Luke 7.36-50
_36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that
Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar
of perfume, 38 and as
she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with
her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured
perfume on them. 39
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If
this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what
kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
_The Pharisee thought to himself that the woman was a “sinner”,
indicating he must not have thought that he was. Jesus, knowing his thoughts, dropped a
parable on him with the sole intent of realigning his thinking. Jesus achieved His objective as the man gave
the right answer to which Jesus replied, “You have judged correctly” (Lk 7.43).
This only implies that the man’s prior judgment about the woman was
wrong & Jesus confronts him accordingly.
Jesus goes on to rebuke the Pharisee’s arrogant treatment not only of
the woman, but also of Himself. He had
neglected to offer Jesus the customary foot washing (even if his servant would
have done it), greeting with a kiss or anointing with oil.
At the same time, Jesus was essentially praising the actions of the woman, much the shock of the Pharisee. Yet, Jesus does not disregard her sin altogether, but offers forgiveness to this humbled woman who had the faith to believe that Jesus would accept her when she came to Him.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.5b-7
At the same time, Jesus was essentially praising the actions of the woman, much the shock of the Pharisee. Yet, Jesus does not disregard her sin altogether, but offers forgiveness to this humbled woman who had the faith to believe that Jesus would accept her when she came to Him.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. – 1 Pt 5.5b-7
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