Pulpit Speech II                                                KL Paulson
Preacher Silcox                                                  3-23-1999

OUTLINE: The Gospel Of Luke

LUKE 7
'Sympathy Of The Son Of Man'

   KEY VERSE: 7:49 -- "And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?"

I. CHRIST FINDS A GREATER "faith" IN THE CENTURION, A GENTILE THAN IN ANY OF THE JEWS (1-9)

   ["Capernaum" was on the northwest shore of Galilee.]

   ["centurion" = a Roman army officer in charge of 100 men.] 

  A. I Am Unworthy (7)
     [True humility will receive God's attention.]

  B. We Need to BELIEVE that God Can & Will Do the Impossible!

II. HEALS HIS SERVANT, BEING ABSENT (10)

  A. The Lord's "compassion" (13)

  B. See Matthew 8:5-13

III. RAISES FROM DEATH THE WIDOW'S ONLY SON AT NAIN (11-17) 

  A. Jesus has Power to Bring Hope out of Any Tragedy.

  B. Elijah & Elisha [w/ God's power] also Raised Children from the Dead.
     [See I Kings 17:17-24; II Kings 4:18-37]

IV. ANSWERS JOHN'S MESSENGERS WITH THE DECLARATION OF HIS MIRACLES (18-23)

  A. John had a Few DOUBTS while Being Locked Up in Prison (19).

  B. PROOFS "seen and heard" (22)

     1. "blind see"
     2. "lame walk"
     3. "lepers are cleansed"
     4. "deaf hear"
     5. "dead are raised"
     6. "to the poor the gospel is preached"

  C. See Isaiah 35:5-6.

V. TESTIFIES TO THE PEOPLE WHAT VIEW HE HELD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (24-30)

  A. John was a Great Baptist Prophet & Preacher (28).

  B. See Malachi 3:1; 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13; Luke 1:17

  C. Have YOU Submitted to Baptist Baptism? 
     [Ephesians 4:5 --> "one faith, one baptism"

VI. INVEIGHS AGAINST "the Pharisees and lawyers", WHO WITH NEITHER THE MANNERS 
    OF JOHN NOR OF JESUS COULD BE WON (31-35) 

  -- Not to ACCEPT "the counsel of God" is to REJECT it (30).

VII. AND SUFFERING TO BE WASHED AND ANOINTED BY AN IMMORAL WOMAN, JESUS SHOWS 
     HOW HE IS A FRIEND TO SINNERS, TO "forgive" THEM THEIR "sins", UPON THEIR 
     REPENTANCE (36-50) 

  A. Supper in the House of Simon the Pharisee.

In Jesus' day, it was customary to recline while eating. Dinner guests lay on couches with their heads near the table, propping themselves up on one elbow and stretching their feet out behind them. 

     1. "a woman", "a sinner" Performed the Duty of a Host.

        a. Kiss the Guest (45).
           -- a form of greeting

        b. Anoint the Head with Oil (46).

        c. Wash Their Feet (38).
           -- sandaled feet got very dirty
   
     2. Similar Incident: Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8. 

  B. Lesson of "a certain creditor which had two debtors" (40-43).

     1. The man who had been forgiven the greater debt would be more loving 
        (43). 

     2. We need to be GRATEFUL to God for what He has done for us.