Luke 7:36-50
36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,
38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this Man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner!”
40 And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty.
42 When they were unable to repay, he canceled the debts of both. So which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44 And turning toward 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 has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You gave Me no kiss; but she has not stopped kissing My feet since the time I came in.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48 And He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
49 And then those who were reclining at the table with Him began saying to themselves, “Who is this Man who even forgives sins?”
50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Jesus at the Pharisee’s Table
Unwelcome guest: a sinful woman
A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to a meal. This banquet was a public gathering, where anyone could enter and listen in on the conversation. Into that setting came an uninvited guest – likely a well-known prostitute in the region. One can easily imagine the expressions of disapproval on the faces of those present. It says, “Standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume” (v 38). In those days, when people reclined at the table, they removed their sandals and lay on their side with their head toward the table, supporting themselves with the left arm. As the woman stood behind Jesus, her tears, overflowing with emotion, fell onto His feet. In a flustered reaction, she began to wipe the tears with her hair. Jewish women typically kept their hair tied up in public, but this woman paid no attention to such customs and kissed Jesus’ feet, anointing them with perfume. The room was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Have you ever loved Jesus with such undivided devotion?
Unwelcome guest: Jesus
The one who was displeased was Simon. In his heart, he rejected the woman’s actions and also rejected Jesus for accepting them. To Simon, even Jesus was an unwelcome guest. But Jesus, who can read the human heart, revealed to Simon what was truly taking place. Jesus began with a parable about “two people who were forgiven debts,” concluding that the one who was forgiven much more will love much more. Then He asked Simon, “Do you see this woman?” Simon had indeed seen her but what he saw was only her past. Jesus, on the other hand, saw who she had become. The difference between their expressions of hospitality was like night and day. Simon did not even provide water to wash Jesus’ feet, nor did he anoint His head even with inexpensive olive oil. The difference here is whether or not one knows they have been forgiven much. Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Have you been blaming yourself? If you are in Christ Jesus, you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Let’s receive these words now: “Go in peace.”
Today's prayer
Gracious God, please open the eyes of my spirit. Help me to see myself and those around me as You see them. And help me to see Your grace more clearly. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.