Read Luke 7:36-50.
Jesus visits Simon's house as his guest. Simon was a Pharisee, so right off the bat our interest is heightened because Jesus doesn't make a regular practice out of eating with his most serious critics. Pharisees, religious leaders of Jesus' day who become even more central to Jewish thinking after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, were particularly critical of Jesus and his mission.
To many of the Pharisees, who were hoping for a political Messiah to deliver the nation from pagan oppression, the reason for Israel's plight were people who did not observe Torah appropriately. Certainly this party crasher, this woman who was anointing Jesus' feet, was part of the problem. She not only did not keep the Torah, but she had thumbed her nose at it. She was known to be a notorious sinner.
I wonder what it was like to be Simon, to be called out by one of your dinner guests? Jesus would probably not fit in with civil society any better today than he did then. He just wasn't polite enough.
This woman, overwhelmed by the grace offered to her through Jesus' ministry, makes this extravagant gesture of love toward Jesus. The religious folks freak out and Jesus reminds them that the one who has been forgiven much is quite thankful, but those who are forgiven little, aren't so impressed by grace.
Of course, Jesus doesn't mention the sin of spiritual pride. He simply implies it.
Don't let spiritual pride get in the way of grace. We are all notorious sinners. Our sinning might not be as public as this woman's, but we could join her in anointing Jesus' feet with our tears of thanksgiving, acknowledging that his grace is our only hope.
Comments