A Supper

Good Morning! 

There was a woman who was a sinner.  One day, she crashed a supper at the house of Simon, a Pharisee.  She wasn’t allowed at the table … no woman was … but during the course of the meal, she began to weep and to anoint the feet of Jesus.  Let’s take a look at the response …

Luke 7:36-50 English Standard Version (ESV)

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then 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 from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among[a] themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Footnotes:

a.     Luke 7:49 Or to

Taking a look at the people involved …

·         The woman.  She was not welcomed at the Pharisee’s house because, in Simon’s eyes, she was a sinner and was not worthy to be in his presence.  But she felt compelled to take a risk and enter Simon’s house. Once there, she was overcome with emotion, beginning to weep. She used her tears to wet the feet of Jesus, her hair to wipe them clean, and anointed His feet with ointment.  Each of these actions indicated her love and trust in this man.  We don’t know what her sin was … though one might assume that it was a moral issue.  We do know that she was in need of a savior … and she found one in Jesus.

·         Simon. Simon was a Pharisee.  He obviously had some level of wealth … he could afford to have Jesus and others come to his house to dine.  He felt he was better than others … as is indicated with his feelings toward the woman.  He was inconsiderate towards his guest … failing to offer the basics to a visitor, as Jesus pointed out. 

·         Jesus. Jesus allowed the woman to touch Him.  Did He not know she was a sinner? He did, of course.  But Jesus wasn’t afraid of being considered to be unclean because of the touch of a sinner. He wanted to draw the woman towards Him … not push her away.  He saw her faith and her love … and He comforted her by telling her that her sins were forgiven.

·         The other guests.  Note what they focused on … the fact that Jesus told her that her sins were forgiven.  We cannot tell from the words whether they were incredulous or amazed.  I lean towards the former … because the guests probably had the same attitude towards people that Simon had … feeling superior to others. 

What does all this mean to you and me on this Good Morning? 

As Paul tells us, there is not a single one of us who can claim to be righteous. We are not in a contest with other humans about who is better than the other … our measuring stick is God and His perfection.  When we recognize the fact that we cannot measure up, we have but one choice … believe God and the forgiveness He offers in Christ Jesus.  He, who bore the condemnation for our sin, will say to us what He said to that woman … “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

Agape’

Mr. Jim

  

Prayer:  Father, “my hope is found in nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest from but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.” Thank You for Jesus.  Thank You from His blood.  Thank You that He was not and is not afraid to touch this sinner to redeem him from his sin. In Jesus’ Name … Amen.

Scripture for today:  Luke 7:36-50