Luke 7:36-39

Luke 7:36-39

And someone from among the Pharisees was questioning Him in order that He should eat with him.  And after going into the house of the Pharisee He reclined at the table to eat.  And behold!  A woman, who was a sinner in the city, after knowing that He reclines at the table in the house of the Pharisee, after bringing an alabaster box of ointment, after standing behind Him at His feet while weeping, she began to wash His feet by tears and she wiped them with the hair of her head.  And she was kissing His feet and anointing Him by the ointment.  And behold!  The Pharisee who called him said to himself, “If this one was a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman it was who touches him, because she is a sinner.”

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Here is a Pharisee that comes up to Jesus and invites Him to dinner.  This is an interesting situation.  Remember that Jesus has already been at odds with the Pharisees and they have already begun to plan to do away with Jesus.  Yet, Jesus still accepts the invitation.  This is really interesting because Jesus has to know that He is walking into a position where He is going to be judged.  But He still goes.  Jesus is willing to put Himself out there even if some people don’t like what He is doing.

Do you ever do something even if it may upset people around you just because you know it is the right thing?  Do you ever not do the right thing because you think the people around you will judge you?

Second Thought:

A love the faith of this woman.  All she has to do is hear about Jesus.  All she has to do is know that He is present.  She has no formal relationship with Him.  She has no special invitation from Him.  She hears about Him and comes to His side and blesses Him.  That’s faith.

Why is this woman bold in her faith?  Would you have the courage to do what this woman does?

Third Thought:

What is truly sad is that this woman is known as a sinner.  Of course, we’re all sinners.  So it’s an accurate description.  But the word sinner is used here not in a spiritual and salvific sense.  The word sinner is used here as a means of separating her and as a means of indicating that she was not worthy to be in the house of a Pharisee.  The Pharisee cannot see past her designation and see into her heart.  He is too busy judging her to notice her faith.  He’s too busy affirming his own discernment to see that his perspective may not be the right one.

Do you ever fall into the trap of being judgmental?  How can you avoid seeing the way people are designated and start seeing their being and their faith?

Passage for Tomorrow: Luke 7:40-43