Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s house. He took his place at the table. There was a woman in that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So she came there with a special jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. And she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman she is. She is a sinner!” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50 silver coins. Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go without paying. Which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who owed the most money.”“You are right,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman. He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water to wash my feet. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss. But this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You did not put any olive oil on my head. But she has poured this perfume on my feet. So I tell you this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has shown that she understands this by her great acts of love. But whoever has been forgiven only a little loves only a little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”The other guests began to talk about this among themselves. They said, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50 (NIRV)
Context matters. Have you ever been in a situation where the first words out of someone’s mouth are, “I have something to tell you?” Does that question inflate you or deflate you? Or is it a conversation starter that doesn’t move the needle one way or the other. Your reaction likely depends on many things: who says it, what we know of their situation, what we think they know of our situation.
In our verse today, the Pharisee, in his internal monologue, is essentially judging Jesus and a woman, who surely wasn’t invited, for being too close in proximity to one another. In fact that sinful woman is groveling and washing Jesus’ feet as well as anointing him with perfume.
However, Jesus displays his omniscience. He responds to Simon’s thoughts with, “I have something to tell you.” I seriously wonder what was going on in Simon's head with Jesus’ statement. Was he nervous? Intrigued? Dismissive? Annoyed?
In what I can only imagine as an “E.F. Hutton's moment," Jesus, as is the case in much of the Gospel of Luke, provides a teachable moment for Simon. And for us. Jesus delivers his parable of the debtors as a lesson on forgiveness, gratitude, humility and love. Jesus expounds on the tenants of the parable to the situation at hand which can be seen as both lesson and rebuke. Simon did not provide the basic customary shows of hospitality of the time though he had the means, the status and opportunity to do so. The woman, a sinner, was grateful for Christ’s forgiveness with displays of affection, thanks and reverence. Her good works do not merit forgiveness. God’s forgiveness merits her good works. How is that for context?
Question for Reflection:
- What are ways that you can show God your gratefulness for the price Christ paid on the cross?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father. Thank you for the Bible and the lessons and wisdom it contains. It is your way of saying “I have something to tell you.” Help us to listen to that wisdom and to act in ways that are pleasing to you as a show of gratitude and love. Amenpreciative.
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