If this Man were a Prophet...

Hello everyone.  Today I will look at Luke 7:37-50.  You probably remember it as the story of the sinful woman who wet Jesus' feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. The story begins with an invitation. Jesus was kind to all, so when one of them, a Pharisee named Simon, invites him over to his house for dinner, Jesus goes. We see that Jesus makes himself available to all kinds of people. It is unclear whether the Pharisee had some alterior motive in inviting Jesus.  Did he seek a greater understanding?  Was it part of a plot to entrap Jesus? The text doesn’t really say.

It was customary in the Ancient Near East for a festive banquet to recline, lying on one’s side, with the body and feet angling away from the table. (Bock, 694.) So Jesus is reclining at Simon's table. News of Jesus at the Simon’s house traveled fast around town, apparently, as other people started showing up.  A notable party-crasher was a woman from the town, who apparently had quite a bad reputation around the town. Luke does not give much of a description for the woman, beyond that she was from the town and that she was a sinner.

Based on Simon’s response, we can conclude that the woman’s appearance at his house requires tremendous courage.  Clearly, she was not wanted there. The woman came into the house and knelt behind Jesus as he reclined at the table.  She wept enough to wet Jesus’ feet, then dryed them with her hair. She then kissed his feet and poured an expensive perfume on them.  Darrell Bock points out that undoing her hair and using it to wipe his feet was an act that some would think immodest. (Bock, 696.)

I have to say that if something like this happened to me, I would be quite embarrassed by it.  A woman that I don’t know is crying profusely at my feet. Jesus however, does seem at all embarrassed by it.  I think that is because Jesus is not thinking about himself, but her. I notice that Jesus also doesn’t seek to embarrass Simon either, but gently instructs him. 

Simon, recognizes the woman and knows her reputation. Certainly thinking himself above her, thinks to himself, ““If this man were a prophet, then he would know what kind of woman this is touching him, that she is sinful.” Jesus’ acceptance of the woman’s actions led Simon, a Pharisee, to question Jesus’ credentials as a prophet. In Simon’s eyes, Jesus should have rejected this action, but he didn't.  Jesus was not there to judge sinners, but rahter to be a friend to sinners. 

Simon has questioned whether Jesus is a prophet or not, but Jesus proves himself to be a prophet on more than one level:

• Jesus knows all about the woman.  He knows all about her reputation and understands the genuine sorrow that she feels because of her sin. 
• He also knows what Simon is thinking.  He also knows Simon’s heart, and what he is thinking about Jesus and the woman. 
• Jesus understands that Simon is a sinner too, although Simon does not think of himself that way, nor is that his reputation. 

So, Jesus teaches a lesson to Simon.  He tells a parable of two debtors.  One owes ten times what the other owes, but the moneylender forgives both of them their debts.  Jesus asks which will love the moneylender more.  Simon gives the obvious answer; that the one who was forgiven more will love him more.  Forgiving debts is somewhat out of character for a moneylender since that is their business. Such an action would be rather unexpected.So, if we truly inderstand this parable, we see that God is willing to forgive us and is gracious beyond all reasonable expectation. 

The parallels of the parable are obvious.  The moneylender is God.  The debts are our sin. The greater debtor is the greater sinner, in this case, the woman.  The lesser debtor is the lesser sinner, in this case, the Pharisee, Simon.  Bock says, "the dominant feature in the account is the forgiving of the debt that generates the responses.” (Bock, 700.) The woman’s reputation would indicate that she was the greater offender of the two.  So it makes sense that when forgiven, she would be the one that is more grateful. But,since Simon and the woman are both sinners, Simon should show some gratitude as well. 

After his parable, Jesus shows the stark contrast between Simon and the woman: 

• Simon did not give Jesus water for his feet. She wet and washed his feet with her tears. 
• Simon did not give Jesus the customary kiss.  She has repeatedly kissed his feet. 
• Simon did not anoint Jesus with oil. She anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. 

What Simon failed to do for Jesus, the woman has done for his feet. The woman was showing her gratitude to Jesus, even though she had not been forgiven yet.  The woman, although the greater sinner, is closer to God’s grace than Simon. She recognizes her need for help.  Simon sees very little need for it.  Jesus recognizes and rewards her humility. Jesus, appreciative of her heart and her actions, gives her forgiveness of her sins.  

Jesus tells his audience at the table, that “those who love little are forgiven little.”  This implies that those who give much love are forgiven much.  This fits very well with what Jesus has just taught in chapter 6.  The measure that you use will be measured to you.  Love much, be forgiven much.  Love only a little, be forgiven, only a little. As we grow in our understanding of our own sinfulness, we will grow in our understanding of the love God has shown us.  

Jesus grants the woman forgiveness of her sins.  Her humility and passion for Jesus brought her great gain. And Jesus continues to show himself to be a prophet and so much more. 

Tom