SHOWING GRADITUDE
Luke 7:36-50
**36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, --
In taking their meals in those days, the people in that part of the world reclined on a small couch, leaning on the left elbow, with their heads towards the table, and their feet being naked as their sandals had been previously taken off by the servants, were turned the contrary way, so as to be easily accessible to those who came behind the couch, where the servants were waiting.
This is how the woman could come up behind Jesus and wash his feet.
When you had guests in that day, your neighbors had a right to come in and stand along the wall or sit on their haunches and watch. They didn’t come to comment, only to watch.
So this woman came in and took her place behind the Lord Jesus. And as she stood by the feet of the Lord Jesus, weeping, she began to wet His feet with tears and wipe His feet with the hairs of her head. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the costly ointment.
Luke 7:36-50
**36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. **
In this passage of Scripture, we find two individuals demonstrating two different reactions to Jesus Christ.
It is a contrast between the attitudes of the self-righteous and the repentant sinner.
Here we see demonstrations of gratitude and of ingratitude, I wonder are we showing our gratitude so as others can see that we appreciate what He’s done for us?
Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus to dinner. Why He invited Christ, we do not know, most likely it was to try and meddle as to just what Jesus was up to, if any thing.
maybe Simon was curious about Jesus having heard so much about Him and wanting to converse with Him on an informal basis.
Jesus excluded no one from His love or attention. He accepted the invitation.
Simon was a rich man.
Occasionally the rich would allow the public to stand around in the courtyard and listen to discussions, especially when the chief guest was someone of prominence.
II. This Sinful woman sensed her need and went to Jesus.
Her notoriety in the city was well known – notice Simon’s response to her presence and actions in verse 39.
39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
2. She had undoubtedly heard the message of Christ and of His gracious invitation recorded by Matthew 11: 28 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
B. She was convicted by her sense of lost ness and helplessness
1. She was overcome with conviction and emotion.
2. She falls at Christ’s feet weeping.
There are none so blind as people who think that their above sin and really not all that bad of a person, that somehow when it’s time to face the LORD that they’ll get by.
I John 1:8-9 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
We notice that this woman humbling herself gave public demonstration of her love and appreciation to Christ.
Never the less she surrendered her heart and life to Christ.
Out of love for Christ and gratitude, She gave Him her most expensive possession – an alabaster box of precious ointment.
In a great act of humility, love and surrender, she anointed the feet of Christ.
We also need to forget what others may say or do and concentrate on our relationship to Christ. Being humble involves the willingness to be reckoned a failure in everyone’s sight but God’s.
When we humble ourselves in His sight, grace is on the way.
Psalms 34:18 "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit."
III. Lets notice the Attitude of a Self-Righteous Religionist in this Pharisee Simon.
verses 39 . 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
44-46 44And HE turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
A. Simon considered himself better than the sinful woman.
Romans 12:3 3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith
B. Simon felt he was good enough after all; he was a religious ruler and leader. A Pharisee – an observer of the law.
Nothing blinds the mind to the claims of Jesus Christ more effectually than a good, clean-living, upright life.
The greatest of all disorders is to think we are whole and need no help.
Philippians 3:8-9 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, [9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"
Simon’s Action showed that he was not truly grateful for the presence of Christ. He didn’t even show common courtesies due Christ.
Notice in our text Luke 7:44 "44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head,
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
The common greeting in Christ’s time, as it is in many countries today, was not a handshake but a kiss. Simon offered none
Simon offered a cold, loveless welcome.
IV. What Should our Attitude be? – the more aware we are of the forgiveness we have in Christ, the more we will love and serve Him
There are two ways to be more aware of our forgiveness.
One is to have been forgiven of much, as in the case of this woman.
Another is to be aware of how terrible our sin is and of our lost ness apart from God’s grace and cleansing blood.
