We look at things differently. We see people, things, events and happenings all according to our own experiences. That subject has been existent hundreds, thousands of years before now. And it is a subject that causes wide controversy. Look at her! Look at him!
Do you have discriminating perspectives? Are you broadminded or narrow-minded? Do you judge people by the way they walk, the way they look, what they wear, where they live or not live?
Do you think that just because a person lives in a big house, they are better than one who lives in a smaller house or homeless? Do you judge them by that? You get the point.
And who gave us the right or privilege to judge? (Luke 7:36) One of the religious leaders, Simon, a Pharisee, desired that Jesus would eat with him. Jesus accepted Simon’s invitation and went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment. She came uninvited, but she was not put out of the house. She was among some of the most influential citizens – some of whom she may have known or recognized and some of them may have known her and recognized her as her clients (perhaps).
The question is: “How is she immediately recognized as “a sinner woman?” Ritual prostitutes made themselves easily recognizable by hairstyles, head ornaments clothing and jewelry signaled their availability. Something about this woman made her easily recognizable as “a sinner.” As we explore this event, we see “the sinner woman” as a main character in this historical, emotional meeting.
She enters the house and has no regard to what others might classify her as a wanton, sinner woman. She has no regard for her stature in life or even what they might say about her. She was acting in another consciousness with no thought about “what are they going to say about me if I do what I am going to do.”
She was weeping profusely, standing at Jesus’ feet behind Him. She began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hairs of her head. She kissed His feet. She anointed His feet with this very expensive ointment which fragrance penetrated the whole room.
The self-righteous Pharisee who had invited Jesus was all the time watching what was going on and thinking inside his mind (verse 39), “if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touches him: for she is a sinner.”
We know how Jesus is and He knew the thoughts of Simon and answered Simon: “And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he saith, Master, say on.” verse 41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he generously forgave them both. Jesus then said to Simon, “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.” And he said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
Jesus sets forth Simon’s inhospitality (his bad manners) without biting his tongue. Jesus turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, “You see here thou this woman? I entered into your house, you gave me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. You gave me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet and anoint My head with oil.
“You did not anoint: but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” And he said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven.” (In this Jesus declares His deity.)
They that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” And he said to the woman, “Thy faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Jesus did not cast dispersion on the woman. He did not judge her and look down on her. He saw through her outward appearance and looked at her heart. He looked at her inward need for forgiveness.
He saw she wanted a different lifestyle. She wanted to repent. Most likely, for a long time, she had lived a life that she wanted to lose that lifestyle. She met Jesus.
Jesus was not looking for or at a prostitute. He saw her need for compassion and forgiveness. He lifted her up and out of her despair. He saw her faith and stripped her of her indiscretions and healed her.
That is what Jesus wants us to do. Turn away from outward appearances. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
Jesus did the same thing for Rahab; the same thing for the woman caught in adultery; the same thing for Mary of Magdala, and for countless other women unnamed. Thanks for reading!
Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder-Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter School 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, LA 90043 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) Inquiring Minds Want To Know-All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © References: Berean Bible. Errors? Let me know. Dial in Sundays for music & message: 11:30am {1-712-775-8971—code 266751} Matthew Luke 7:36-50