Who were the Pharisees? They were one half of the ruling class of Israel. They were business people. They were not the poorest nor the wealthiest. We could probably say they were part of the middle class of their day. The everyday common folks looked up to them because they could relate to them more than they could the Sadducees who were aristocrats and held high offices such as the priesthood and represented the other half of the ruling party.
The Pharisees believed the written words of the Old Testament were inspired by God himself. They also adhered to the oral traditions of the Jewish people. In other words, these men were knowledgeable in God’s laws. They were very legalistic and tended to look down on those who strayed from the laws…the sinners. Like you and me. Us.
A Pharisee by the name of Simon invited Jesus to visit his home for a meal. A woman of very low morals, probably a prostitute, heard Jesus was there. She presented herself, a beautiful alabaster bottle full of very expensive perfume and her sins at the feet of Jesus. Scripture says she came weeping. Her tears were falling on the Savior’s feet. She began wiping the tears with her long hair and then bathing His feet with her perfume.
I think we can be pretty confident that Jesus knew what she had done to earn the money which enabled her to purchase such expensive perfume. He didn’t need the Pharisee to tell Him anything. Jesus knew it was a sinner touching Him. He didn’t flinch.
Our “holier than thou” Pharisee is thinking to himself, “This man can’t be a prophet or he would know this is a sinner touching Him!” The next line is so awesome to me. “Jesus answered his thought.”
Thought For Today:
I came away from the study of this passage with two things. ALL SINNERS are welcome to touch our Jesus! He and He alone knew the cost to her of the perfume in her bottle. He alone knew the sin she was laying at His feet. He alone knew the tears falling upon His feet were coming from a repentant heart. He was the only One she needed forgiveness from. Not her family, her friends, Pharisaical believers and counselors. Nope, only Jesus. Jesus knows what we are thinking. He knows what we are thinking to ourselves about the lost sheep before us, trying to make their way into the fold of Christ.
Second, the one whose life occupation was the study of God’s word was more critical and afraid to be touched by sin than the One who would be beaten near to death, drag His own cross to a horrific crucifixtion to save not only this immoral woman, but the Pharisee looking down on her.
Nothing you have done…nothing, will cause Jesus to turn and pull away from us in disgust. He knows our baggage and sin before we bring it to Him. His desire and great joy is that we bring our sin and lay it before Him as a sacrifice of praise…
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, and Grace my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.–John Newton
Scripture For Today:
Luke 7:36-40
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting 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 what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
40 Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We humans can be so critical of the “sin” of others. We pray that we are more concerned about our sin and desire that everyone find the forgiveness we have found in Jesus. It’s love isn’t it Father? Love that brings the sheep to the voice of their Shepherd. Help us lead them to Him. He will take them from there. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.