Word of Jesus Part 32
Luke 7:36 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.
Luk 7:37 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,
Luk 7:38 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.
Luk 7:39 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.
Luk 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto
thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
Luk 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Luk 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me
therefore, which of them will love him most?
Luk 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.
And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Luk 7:44 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.
Luk 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath
not ceased to kiss my feet.
Luk 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my
feet with ointment.
Luk 7:47 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.
Luk 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luk 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who
is this that forgiveth sins also?
Luk 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
A wonderful message is contained in this one story. Jesus came to save sinners.
The very reason Jesus walked among us, suffered beatings, death and torture was
for the sinner. He didn't come to hang around the religious crowd or even those
that were considered the elite of that day. Jesus came to save the sinners. The
Pharisees ceased upon this occasion to cast criticism on Jesus. It was an excuse
to accuse Jesus of having no spiritual discernment as to who was washing his
feet. They though surely if this was the Son of God He would know who she was
and immediately would be repulsed and send her away. Does that sound like some
of us sometimes? I realize that we are not to be unequally yoked with
unbelievers by going among them alone and partaking of whatever they are doing
but sinners are the ones we are to be seeking to give them the message of the
gospel. Jesus came for that woman's soul to be saved. The very one they thought
he should have nothing to do with was the very one He came to save.
No doubt the Pharisees were in every point worse sinners than this poor woman
but the difference in her salvation and thiers was that she knew she was a
sinner and they thought they were righteous and in no need of repentance. That
is why her sins were forgiven even without saying a word or asking for
forgiveness. The Pharisees remained in thier sins because they saw no need to
repent and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. This is the difference between
who receives salvation and who does not.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God
as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
This woman was as a little child. A child usually will know that he or she needs
guidance, needs help and needs someone to save them when they are in trouble. A
child is the easiest to get to repent of sins and turn to Christ.
This woman by her actions of humility and washing the feet of Jesus showed that
she had a repentant heart and was forgiven of sins. We who believe will most
probably see her in heaven some day.
Those among us that have done the worst sins and have repented realize how much the Lord's death on the cross really meant more than one who has sinned only a little. A person who has been on drugs, sent to prison, and have made the worse possible mess out of their lives, when they come to Christ really love Him more than one who has always been around the church crowd and don't always appreciate the work Jesus did for us with His death on the cross.
This woman was considered a filthy sinner but this filthy sinner recognized that Jesus was the Son of God who came to save people from sin. She recognized that Jesus was her savior and her act was an act of acknowledging her sin. She left that place justified while the Pharisees remained in a lost condition.
