Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7:47)
Can you imagine that moment in time when the room was silent and all eyes turned to one woman who came with her absolute best? It was the most beautiful moment in worship to ever grace the Gospels. I’m sure you could have heard a pin drop, as Jesus responded to the woman at His feet. Oh, what a beautiful moment as she offers herself to the Lord. She humbles herself before Him and gives her absolute best! When was the last time we gave our best in worship? When did we come to worship not caring what anyone else in the room thought? Let’s examine this, as we step back into the story of a woman who was changed by the love of our Savior!
Please stop and read Luke 7:36-50. Seriously, don’t read on, until you have read this passage!
There are three main characters in this passage of Scripture. I want to explore what their roles are and what we can learn from them.
1. Simon the Pharisee
Simon’s thoughts were negative and displeasing to the Lord. Instead of enjoying the moment of worship, he was busy picking out the sin in this woman’s life. He was caught up in how things should be or ought to be. Have you ever been in a worship service and been thinking to yourself… “Well, if the worship was just a little more like this… If the song selection was more like this… If the lead singer sang like this… If they weren’t so loud… If they were a little bit louder…” Oh, how we miss it, when we start thinking about how worship should benefit us. Do you know that the word worship really means “to assign worth (value) to God”? What are you assigning worth to? Is it God? If you want to worship God in spirit and in truth, it won’t matter what the song selection is… how loud, how quiet, how it sounds… You will be able to worship God because you’re showing up to simply assign Him the worth He is due!
2. Sinful Woman
How would you like to be known by that title? Luke titles this passage of Scripture “Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman” and Simon addresses the woman as living a sinful life. But you never see Jesus address her through her sin. He sees her in a whole different light. Everything Jesus says about her is positive. Here is what we know about her…
- Simon did not offer water for Jesus feet, but she wet his feet with her tears. ~vs. 44
- Simon did not kiss the Lord when he entered the home, but she never stopped kissing the Lord’s feet. ~vs. 45
- Simon did not offer oil for Jesus head, but she poured perfume on his feet. ~vs. 46
Now it was not mandatory for Simon to perform all these duties, but it was customary in that time frame to offer these things when a guest entered your home.
This woman enters the story known as a sinful woman, but leaves known by her faith. She performed a great act of worship. She was not distracted by those around her or the former life she used to live. She was simply drawn to respond in worship to the One who gave her True Life. The One who set her free. The next time you worship… Take time to be free from the distractions around you and focus in on the One who has set you free!
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)
3. Jesus
There is always so much we can learn from Jesus and how He responds to every situation. He did not quarrel with Simon. He did not make him feel inferior. He simply shared a story that Simon could relate to. He shared the difference of what forgiveness can do in someone’s life. Then He followed through on that forgiveness. We are kept from worship when our hearts are in the midst of a quarrel and when we have unforgiveness in our hearts. The Lord teaches us to forgive and forgive in a big way. We must love each other, as Christ has loved us. We have been forgiven much and our response to that is to continue forgiving others! Please examine your heart and see if there is any unforgiveness there. May God continue to release you from unforgiveness and teach you how to forgive others!
“…God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)
Challenge: Read Luke 7
Memory Verse: Genesis 2:2-3, How is it going with memorizing these verses? What is God teaching you? I would love to hear about it! Drop me a line!
Dear Father God, I see a little of myself in all three of these characters in the story. I know I have been the judgmental person more than once and I pray for Your forgiveness. Please help me to take my eyes off of the shoulda, coulda, and wouldas. Help me to keep my eyes on YOU! You’re all that matters! May I learn to truly worship You, as the woman in this story has worshipped. She didn’t care who was watching and I love that! I want to worship, knowing that I’m worshiping my King! May my life continue to reflect the One who gave His life for me, so unselfishly so that I might live the complete life! Help me to continue to forgive those who have wronged me and teach me what it means to truly reflect what I see in Your Word!
Bringing my Alabaster Box to You,
