: believed and clung to the authority of Jesus. He recognized 25 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 2: that Jesus held authority over death and sickness. Now we 26 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 2: are introduced to a woman who had been completely broken 27 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: by her past. She approaches Jesus in the den of 28 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: the religious leaders and worships him unlike anyone had before, 29 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: as inspired by the Gospels. 30 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 3: Hello, this is Jack Graham with today's episode of the 31 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we heard 32 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 3: how Jesus healed in ways that left people speechless and 33 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 3: astounded at this man who was among them. His power 34 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 3: to heal with just a word, even to bring the 35 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: dead back to life, brought many followers. Still, they did 36 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 3: not truly understand his purpose or power. Even as they 37 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 3: had heard him speak and watched him heal, they did 38 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 3: not know this was the long awaited Messiah who brought 39 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 3: the ultimate and complete healing that they really needed. Today, 40 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 3: we'll meet a woman who approached Jesus boldly in her 41 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 3: brokenness to worship at his feet. Her presence would disturb 42 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 3: the legalistic establishment, but Jesus would recognize her sacrifice and 43 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 3: her deep need of him, and honor her for her actions. 44 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: Let's listen now to the reading of God's word. 45 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 2: Jesus sat among the Pharisees at a great feast. He 46 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: watched as they mingled among themselves. There were laughs and 47 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: deep discussions and the things of God. However, there was 48 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 2: something beneath the surface of their smiles. Jesus could see. 49 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 2: Beyond the polished exterior of the religious leaders. They wore 50 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 2: their outward righteousness as a mask to hide their broken 51 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: and selfish hearts. Jesus declined at the table, making small 52 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 2: talk with the men to his right and left. He 53 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 2: knew they hated him. He knew he was only invited 54 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 2: because they wanted him comfortable. It broke Jesus's heart to 55 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: see such deception underneath kind gestures. As the men spoke, 56 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: Jesus saw a woman come in through the back door. 57 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: She wore the face of someone who had been abused 58 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 2: her entire life. Judging by the looks of the men 59 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: gave her, she was a notorious sinner in the city. 60 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: She was equally enticing and revolting to the religious elite. 61 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: She was not supposed to be there, but she had 62 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: come to see Jesus. Jesus watched as the woman approached him, weeping. 63 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: Around her neck was a small alabaster flask filled with 64 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: precious ointment. Each woman in the city had one. It 65 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 2: was the most valuable possession and meant to sell in 66 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: hard times or give to one's husband. Tears streamed down 67 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: the woman's cheeks as she fell before Jesus. She bore 68 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: the tears of a broken heart. The tears fell on 69 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: the lord's feet, and the woman began to wash him 70 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: with her tears and hair. Then she broke the flask 71 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,039 Speaker 2: around her neck and anointed Jesus's hands, head, and feet 72 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 2: with the fragrance. The smell filled the air as the 73 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 2: Pharisees watched in uncomfortable silence. Jesus's heart broke for the woman. 74 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 2: She fell at his feet, worshiping him the only way 75 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: she knew how she had been used and abused her 76 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 2: whole life. She believed that her identity and love came 77 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: from the men she shared her body with. Yet Jesus 78 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 2: offered her something else. He offered purpose. He offered unconditional love. 79 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 2: He offered a healed and clean heart. As the woman 80 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: was still kneeling on the floor, one of the pharisees, Simon, 81 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 2: spoke up. If Jesus was truly a prophet, he would 82 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 2: not let this woman anywhere near him. He scoffed. Everyone 83 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: knows she is one of those women. Be careful, Jesus, 84 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: or she might tempt you Simon. Jesus said sternly as 85 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: he stood to his feet. His eyes darted in the 86 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: pharisees direction. I have something to say directly to you. 87 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: Simon stepped back for a moment. He looked around the room. 88 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 2: Everyone was incredibly tense. They knew that Jesus was a gentleman, 89 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: