Luke 7:36-39,
"(36) Then one of the Pharisees
asked to eat with Him. And He went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down [reclined] to eat. (37) And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when
she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an
alabaster flask of fragrant oil, (38) and stood at His feet behind Him weeping;
and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of
her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with fragrant oil. (39) Now
when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, 'This
man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who
is touching Him, for she is a sinner'."
The costly, fragrant, perfumed oil 'Spikenard'
is mentioned in the New Testament gospels in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the oil was very costly it was only used for special occasions. The oil, or
ointment, was imported into Israel from India, Arabia or the Far East in sealed
alabaster boxes, or flasks.
In Luke 7:11 we find that Jesus
and many of His disciples were in the city of Nain; which is in the region of
Galilee near Nazareth. We are not given the name of the woman who entered the
Pharisee's house. What we do know is that she was publicly known as a sinner,
as a wicked woman. In other words, she would have been shunned by most of the
population. We are not told what her sins were; however she was painfully aware
of them.
She was obviously aware of Jesus' teachings
and His miracles. Luke 6:17-19, "(17) And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His
disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and
from Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases. (18)
As well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
(19) And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out of Him and
healed them all."
Luke chapter 7
also gives us the accounts of the Centurion's servant who was healed; and the
bringing back to life of the widow of Nain's dead son.
When she came to the Pharisee's house this
woman, the sinner, already knew of His great power and His teachings. However
she did not come empty handed. She brings with her an alabaster flask of
fragrant oil. Now let's look at the difference between the Pharisee and the
sinner.
Luke 7:39, 40,
"(39) Now when the Pharisee who had
invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, 'This Man, if He were a prophet,
would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is
a sinner. (40) And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Simon, I have something to
say to you.' so he said, 'Teacher, say it'."
Jesus then tells him the parable of the
two debtors; one who owed 500 denarii and the other 50 denarii. When neither
debtor could pay, the creditor freely forgave them both. Jesus asks Simon who
would love the creditor more. Simon answers "the
one whom he forgave most."
Let's continue in Luke 7:44-50, "(44) Then He turned to the woman and
said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no
water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them
with the hair of her head. (45) You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not
ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in. (46) You did not anoint My
head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. (47) Therefore
I say to you, her sins, which are many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to
whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.' (48) Then He said to her,
'Your sins are forgiven.' (49) And those that sat at the table with Him began
to say to themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' (50) Then He said
to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you. Go in peace'."
Back in Luke chapter 5 Jesus
speaking to those in Levi's house told them, "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to
repentance." Simon the Pharisee in Luke chapter 7 was self
righteous in his own eyes, but the woman knew she was a sinner and needed
forgiveness of sins.
She went out justified, with her sins
forgiven and a heart at peace with God. Can you say the same? Simon the
Pharisee in his own self righteousness was still in his sins!
Jon Peasey
[All
Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted.
Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted
for clarity. Words in bold type
emphasise a point]
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