"Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 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. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
Good Morning my beloved,
I confess, I am often somewhat embarrassed to know just how many people who identify themselves as Christians, who claim to love Christ and the Word of God, that struggle to make the connection between the Bible and the unfolding events happening in our country, and around the world, it is perplexing that many Christians are unaware of how timeless biblical principles can be effectively applied to the present day dilemmas, particularly when the Lord Himself has provided us with so many clear details in His numerous teachings. How strange it is that contemporary Christianity often appears to be in stark contrast to the practices and beliefs of the early church, known for its unity within the body of Christ, sacrificial love, characterized by the fundamental values of the faith fostering a sense of community, deeply rooted in their understanding of the gospel as reflected in the book of Acts, whereas the modern church seems to be more focused on institutional growth by increasing church membership, elaborate renovations, and building larger facilities, with a priority placed on inclusivity, diversity and tolerance, to promote a welcoming environment, allocating substantial resources towards marketing campaigns and community events to attract a broader audience, often overshadowing the core beliefs that has defined biblical Christianity for centuries, which I believe raises some very critical concerns about the trajectory of the modern church.
As you look at the history of the church, the transformed lives that the gospel produced, helped to make the message believable. In fact, I believe the best evidence of genuine salvation, is be able to present a transformed life. The apostle Paul was the worst kind of sinner, the kind who thinks that God is pleased with him the way he is, which is why he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15-16, "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life," with humble gratitude for what Christ has done, he acknowledged his ranking above all other sinners who was once eager to kill the Lord’s followers.
Notice that he wrote "among whom I am foremost, not whom I was foremost," indicating Paul fully understood the magnitude of the gift he had gained in Christ, keeping his past depravity and ongoing corruption at the forefront of his mind. Yet, as an apostle he stated in 1 Corinthians 15, that he was unworthy to even be called an apostle, and it was only by the grace of God that he was who he was called to be. I believe many Christians today would do well to remember the weight of our sinfulness before God in order to better comprehend the extent of the gift of grace and forgiveness we have received through Christ, so that we will not take His grace for granted, by continuing to live the way we always have. In order to remain humble, we must recognize how utterly helplessness we are apart from God through Christ. In the New Testament, every sermon preached included some form of the word "repent." Whereas today's preachers are seemingly unaware of our ongoing sinful condition, tell us that we're not perfect, so we mustn't beat ourselves up when we sin, it's counterintuitive and dishonoring to God.
When the Bible clearly tells us God hates sin, it not only breaks God's law but it also break His heart. Beloved, it's the ugly presence of spiritual pride that causes us to imagine we’re "holier than thou," so much better than other sinners. Beware of any preacher who encourages you to exercise pride in your salvation rather than humility, salvation is not anything you achieved, it is gift you received, one you couldn't even accept if it had not for been for the Holy Spirit. Boast in the finished work of Christ not your self-righteousness. In Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah said "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips." And, in Psalm 51:4, David said "Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge." The apostle Peter was acutely aware of his own sinfulness, saying in Luke 5:8, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!"
I love that Jesus did not shy away from engaging those who opposed Him, or sidestepping difficult conversations with His adversaries, even though it will likely invite their criticism. I admire His ability to address them directly, face to face, without fear or hesitation although this approach often caused quite a stir among His followers and detractors alike, further demonstrating His profound commitment to proclaiming the Gospel in Truth to all sinners, while simultaneously assaulting the self-righteous behavior of the religious, emphasizing the importance of examining our own heart's before criticizing the actions of others.
In our text today, it's a story about a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine with him, that didn’t even spare a drop of olive oil to anoint the Lord’s head, nor did he provide water to wash His feet, while a woman who was a sinner began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiping them with her hair, kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume she brought in an alabaster vile. This story should not to be confused with the similar one recorded in Mathew, Mark and Luke which took place in the town of Bethany at Simon the leper's home, at a much later, where the perfume was ceremoniously poured on Jesus' head by a different woman.
