Luke 7 - Does Your Life Reflect God's Forgiveness?

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Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

In Luke 6, we see Jesus reaching out to all kinds of people.  Our secular culture talks a lot about inclusivity.  Jesus was the most inclusive person who ever lived.  He broke all cultural and religious norms by associating with lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and all sorts of people considered unclean and untouchable by the religious elite. 

First, Jesus heals a Roman centurion's servant, after the man sends a delegation to him saying, "I am not worthy to have this man (Jesus) come into my house." Though the man was a Gentile, he recognized Jesus' power and authority, something his fellow Jewish leaders would not do.  The centurion also cared for his servant something not many Roman masters did. 

Next, he sees a widow in a funeral procession for her only son. She was grieving deeply and had lost everything important for her standing in the Jewish society.  Jesus sees her and has compassion for her and raises the boy right out of the coffin.  

This leads us to the story above, where a woman who lived a sinful lifestyle came into the Pharisee's house where Jesus was eating dinner.  Most agree a "sinful life" meant she was a prostitute.  Most also agree the perfume she used was expensive and probably used in her sinful lifestyle to get ready for her clients.  When Jesus saw her extravagant act of worship and faith he accepts it, at which point the Pharisees are offended that he even interacted with her.  

Jesus rebukes Simon, the presumed host of the affair when he says, "“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet."

Obviously Simon thought he was above all that.  Jesus ends with telling Simon and the others, "Whoever is forgiven much loves much." Then he says to the woman, "Your faith has saved you, go in peace." 

Was the woman saved by her good works? No. She was saved by her trust in Jesus' forgiveness for her sin, and her costly act of worship for him in response to what He had done for her.  The Pharisees did not think they even needed to be forgiven, much less offer such an extravagant to him!

Question: Would your worship of Jesus reflect the forgiveness you have received from him?