LUKE 7:36-50 WOMAN CRASHES PHARISEE’S DINNER PARTY

WOMAN CRASHES

PHARISEE’S DINNER PARTY

LUKE 7:36-50

Luke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

Susie: The Pharisees accused Jesus of eating with tax collectors and sinners, but this particular Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dine at his house.

Susan: Note that Jesus did not call him a snob and refuse the invitation. Instead, the Lord sat down to eat with the Pharisee and his guests.

Susie: Since Jesus is omniscient (knows all things), He knew that Simon was probably not desiring to follow Him but rather to find some charge to bring against Him. Yet, Jesus chose to dine with Him.

Susan: Jesus was being as “wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove” (Matthew 10:16) by keeping His friends close and His enemies even closer.

Susie: Jesus was not really veering from His norm as He was definitely eating with a sinner (i.e. the Pharisee).

Luke 7:37-38 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Susan: The woman had either been following Jesus or had her ear to the ground, listening and watching for an opportunity to meet Him in order to acknowledge her sin and trust that He could forgive and cleanse her.

Susie: This is clearly a different occasion than the other times Jesus was anointed by a woman (Matt. 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; John 12:2–8). This woman is not the sister of Lazarus who anointed Jesus in Bethany in the province of Judea and was a devoted follower of the Lord. This scene takes place in the province of Galilee, and the woman was most likely a prostitute. She worked up the courage to crash a Pharisee’s banquet to see Jesus.

Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Susie: The Pharisee presumed that a true prophet could discern that this woman was a grave sinner who would render Him ceremonially unclean. Funny that he didn’t take the next step to realize that Jesus would also discern exactly what he was thinking!

Susan: The Pharisee deemed himself to be in the know, but he was, in reality, ignorant when it came to the topic of Jesus and sinners.

Luke 7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

Susie: Jesus had something to say to this Pharisee who we now know was named Simon. As I read this, I am thinking, “Go get him, Jesus!”

Susan: Since we cannot hear the tone the Pharisee used, we do not know if he was using proper etiquette by calling a rabbi, Master or whether he was using the title condescendingly.

Susie: Jesus proceeded to present a hypothetical situation for the Pharisee to consider.

Luke 7:41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

Susie: Most translations read “denarius” rather than “pence.” A single denarius was equal to a day’s wages for a laborer. Therefore, fifty denarii would have been a large debt, but five hundred denarii would have been an overwhelming debt.

Luke 7:42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Susie: The one to whom these debts were owed, graciously forgave both debts. Jesus asked the Pharisee which debtor would love the man more.

Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Susan: I’m not sure Simon understood at this point that Jesus was using this as an analogy for forgiveness of sin. He would not understand this because he did not understand why Jesus spent time with sinners in the first place.

Susie: The Pharisees did not understand that Jesus came to redeem sinners by dying on the cross. They, like many people in Israel, expected the Messiah to come as a conquering king to free them from the slavery of Roman rule.

Susan: However, Simon did comprehend that the one who had the greater debt forgiven would feel the greatest weight lifted from his life and be the most grateful.

Luke 7:44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Susie: Jesus proceeds to compare the woman’s loving actions with the boorishness of the Pharisee. Washing a guest’s feet or having a servant do so was an expected courtesy, and to not perform this kindness would insult most guests.

Susan: Although Simon invited Jesus to dinner, he did not follow the expected protocol of a host to the dinner guest. He did not observe or even think of observing the common courtesy of having a guest’s sandals removed to wash his dusty, weary feet. The woman, however, was courteous and washed His feet, not with water, but with her own tears of repentance. Then she dried them with her hair.

Luke 7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

Susie: In the culture of first century Israel, friends greeted one another with a kiss on the cheek. This is still done in many Middle Eastern countries today. The Apostle Paul referred to this custom, elevating it to a loving greeting in the Messianic community, those who trusted in Jesus:

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

Susan: Simon did not approach Jesus with the accoutrement of hospitality afforded a friend, let alone an important guest.

Susie: The “sinner,” not daring to elevate herself to His eye level, kissed His feet over and over. At this point, He has not addressed her directly, but she is confident in His love toward her.

Susan: The woman was probably overwhelmed to be in the presence of Jesus. She was burdened by her sin for so long that seeing the possibility, forgiveness, and freedom, she is completely in awe and unable to express it in words.

Susie: Her actions, her deeds of worship spoke volumes. She humbled herself before the Lord in a position of complete trust in Him.

Luke 7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Susie: An important guest would often be anointed with common olive oil to soothe his head after a journey in the hot climate of the area. This woman anointed Jesus with costly perfumed oil as befitting a King. The Pharisee had ignored this custom completely.

Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Susan: The woman knew from Jesus’s reputation that Jesus preached and proclaimed forgiveness of sin. Therefore, she presented herself in humility to Jesus anticipating that her sins would be forgiven.

Susie: Her actions were the result of that faith, demonstrating the love she had for Jesus. He forgave her without condition. Her devotion did not earn this forgiveness but, rather, was an expression of her gratitude in being forgiven.

Luke 7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Susan: Jesus declared with His words what the woman had already experienced in her heart. He broke her chains, the bondage of her sin.

Susie: I believe He proclaimed her forgiveness aloud for the benefit of Simon and the others at the dinner. He was making the point of the parable that because she was forgiven much, she loved much.

Susan: The woman was a tangible object lesson of forgiveness.

Luke 7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

Susie: Totally missing the purpose of the parable and the forgiveness of the sinner, the others began to judge whether Jesus had the authority to forgive her. We are back to square one that this Pharisee was probably seeking a way to accuse Jesus of wrong doing.

Susan: It appears the hearts of the other guests were totally unmoved by this act of God’s phenomenal grace.

Susie: Nor did they pick up on the fact that the debtor who owed 50 denarii was equally in need of having his debt forgiven. They still did not view themselves as sinful at all.

Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Susan: Once again, Jesus reiterated that her faith, her trust in Him caused her to have a heart change and be released from the bonds of her sin. Her faith enabled her to change masters from Satan to Jesus.

Susie: He released her with the words, “Go in peace,” which had a sense of wholeness and wellness.

Ponder this and Apply it: Do you ever find yourself comparing your actions to those of others and thinking you are better than them? Remember Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” As with the two debtors, one may have had a greater amount of debt, but neither could have paid what they owed. Even a small amount of sin is repugnant to our Holy God. I like the illustration that if you are making an omelet and crack a rotten egg into the bowl, you do not proceed. Instead you toss out the entire bowl of eggs and start over. Or as the Apostle Paul wrote, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). Leaven was symbolic of sin. Right now, if you have never trusted Jesus, ponder the fact that no one can be completely perfect or right with God by doing good deeds, Romans 3:10: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Do not fret because there is hope. Jesus died on the cross to pay the debt of your sin. God raised Him from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion. Jesus is alive and offers you the free gift of forgiveness if by faith, you place your trust in Him and surrender to His will. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Pray, talk to God, acknowledging that you are a sinner and need forgiveness. Trust that He will give you a fresh, new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If you would like to talk with us about turning your life around by the power of Jesus, please click on the Contact/Prayer/Donate tab and send us an email.