It is such a privilege to be exposed to the truth, the story we are about to explore is exclusively documented here, in the Gospel of Luke, it happened in Galilee in house of Simon the Pharisee. By the way, this is the only place in the Bible Simon the Pharisee is mentioned, obviously intended to reveal to the self-righteous Pharisee that Jesus was devoted to spreading the gospel's message to all sinners, whether they were regarded as the low-life dregs of society or self-deceived religious elite, blinded by their own perceived religiosity, and the purpose is clearly designed to covey a very crucial message to him, He is a friend of all sinners, even if that sinner is a hypocritical, self-righteous Pharisee. So, in an act of irony, Jesus deliberately chose to use precisely the type of individual whom the Pharisee held in the greatest contempt and looked down upon, whose transformation was inarguably clear, as evidence of His power to transform even a wretched prostitute. Can you begin to envision the whispers her arrival would incite, creating a rippling effect of disbelief and curiosity, among those who were quick to pass judgment on both the woman who enters unannounced and Jesus, their eyes fixated on her every movement?
Let's pray together,
Heavenly Father,
Father, thank You for Your Word, intended to be a powerful catalyst for change, by reminding us that the true essence of a genuinely transformed life, goes well beyond a life that reflects merely an outward change but a life that has been deeply and radically transformed from within, that dramatically impacts our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors in a way that is both significant and enduring. May this profound Truth inspire us to align our hearts with Christ, rather than just our words and our actions, striving to live an authentically transformed life with integrity, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ, and in doing so bearing witness to the One Who redeemed us, in a world that judges us by our actions as much as our words, often perceiving us as nothing more than self-righteous hypocrites. Lord, use our transformed lives be a catalyst to inspire others to seek the same radical change within themselves through a personal relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in His precious Name we ask and pray
Amen
Today's Message: Redeemed or Religious Hypocrite?
This is a story of an extraordinary encounter, involving Jesus, a Pharisee that belonged to the religious upper echelon of society and the unexpected arrival of an immoral woman of questionable reputation, scandalously entering the home of Simon the Pharisee, a man of high standing known for their rigid standards, who would never be caught dead in the presence of such a woman, challenging us to disrupt the established societal norms, begins at verse 36 and extends all the way through to verse 50. However, in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of the theological implications, we will divide this compelling story into two more manageable bite size portions, despite the fact it unfolds as one continuous intriguing story, which not only illustrates how the grace and mercy of our Lord transcends societal boundaries and prejudices, offering redemption and renewal to those deemed unworthy but serves as a profound reminder that the transformative power of forgiveness can completely alter the lives of even the most wretched sinners. I believe it also challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of worthiness, grace, and the genuine transformative power of Christ, that if we're going to profess to be a Christian, delivered from sin, we must take every precaution to ensure that our redeemed life reflects our new nature in Christ.
Open your Bibles with me, if you would and turn them to the Gospel of Luke chapter 7, Luke 7:36-39. I would like to encourage you to follow along with me as I read the text to set it in our minds. Let's open up our hearts and listen for what the Spirit of God has to say to each of us today. Luke 7:36-39.
"Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 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. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
Let's look at verse 36, "Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table." The Pharisees were the prestigious religious leaders, the fastidious keepers of the law, who set the meticulous standards by which everyone else was measured, yet failed to recognize their own flaws, lacking empathy for those who struggled with issues, that may be driven by circumstances beyond their control, such as poverty, but they were quick to point their fingers in condemnation. The scribes and the Pharisees had already collectively rendered their unanimous verdict on Jesus, He constantly defiled Himself by closely associating with tax collectors, typically seen as traitors by their people, for collaborating with the Roman occupiers for personal gain and a friend of sinners, which only serve to fuel their animosity towards Him, as well as skepticism of His teachings with an emphasis on internal compliance to God's commands. He was a blasphemer, a serious very charge punishable by death, Who dared to assert that He shared equal status with God, by claiming to have the authority forgive sins, a power that resided solely with God, as well as refusing to adhere to their strict religious laws, such ritualistic hand cleansing and observing the Sabbath, by rejecting their overly excessive list of 613 human-imposed external rules and customs, developed by the religious leaders to maintain purity, known as mitzvot or mitzvah, a Hebrew word that roughly translates to "commandment," some of which were required, while others were strictly forbidden, which they perceived only as a total lack of reverence for God. Essentially, Simon the Pharisee was requesting Jesus to dine with him in his home just so he can try to get the goods on Him for the case their building against Him.
The act of reclining at the table was not merely a posture of guests supporting themselves with their left hand and eating with their right, it was a significant common practice in the region, not only prevalent tradition in Jewish culture deeply woven into the fabric of daily life in Jesus' time, but also in Roman and Greek cultures, symbolizing an intimate setting with a certain level of comfort, and creating an welcoming atmosphere conducive for sharing a meal and engaging in long, extended conversations, in order to discuss theological or philosophical issues which were just as important as the meal itself.
