Learning From Prostitutes...

"Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious (materialistic), the self-righteous, are in that danger."

C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain

When I read this I was reminded of a similar event in the life of Jesus after He had entered Jerusalem during the last week of his life and cleared the temple of the Money Changers. After this the leaders demanded that Jesus tell them by what authority He did this and by what authority he taught. He somewhat refused and gave them this story.

Matthew 21:28-31 "But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'My son, go, work in the vineyard today.' (29) "He answered, 'I don't want to!' Yet later he changed his mind and went. (30) Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. "'I will, sir,' he answered. But he didn't go. (31) "Which of the two did his father's will?" "The first," they said. Jesus said to them, "I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!

The point of this parable is clear :what matters is living for God, not lip service. The religious leaders were good at talking a righteous walk, but their stubbornly unrepentant hearts show the worst of society will accept Jesus, while those most comfortable in the world will not. These religious leaders stood condemned. They must have been stunned by Jesus’ words that despised, immoral people such as tax collectors and prostitutes were entering the kingdom and they, the religious leaders, were not!

We (white middle class folks) are very at home in the world. We talk a lot of about religion and most of us have a little of it. But, sadly many people have been inoculated from the Gospel. The more at home a man is in this world, the less he is going to prepare and care about the next. So, don’t talk religion and don’t assume because your middle-class and moral you have the market on God cornered. Jesus says that we could learn how to repent and see our need better from a prostitute.

Jesus makes this point again in Luke 7:36-50 Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. (37) And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil (38) and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. (39) When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him--she's a sinner!" (40) Jesus replied to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he said, "say it." (41) "A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. (42) Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?" (43) Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more." "You have judged correctly," He told him. (44) Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. (45) You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing My feet since I came in. (46) You didn't anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. (47) Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." (48) Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." (49) Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" (50) And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Let us be people today who are sinners and know it and be people who have been forgiven much! Pastor Phillip