Luke 7:36-50

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat…….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.”

More Thoughts:

Here’s a familiar story, the woman who washed Jesus feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. I’d break it down into 4 characters of this story. You have Jesus who is Love, the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his home (hypocrisy & judgement), the “woman in the city who was a sinner (brokenness) and those who sat at the table (the onlookers, those who were curious about Jesus had their own opinions, just probably not bold enough to engage Him for themselves.)

Now I’ve read this enough and heard it preached enough to know that the Pharisee had ulterior motives in having Jesus at His home (Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him). He like many knew His popularity, it would draw many people to him and his home. However, he could also embarrass/judge Jesus publicly and could amass some favor from the other Pharisees. He saw the perfect scenario that would show this Jesus was no messiah, when a woman (a woman in the city who was a sinner) entered the home and engaged with Jesus. He secretly judged Jesus (or at least he thought) by internally stating what he really thought about this Jesus (This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner). This Pharisee saw Jesus as just a man who would be ashamed if he only knew what type of woman he was allowing to touch him. Yet in public he would seeming treat Jesus like the other believers when conversing with Him, by acknowledging him as Teacher (So he said, “Teacher, say it”). This was more hypocrisy on his end thinking that Jesus didn’t know his true feelings. However, it was pretty interesting that this (nasty in his eyes) woman freely entered his home and knew her way around…

Lessons:

*Although he wanted to ridicule Jesus by bringing Jesus into his home; Jesus demonstrated Love and shared Wisdom to this Pharisee. Glorifying God in midst of all those whom he invited.

*The Pharisee would have an important choice from this point on; would he receive what Jesus shared with him or would he like so many be offended by Jesus and rather than change reject the Gift of God.

Next Time: The Woman in the city