Can you imagine for a moment Jesus going to the home of a Pharisee and having supper? Then soon after He arrives a vile, sinful woman starts kissing His feet; while the Pharisee (in his mind) is mocking Jesus?
Well, it happened! Luke 7: 36-40 gives us very important truths to live by. As forgiven, adopted children of God and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we must read and heed the Words of God, whether it be “…for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), and then ACT on it!
Luke 7: 36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.
37-38 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, 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 the fragrant oil.
39-40 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He was a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41-43 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”
44-46 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. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47-50 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.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
So thankful for the true message of God’s forever love and forgiveness preached and taught to the people in the city by Jesus, this very sinful woman repented of her sins before Jesus. Everyone in the city knew Jesus was having dinner with a Pharisee. The sinful woman knew it was a time she could show Jesus her loving acts of being redeemed . The Pharisee showed Jesus none of the customs, courtesies of the day; giving a dinner guest water to was his feet, greeting the guest with a kiss of friendship and anointing the guest’s head with oil. The woman did all three and did them to an extreme. Why… because she loved her Lord, because He first loved her (see 1 John 4:19) Her actions showed a Pharisee (someone she was not allowed to even be in the presence of) and everyone else how precious and important her salvation was. She acted on her love!
May your love for the Lord Jesus and our Father in heaven be shown in your daily walk. I KNOW in this “microwave” world we line where everything is moving faster than the speed of kilobyte, it is not easy to take the time to show that love. But think of this woman. She walked into an extremely precarious situation, nevertheless, she did it. Gets me thinking… what situations have I avoided? ♥ Streim
LOVE-HOPE-PEACE In Our Changing World 
Yikes! Make me think of the times I have not “acted out of love” and the only feet I wanted kissing were mine . . . Thanks for this timely message and as Ricky Ricardo told Lucy “You got some splainin to do?” ~ Blessings ~
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I felt really good while I was reading your article. I am a sinner and have sinned countless times that’s why these words gave me comfort and security–only Jesus’ words can do that. Anyone can be forgiven if you ask for forgiveness with all your heart, mind, and soul. Thank you so much for sharing this post! May God bless you!
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Thank you Janet for stopping by. I’m pleased the Word of God is comforting to you. Yes, every human being is filled with sin… but few, when they hear the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ have faith to believe that all our sins can be forgiven. If you notice the last words Jesus spoke to this woman, “Your FAITH has saved you, go in peace”.
So many times in the Holy Bible we are told that “salvation”– the once and for all forgiveness of sin– comes to us by God’s GRACE which He gave to us by allowing Jesus Christ to die for our sins and rise again, to be the perfect redemption for all mankind. An example is Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Salvation is a once and for all gift. This sinful woman’s actions didn’t give her salvation… they were a loving result of her faith in Who Jesus was. Praise our Father in Heaven that “He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son… that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
There is nothing in this life we could ever do to make ourselves “good” enough to ever step into Almighty God’s presence, but thankfully His grace provided that way!
Stephanie Streim
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I felt really good while I was reading your article. I am a sinner and have sinned countless times that’s why these words gave me comfort and security–only Jesus’ words can do that. Anyone can be forgiven if you ask for forgiveness with all your heart, mind, and soul. Thank you so much for sharing this post! May God bless you!
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Erin… please see my reply to Janet. Praise God for His love, that He gave us Jesus Christ for the perfect redemption of sin!
Stephanie
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>> “Gets me thinking… what situations have I avoided?”
Good point, Stephanie. Thanks for the reminder and the challenge. I also think of situations I don’t “avoid” so much as simply ignore. I need to be constantly open to Holy Spirit’s direction to actually see a need and respond to His prompting.
(I have been unable to sit at my computer for more than three weeks. Consequently, I have needed to delete most of my wordpress notifications because playing ‘catch-up’ will not be possible. I hope to be able to spend a little time here each day now, but I am still w-a-y behind.)
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My dear sister Angela… I am saddened to hear of your physical problems. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit works within us. I have been praying for you! I was going to send you an e-mail because I knew something was not right with you.
Very interestingly, I too spent 3 weeks unable to sit and write because of lower back problems. Have received 3 very painful injections, however at times all the pain returns.
I am so very happy to hear from you! I miss your posts so much!
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bring you peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit.
Loving you in sisterly love
Stephanie
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Thank you Stephanie. I am not yet comfortable, but I am definitely improving and able to stay here for brief periods. I hope to post again soon, when I catch up with others’ posts.
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