but they had also heard how he single handedly cleared 90 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:06,919 Speaker 2: the temple with a whip. Simon did his best to 91 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: feign confidence. He did a poor job. He nodded towards 92 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 2: Jesus and said, yes, of course, say a teacher. Jesus 93 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: approached Simon. With each step Jesus took forward, Simon took 94 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: a step back. There was a money lender who had 95 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 2: two debaters. One of them owed five hundred and the 96 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: other ode fifty. Neither of them could pay, So the 97 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,799 Speaker 2: money lender forgave them both and canceled their debt. Jesus 98 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 2: got closer to Simon, there was an intense silence. Tell 99 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 2: me which one of those debaters will love the money 100 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 2: lender more. Simon shrugged, still doing his best to seem confident. 101 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: The one who was forgiven more money. I suppose, he answered, correct, 102 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 2: Jesus said. Then he went back to the woman and 103 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: helped her to her feet. Do you see this woman, Simon, 104 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: I entered your house. You gave me no water to 105 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: wash my feet, which is custom for any guest. Yet 106 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 2: this woman washed my feet with her own tears. You 107 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: did not welcome me into this home. But this woman 108 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: has anointed my head with her finest oil. I tell 109 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 2: you this before all your guests. Her sins will be 110 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: forgiven because she loved much. And listen to me closely. 111 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: He who forgives little will love little. Then Jesus sent 112 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 2: the woman on her way, and the whole house grumbled 113 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 2: at their own inadequacy. 114 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: We begin today Scripture at a great banquet, where Jesus 115 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 3: is the guest at the home of a pharisee. It 116 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: may seem unusual that those who seemed to despise Jesus 117 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 3: so much would invite him to a feast, But their 118 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 3: motives were not pure. They intended to challenge him on 119 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 3: matters of the law. They wanted to gain the upper 120 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 3: hand and expose Jesus in order to restore their own 121 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 3: power among the people. It is a reminder that showiness 122 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 3: and extravagant displays are not always a good indicator of 123 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 3: a person's heart intentions. But as we've heard from Jesus 124 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 3: on teaching, God sees through our outward appearance and perceives 125 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 3: our true motives. So as he reclined at the table, 126 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 3: Jesus would have been well aware of the purpose of 127 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 3: these men. But we should also remember that Jesus's heart 128 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 3: was not too shame or defeat them, but rather to 129 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 3: bring them to repentance and fellowship with God. God's desire 130 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 3: is that all would come to repentance, and that everyone 131 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 3: would turn to him and see Jesus not as a rival, 132 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 3: but as the savior of all sins, including the sins 133 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 3: of self righteousness. As we discover, there was one person 134 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,200 Speaker 3: who came into the feast who knew her need for Jesus, 135 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 3: a woman whose reputation preceded her, and that's not in 136 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 3: a good way. She came to the house to see Jesus. 137 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 3: She wasn't a guest, she was a party crisher has 138 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 3: it welcomed? Her appearance would have angered the righteous leaders? 139 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 3: How dare she think she could be in their presence? 140 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,320 Speaker 3: But this woman wasn't afraid, and she wasn't seeking the 141 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 3: approval of the religious crowd. She went straight to Jesus 142 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 3: and fell at his feet in tears. She wept until 143 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 3: her tears moistened the feet of Jesus. His feet would 144 00:09:19,600 --> 00:09:22,080 Speaker 3: have been dusty and dirty from walking along the road 145 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 3: that day in his sandals. Having no towel, she used 146 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 3: what she had her hair to wipe his feet dry 147 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 3: before she kissed them and poured perfume all over his feet. 148 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 3: It was such a lavish display of devotion. The perfume 149 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 3: was no chief fragrance from a roadside stand. It was 150 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,440 Speaker 3: an expensive perfume, a true sacrifice for this woman, who 151 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 3: surely was not wealthy. Seeing what was going on the host, 152 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 3: a pharisee named Simon began to murmur that Jesus couldn't 153 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: be a prophet, otherwise he would have known what kind 