The Grace of the Kingdom
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.
Luke 7:36-50 (KJV)
This part of scripture shows Jesus’ mercy and grace to a repented sinner and shows up the religious people of His day. The Pharisees thought that they were righteous in God’s eyes because they kept the law and knew the law by heart whereas the ordinary folk where sinners because they did not know the law and needed the scribes and Pharisees the show them the way.
This passage of scripture also showed that although Simon invited Jesus to sit with him also showed that he did not care for Jesus as a follow rabbi. In the first century especially in Jewish tradition it was customary for the guest invited to receive three ritual greetings. In our day when we invite people we would greet them with a handshake or a kiss. In Jesus’ day they were greeted with a kiss, they would anoint them with oil and one of the servants of the house would wash their feet. Simon by not doing this publicly offended the Lord Jesus.
Then came a woman who was not invited to the house, came to the Lord Jesus in tears, she was a woman with a bad reputation. She obviously knew the Lord’s reputation of forgiving sinners and probably knew that He was the Saviour of the world. She probably heard Him preach forgiveness on His many travels. Maybe she heard something that was said that made her examine her life and the reputation that she had before others and before God. Maybe she heard Jesus preach the Beatitudes in the previous chapter.
Yet this woman showed Jesus honour by doing what Simon should have done. She wanted her sins forgiven and she showed her true repentance by humbling herself for “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” James 4:6 in the way that she honoured the Lord was by washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair, she kissed His feet and anointed his feet with oil from an alabaster jar which was quite expensive. She humbled herself not only before the Lord Jesus but also before the invited guests which would have been rabbis. But these rabbis instead of showing compassion showed distain.
Simon said within himself that, “if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him: for she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39b. He said that she is a sinner forgetting that “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (corrupt): there is none that doeth good, no, not one” Psalm 14:3. There is no one righteous in Gods sight not even Simon. Yet this “sinner” showed more righteousness towards Jesus than Simon. She honoured the Lord more than Simon. She showed her need for Him more than Simon, Simon judged them both especially the woman yet Jesus said, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.
She did not judge, she did not condemn, she sought forgiveness and she received it. “And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” Luke 7:48, 50.
And the Lord judged Simon. “And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. 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 unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 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. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 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.” Luke 7:40-47
We as a church and as a people need to show
compassion on all people regardless of their past. Jesus showed compassion even
on us. Don’t forget we were like her in the depths of sin, some more than other
but sinners none the less. And He has forgiven us. Are you a church Simon or a
Church man/woman who will show the grace and compassion of God towards all
sinners, can we say as Paul said in 1
Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”
Remember Paul persecuted the church and killed many Christians before he
himself became one on the road to
