Walking in Grace
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisees’ house and reclined at table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisees’ house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Luke 7:36-38
Simon has invited Jesus for a meal but doesn’t seem to have done it with a very big heart. He has heard that Jesus is a prophet (7:39). It must be said in his favour though that even to invite Jesus shows he is more open than most of his fellow Pharisees.
How do we account for his hesitancy toward Jesus? He doesn’t offer Jesus the courtesies of a welcome guest; Jesus’ feet were not washed and dried (7:44), nor was He given the customary social kiss (7:45) and He was not anointed (7:46). Didn’t Simon think Jesus esteemed enough to receive these things? More than likely He wanted to test Jesus to see whether the term “prophet” was accurate.
When Jesus doesn’t stop the woman washing and anointing His feet, Simon’s mind is made up. He assumes a real prophet would reject the woman because of her past (7:39).
Jesus startles His host by confronting not only his deepest problem, but the deepest problem of all Pharisees, an ignorance of grace. In a parable story of a money lender releasing two debtors their debt, one a large debt and the other comparatively small, Jesus highlights God’s forgiving nature and our heartfelt response. The greater our sin, the greater will be our love for God when He forgives us.
The woman knew her sin before God but she had experienced God’s forgiveness. Faith had made both real (7:50).
The Pharisee couldn’t see his sin. He may have felt “forgiven” by offering the appropriate sacrifices at the temple but he didn’t have what this woman had.
We must always walk in grace. We are always sinners saved by grace. Our hearts must be kept soft toward those whose battles with sin have marred and scarred. Jesus could and so must we. And never forget how much Jesus hates self-righteousness.
To listen to this message, download in MP3 here