154 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 3: of woman this was. She was a sinner, unfit for 155 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 3: their company, and certainly unworthy of Jesus turned to Simon 156 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 3: and posed a question supposing two men owe a lender money, 157 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: and that neither could repay their debt. Thelender forgave both debts, 158 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,000 Speaker 3: so they both were off the hook. But one owed 159 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 3: a very large sum, while the other a smaller sum. 160 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 3: In this story, Jesus asked which man would love the 161 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 3: lender more. Simon correctly judged that it was the man 162 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 3: who owed more. Jesus then turned back to the woman 163 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 3: and compared her to the man who owed a great deal. Yes, 164 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,040 Speaker 3: she was a sinner, but her lavish display demonstrated a 165 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 3: depth of love and honor that Simon the Pharisee had 166 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:44,839 Speaker 3: failed to show Jesus his invited guests. Then Jesus brought 167 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 3: it all home for Simon and for us with these 168 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 3: words found in Luke seven forty seven. Therefore I tell 169 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 3: you her many sins have been forgiven, as her great 170 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 3: love has been shown. But whoever has been forgiven little 171 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:02,120 Speaker 3: loves little. He then turned to the woman and forgave 172 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 3: her sins, saying that her faith had saved her here's 173 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 3: the great irony in his story. Neither of the debt 174 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 3: ors could repay the debt in the same way Simon 175 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 3: and the other religious leaders could not repay the debt 176 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 3: for their sins. And yet, because they saw themselves as righteous, 177 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 3: not owing much, they felt entitled for forgiveness. They did 178 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:26,839 Speaker 3: not demonstrate true love for God as this woman did. 179 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: She was a hopeless sinner in desperate need of forgiveness. 180 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 3: The reality is that everyone in that room, everyone who 181 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 3: has ever walked on this earth, apart from Jesus himself, 182 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 3: is a sinner in need of salvation. We owed a 183 00:11:42,080 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 3: debt we could not pay, but Jesus paid the debt 184 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 3: on the cross so that we could be forgiven. It 185 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 3: is only those who recognize their deep need for Jesus 186 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 3: who will experience forgiveness and respond with great love towards 187 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 3: the one who has forgiven them. Dear God, we thank 188 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 3: you and praise you for your grace, for the gift 189 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: of eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins that 190 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,960 Speaker 3: we have in Jesus Christ. Thank you for today's scripture 191 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 3: that reminds us that we owe so much. May we 192 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 3: also lavish our love in devotion and commitment to you, 193 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 3: that you may know of our worship and our reverence 194 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 3: for you. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for listening 195 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 3: to today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham 196 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 3: from Dallas, Texas. You can download the pray dot Com 197 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 3: app and make prayer and Bible study the priority of 198 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 3: your life, and I would encourage you to do it. 199 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 3: If you have enjoyed this podcast, let others know. We're 200 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,679 Speaker 3: grateful that over twenty million people have downloaded the Bible 201 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 3: in a year. We're thankful that we can get the 202 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,320 Speaker 3: Word of God out to so many people. I want 203 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 3: to encourage you to check out Jack Graham dot org. 204 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,640 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot org where you will find resources 205 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 3: for Christian living and faith. God bless you and have 206 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 3: a great day. 207 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: This episode is sponsored by Meta Share, an innovative healthcare 208 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 2: solution for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality. 209 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 4: Welcome to the Prey News podcast, where hope is our 210 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 4: only bias. Each day, we'll unpack the most prominent stories 211 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 4: happening in the news and offer a Christian perspective. We 212 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 4: won't shy away from the hard topics and we won't 213 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 4: dilute the hopeful message of Christ. This is more than 214 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 4: a daily brief on the news. It's a way to 215 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,880 Speaker 4: be informed and transformed. Listen to Prey News on the 216 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 4: iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.