Verses: Luke 7 : 36 - 50
My thoughts about the verses:
For starters we must look at what is happening in this house. Jesus is invited to a dinner by a Pharisee. As he is sitting at the table this woman who is well known as a sinner comes into the house. She comes to the house with one purpose to worship Jesus. She walks into the house with a jar of ointment and immediately begins crying at Jesus's feet.
She knows that this is the Messiah that she has longed for. She was weeping because she knew she was a sinner. She felt that the only thing that she was worthy enough to do for Jesus was to cleanse and anoint his feet.
The Pharisee in his arrogance saw what was happening and judged Jesus. The first thought was that Jesus must not be who he claimed to be. If Jesus was a prophet or the Messiah he must know that this woman was a sinner. He was questioning how Jesus could let a woman like that touch him.
Jesus then proposed the question that we all need to think about. There is a creditor and two debtors who owe him money. One owes a large amount the other a much smaller amount. the Creditor after finding out that both could not pay forgave both of their debts. Who would love the creditor more the one who owed a lot or the one that owed less?
The Pharisee answered the question the debtor who owed more. Jesus confirms that he was correct. The debtor that owed a lot had more reasons to be thankful for. The one that owed last had lest reason to be thankful.
Yet, here is where things get is sticky for the Pharisee. You have to understand the custom at the time. The people were walking in a land of sand with only sandals. Their feet were very dirty because of this. It was customary for a guest to have their feet cleansed by the host.
Jesus pointed out that when he walked into the house he did not have his feet washed. He told the Pharisee that he was not even given a kiss. Furthermore the Pharisee did not anoint him with oil.
Yet, think about what the entire woman had done. She cried and humbles herself. Her tears had washed the feet of Jesus. She had dried his feet with her hair. She had bought special ointment to put on his feet.
The woman who was recognized by the community as the sinner through faith had worshiped God. Jesus tells the woman that her faith has saved her from her sins. You can see the Pharisee's face start to redden. The woman who was thought to be a sinner by everyone was doing the right thing. Yet, the one seen as a leader had forgotten the customs. The legalism that was pronounced by the Pharisee was greatly challenged by Jesus.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for saving us when we didn't deserve it. Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to truly love. Help us put aside our judgment of others. Help us serve you fully with our heart. In the name of the Risen Messiah we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you allowed legalism to enter your life of service? Are you judging others based on what they have or not have done in your eyes? Are you giving yourself over to God? What do you need to ask God to forgive in your life? Are you willing to worship God with humbleness?
My thoughts about the verses:
For starters we must look at what is happening in this house. Jesus is invited to a dinner by a Pharisee. As he is sitting at the table this woman who is well known as a sinner comes into the house. She comes to the house with one purpose to worship Jesus. She walks into the house with a jar of ointment and immediately begins crying at Jesus's feet.
She knows that this is the Messiah that she has longed for. She was weeping because she knew she was a sinner. She felt that the only thing that she was worthy enough to do for Jesus was to cleanse and anoint his feet.
The Pharisee in his arrogance saw what was happening and judged Jesus. The first thought was that Jesus must not be who he claimed to be. If Jesus was a prophet or the Messiah he must know that this woman was a sinner. He was questioning how Jesus could let a woman like that touch him.
Jesus then proposed the question that we all need to think about. There is a creditor and two debtors who owe him money. One owes a large amount the other a much smaller amount. the Creditor after finding out that both could not pay forgave both of their debts. Who would love the creditor more the one who owed a lot or the one that owed less?
The Pharisee answered the question the debtor who owed more. Jesus confirms that he was correct. The debtor that owed a lot had more reasons to be thankful for. The one that owed last had lest reason to be thankful.
Yet, here is where things get is sticky for the Pharisee. You have to understand the custom at the time. The people were walking in a land of sand with only sandals. Their feet were very dirty because of this. It was customary for a guest to have their feet cleansed by the host.
Jesus pointed out that when he walked into the house he did not have his feet washed. He told the Pharisee that he was not even given a kiss. Furthermore the Pharisee did not anoint him with oil.
Yet, think about what the entire woman had done. She cried and humbles herself. Her tears had washed the feet of Jesus. She had dried his feet with her hair. She had bought special ointment to put on his feet.
The woman who was recognized by the community as the sinner through faith had worshiped God. Jesus tells the woman that her faith has saved her from her sins. You can see the Pharisee's face start to redden. The woman who was thought to be a sinner by everyone was doing the right thing. Yet, the one seen as a leader had forgotten the customs. The legalism that was pronounced by the Pharisee was greatly challenged by Jesus.
Prayer:
Dear God thank you for saving us when we didn't deserve it. Thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to truly love. Help us put aside our judgment of others. Help us serve you fully with our heart. In the name of the Risen Messiah we pray. Amen
Questions:
Have you allowed legalism to enter your life of service? Are you judging others based on what they have or not have done in your eyes? Are you giving yourself over to God? What do you need to ask God to forgive in your life? Are you willing to worship God with humbleness?
No comments:
Post a Comment