Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s home and took his place at the table. There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.
Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She’s a sinner!”
Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.””Teacher,” he replied, “say it.”
“Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him the most?”
Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly.” Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume. So I’m telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven!”
Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
This is a fascinating passage. There are many surprising things about it. Before we get to the details here you need to look at the big picture. Take some time to look at the whole before we get down and get dirty with the details. It is fascinating that it is put where it is. Have a look at the model below and apply it to this passage. This is a model I use in Deeper Bible to get those who follow the course to look at all the angles. Look at the preceding context and then look at what follows it. Look at the overall positioning of this passage in its general setting. It is amazing. Then what is more amazing is the overall reaction to it, especially in the light of the past track record. Take some time to look at it from all angles before we start work on it.
When you have done that, we will look at the details of this story in the next Gem. Well actually there are two stories for the price of one and the first one was free. So this is the deal of the month really. It is remarkable that one story is sandwiched inside another but then Luke will do that same thing to us in a few gems time, at the end of chapter eight. Both stories are fascinating and both are set in a very interesting arrangement. All the more interesting given the nature and background of what we have been looking at for the last few weeks. Take time to look over it for yourself and see what you find.
Most of us are so overwhelmed by the pace of life & info overload that we don’t have time to process what we hear into our own opinions.
Paul Scanlon
The less reflective and thoughtful we become the more shallow and dismissive thinking we develop.
Paul Scanlon
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; Define yourself!
Rick Godwin
Do something! If you succeed, you gain. If you fail, you learn. Either way there’s benefit! Seize the day!
Rick Godwin
Working for God is not the same as spending time with God.
Joyce Meyer