By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
LOVED
Luke 7:40–50
Luke often records events in which Jesus elevates marginalized people and simultaneously humbles self-righteous Pharisees. Perhaps Luke was particularly aware of the Pharisees and their exalted self-image because of his association with Paul.
More than any other apostle, Paul knew that Pharisees believed themselves to be without blame in their keeping of the law (Phil. 3:5).
In this particular encounter, Luke introduced the interchange between Jesus, a woman of the city and a Pharisee named Simon in verses 36–39. Simon offered Jesus hospitality by inviting the Master to his house for a meal.
Word spread that Jesus was there, and a woman of questionable character entered the house and anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume, weeping and kissing the Master’s feet and wiping His feet with her hair. The fact that she uncovered her head and let down her hair would have been shameful enough, but this was evidently an intimate encounter, and one that the host found to be embarrassing and inappropriate. Simon wondered whether Jesus was even a prophet if He was unable to discern the sinful character of the woman.
Love’s Intensity (40–43)
Jesus was fully aware of His surroundings. He knew the woman’s circumstances. He discerned Simon’s thoughts. He also gauged the measure of love that each person had for Him by their behavior. In order to teach Simon a lesson, Jesus told him a story.
Like the Bantu storytellers of East Africa — who begin their stories with “Are you ready to listen?” — Jesus told Simon, “I have something to say to you.” When Simon responded in kind, Jesus told him a simple story.
Two debtors owed a creditor, with one owing 50 denarii and the other 500. Neither debtor was able to pay — keep in mind that a denarius was a day’s wage. The creditor forgave both debts. With both bills canceled, who would love the creditor more? Simon responded that the one with the greater debt would. This leads back to the woman.
Love Demonstrated (44–47)
This unnamed woman expressed her love for Jesus lavishly with her perfume, and she was willing to humble herself by touching and kissing His unwashed feet and washing them with her tears. By contrast, Simon failed to greet Jesus with a kiss upon His arrival, failed to provide water to rinse off His dusty feet and failed to provide olive oil for Jesus to groom Himself before the meal. This woman loved Jesus greatly because she was forgiven greatly.
Another anointing, which is often confused with this account, was Mary’s lavish anointing of Jesus’ feet at Bethany with expensive nard — almost a year’s wages. On that occasion, Martha served the meal, and the recently resurrected Lazarus was in attendance (John 12:1–8).
Love and Faith (48–50)
When the Master extended forgiveness to her publicly, the Pharisee and his guests questioned His identity. “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
Jesus had previously forgiven the sins of the paralytic man. This man suffered, perhaps due to no fault of his own. On that occasion, the scribes and Pharisees expressed that only God can forgive sins.
By contrast, this woman chose her profession, they likely assumed. No doubt the men in Jesus’ company wondered what audacity or blasphemy Jesus was uttering by offering to forgive her.
People who are convinced of their own bent toward sin, their need for forgiveness and the price of their pardon through Christ’s death and resurrection love Jesus deeply. Broken people who have found healing in Christ tell other broken people. Those who are convinced that other people are broken, but not themselves, find little reason to need or love Jesus. May our love for Christ grow with every passing day!
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