Verse 38, "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." The table would have been centrally positioned in the middle of the room, with everybody who is reclining around the table leaning toward the table to engage in conversations. The ambiance was one of openness and community, so it was a very different setting than today, where important people gather and the doors are locked behind them with security guards stationed outside the doors. It was common for the doors to be left open, allowing townsfolk who weren't formally invited to the meal to enter, listen, and learn from the discussions, and participate in the exchange if they wanted, as well as those who were unable to work and found themselves in need of help or those who would benefit from the generosity of the host would stand around the perimeter of the room until the time was appropriate, by either begging for scraps or even being offered some of the leftovers from the meal to take for themselves after the meal concluded.
It was not uncommon for women to spend a years wages on perfume, especially if it was part of their trade, but it was also just a part of being a woman. They would often wear the vial of perfume attached to a leather cord around their neck, so they could keep it with them all the time. Today, woman just carry everything they need in a large purse, it's important to remember it was a different world back then, so a vile of perfume around the neck was the kind of thing the woman had and they would even wear them to the synagogue as sort of a deodorizer, as did many men wear some kind of fragrant oil, because in crowded spaces, people were often packed closely together. As a footnote, archaeologist have unearthed thousands of these tiny bottles.
This woman widely regarded as a sinner, would have been aware of the protocol, she knows that Jesus is going to be there and she has a plan! She's going to anoint His feet with the vile of costly perfume as an act of sacrificial love, it wasn't likely that she would get an opportunity to anoint His head, she knows she shouldn't be there. She had no water to wash His feet, overwhelmed with emotion, she begins weeping, wetting His feet with her tears, it's the Greek verb "brechó," it means to send rain, which it in spiritual context can be applied both literally and metaphorically. And, she kept wiping His feet with the hair of her head.
That brings us to verse 39, "Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." Obviously, this woman has a reputation, she's a known prostitute and she is touching Jesus, holding onto His feet, washing them with her tears, wiping His feet with her hair, then pouring our her very expensive perfume on them and Simon the Pharisee picks up on all of it and he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner." Keep in mind, this man is an enemy of Jesus, looking to get incriminating evidence against Him, and he thinks he's got what he needs, a known prostitute is touching this Man Who claims to be from God, the obvious conclusion is either He must be familiar with her or He doesn't have any spiritual insight, in either way, in his mind he has the proof; He can't be Who He says He is! No self-respecting prophet from God would ever allow a woman like this to touch Him, he's thoroughly disgusted by what Jesus allowed her do, this is really bad and at the same time, he's satisfied that he's finally got what he needed to prove He can't be the Messiah. What's interesting to me is that Simon, the self-righteous Pharisee knew who and what this woman was. It reminds me of the woman caught in the act of adultery, how did those religious hypocrites catch her in the act, if they weren't there?
Jesus, knowing the heart of men, knows exactly what Simon's thinking, so now it's time for Jesus to address his silent skepticism about His prophetic abilities, and provide a response to the questions he hasn't officially asked, which are deeply rooted in his hypocritical disdain and judgment toward this woman who he has self-righteously determined is unredeemable. Come back next time and we'll find out exactly what He has to say to Simon, turning the tables on him in a shocking illustration about true grace, forgiveness and genuine transformation that's so profound, yet so simple and straightforward, challenging Simon's understanding, it's almost as though He is insulting his intelligence. You don't want to miss it.
I’ll never forget what it felt like to be deeply wounded by someone I believed truly cared for me, I am reminded of just how fragile relationships can be. And how important trust is, because once it has been shattered, is incredibly difficult to rebuild and restore. But, as a Christian and a pastor, I believe that through this encounter, God is challenging each of us, myself included, to examine our hearts, our understanding of the transformative power of forgiveness, encouraging us to reevaluate our own preconceived notions and judgments and be willing to embrace a more God centered forgiving perspective, regardless of whether we feel they actually deserve our forgiveness or not. I believe that we are called to ask ourselves, "Am I truly redeemed or just another religious hypocrite?" Underscoring that we all need God's grace every day and true forgiveness is not merely a one time conscious decision to just let go of past grievances and resentment toward those who have hurt you; it is an ongoing process to be cultivated and practiced daily, that sometimes requires the patience, understanding of all party's involved, which can ultimately lead to emotional healing and the restoration of broken relationships.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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