“SHE IS A SINNER”!

“SHE IS A SINNER”!

Please indulge me as I offer a lengthy passage of Scripture in order to make my point.

Luke 7:36-50

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

The drama presented by this portion is worthy of a movie scene. Intrigue is present as Simon (not Simon Peter) invites Jesus to dinner. He didn’t love him. He didn’t even like him and did not appreciate his informal and itinerant ministry. Yet Jesus was a popular figure whose popularity was growing. It may be prudent, Simon thought, to play the friend.

In the midst of this false hospitality is inserted embarrassingly sincere homage. Other companion Scriptures may suggest her name, but here she is only known by her notoriety as a sinner. Sins of women are immediately thought of as being immoral and sexual in nature and one is forced to wonder just how intimately Simon knew of this woman’s sins. Yet his disgust and condemnation of her is inwardly fierce.

Jesus easily forgave the woman because of her contrition, her devotion and her generous sacrifice but he could not allow Simon’s self-righteous disgust to pass without a challenge. Jesus compares the woman’s estimation of her sin with Simon’s evaluation of his own. He compares the respect given by the woman which must have made all the others uncomfortable. Simon offered no water for the washing of Jesus’ feet – a common courtesy in those days – while the sinful woman wept so profusely that she was able to wash his feet with her tears.

The applicable thought for today is this: “What have I done that Jesus has forgiven?” Is it a little sin, insignificant and hardly worth a thank you or is it a horrible sin, filthy and unspeakable? How we view our sin guides our devotion.

Oh my God! I was lost and so very sinful till you washed me white as snow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. AMEN