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.