THE SINFUL WOMAN (PART TWO)

“He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?” 

(Luke 7:44, NASB).

It is interesting to note that Jesus was silent throughout the action the woman performed in anointing His feet with her “tears” (her sorrows) and her “perfume” (her costly worship). During this period Jesus was silent, while Simon, though verbally silent, was not silent in heart. He was judgmental of her reputation as a sinful woman (see Luke 7:39). Now the Lord breaks the silence in his conversation with Simon. He acknowledges and points out four things the sinful woman did that Simon failed to do. Jesus begins with drawing Simon’s attention to the woman with a searching question, “Do you see this woman?” Obviously Simon overlooked the woman’s service to the Lord, and only saw her as a sinner. Where Simon only saw a sinful woman, Jesus saw a repentant woman. Here in this scene we see a man invite the Lord Jesus into his home, but failed to provide the customary greeting and hospitality that was required of the host to be shown to a guest in the Middle East. The Lord then continues by stating four things the sinful woman did that rebukes what Simon did not do. First, Jesus acknowledges and points out to Simon, “she has wet my feet with her tears”(v.44a)—not just water drawn from a well, but with her own tears of sorrow she wiped His feet. Second, the Lord acknowledges and draws Simon’s focus on the fact the woman did not use a towel to wipe his feet, but “wiped them with her hair”(v.44b)—she stooped in humility and laid her glory at Jesus’ feet. Her hair mingled with her tears reminds us that her glory is tainted by her sin. Nevertheless, Jesus receives her kind service. Third, we read that Jesus further points out to Simon the fact he did not greet Him with a “kiss,” whereas the woman “has not ceased to kiss my feet,”(v.45)—here we see Simon’s cold unaffectionate hospitality compared to the sinful woman’s loving, affectionate adoration of the Lord Jesus. Fourth, we see Jesus pointing out to Simon that he did not “anoint [His] head with oil,” whereas the woman “anointed [Jesus’] feet with perfume,”(v.46)—which speaks of worship. The fact the perfume was costly, reminds us of the value we place on Christ. Simon did not love or value Jesus like the sinful woman did. Dear reader, how much does the Lord Jesus mean to you in your life? Is He just a passing thought, or are you devoted to Him and His cause in the gospel?

Heavenly Father, thank you for challenging us today with the story of the sinful woman and the self-righteous Pharisee, Simon; Help us to be wise like the sinful woman in humble service to Christ. For there is no cost too great to worship and adore Him, let us not be foolish like Simon and neglect being welcoming and hospital to our precious Lord Jesus, Amen.

THE SINFUL WOMAN (PART ONE)

“And standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.” (Luke 7:38, NASB).

We are not told who this sinful woman was, nor are we given her name. She is simply identified as a “sinful” woman (v.37). In other words, she was named according to her bad reputation as opposed to her actual name, which I am certain she had. Now what actual sins she was guilty of? Is anyone’s guess, for her sins are not specifically mentioned in the passage. Usually when a woman is identified as sinful in Scripture, the woman is usually associated with such sins as adultery or prostitution. Now that’s not to say she was not guilty of such other sins. In today’s Scripture text, six points can be drawn from this woman’s action in the presence of Jesus. First, we see the woman “standing behind Him”—this speaks of her shame. She at first, felt she could not face him with her sin. Nevertheless, she was there. Second, we observe her “weeping”—this reminds us of her brokenness and sorrow over her guilt and sin. Third, the woman stooped and “began to wet His feet with her tears”—does this not show her humble and submissive attitude in the Lord Jesus presence? The Lord does not respond in forgiveness to us in our pride, but He does forgive, when we approach Him in humility (see James 4:6). Fourth, we learn the woman “kept wiping them with the hair of her head”—she laid her glory at Christ’s feet (see 1 Cor. 11:15). Fifth, we witness the woman “kissing His feet”—this reveals her heart, her affection, love, and appreciation of His person. Sixth, lastly we are in awe of the woman’s sacrifice in “anointing them with the perfume”—her worship was costly (see John 12:3). Now I should point out here the slight difference between the woman’s “weeping” as opposed to her “tears.” “Weeping” reminds us of intense emotion expressed through a multitude of tears, which in turn speaks of her brokenness over her multitude of sins; whereas, “tears” speaks of individual sorrow over specific sins. The wonderful truth is, we read Jesus saying, "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47, NASB). Friend, have you a multitude of sins that are weighing you down? If so, lay them at Jesus’ feet in repentance, and like the sinful woman in today’s passage, the Lord Jesus will forgive you of all your sins. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30, NASB).

Lord Jesus, thank you for this sinful woman’s example that no matter how bad we have sinned, there is hope and forgiveness to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

BORN CRUCIFIED?

"For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." 

(Romans 8:13, NASB).

In today's text, we are shown a choice between living according to our flesh, or according to the Spirit. If it's after the flesh, then the sentence of death, but if after the Spirit, then we have abundance of life. The fact our flesh is under the curse of sin, it is subject to death, so to live according to the flesh brings death. Now on the other hand, the Spirit is life. Paul writes: "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." (Rom. 8:2, NASB). Sin brings bondage and death, whereas the Spirit brings freedom and life.

The title for today's devotion was taken from the title of L. E. Maxwell's book, "Born Crucified." We are all born in the flesh, but not in the Spirit; we were dead spiritually to God.We were very much alive physically, but dead in our relationship with the Lord. In a sense, when we were born the first time, we were dead to God spiritually, but when we were "born again" (John 3:3, 7), sometimes referred to as the second birth, we became alive spiritually to God. It is then, we began to learn the art of "daily dying" to ourselves (see 1 Cor. 15:31), Paul's letter to the Galatians outlines the threefold truth about the term "crucified" as follows:

1. We have been "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20). That is, we have died in the death of Christ. "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3, NASB). This is the death we are identified with, the death of Christ.

2. We have "crucified the flesh" (Gal. 5:24). Meaning, we have put to death the "passions and desires" of our flesh that had for so long enslaved us. So what are we to put to death? "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5; see also Gal. 5:19-21, ESV).

3. Finally, we are "crucified to the world" (Gal. 6:14). In other words, we are no longer a slave to the fashions, pleasures, social status, power, and philosophies of this present evil world. We have been set free and sanctified in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Christian's threefold enemy that rages against him daily is the flesh, the world, and Satan. However, when the believer learns to daily die to himself, he becomes free in the death of Christ, becoming dead to the appetites, passions, and temptations of his flesh with, the world around him, and the enemy Satan who rages against him. Now that the flesh, the world, and Satan no longer have power over the saint, seeing he is dead in his response to these enemies, he is alive only to respond to his new Master, Christ. Wherein we were once dead in our trespasses and sins to Christ, now we are dead to those trespasses and sins that once separated us from Christ.

So in summary, we are identified in the death of Christ. Due to this truth that we are identified in Christ's death, we are dead to the passions and desires of our flesh, and dead also to the system and course of this present world. Let us consider once again Paul's words in today's text: "For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13, NASB). We are all destined to die in the flesh, for that is a part of the curse our first parents brought into the world (see Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12), but the second Adam, brought light in life through His death, burial, and resurrection. So in light of this, let us continue living in the Spirit, so the deeds of the body will be put to death. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Rom. 13:14, ESV).