Faiths Sweet Fragrance
Luke 7:36-50 MSG
36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”
40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh? Tell me.”
41-42 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”
43-47 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”
48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”
49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”
50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
How many of you… When a major event takes place in your life that is a memorable experience, you remember it?
Especially when the outcome was favorable to the situation that you were facing in your life!
Isn't it funny how a fragrance or a certain smell can bring memories flooding back to your mind.
There are two different accounts of an alabaster box and perfume being used to anoint and poured out on Jesus in the Bible.
One who involves Mary the sister of Lazarus, which is mentioned in the other three Gospels
and is recorded as a memorial of extravagance that is to be remembered for all time.
Both are criticized, one for the value of the precious ointment and what it could have been sold for and done for the poor.
And the other for the value of forgiveness that was given to someone who others felt was unworthy to receive such a great gift.
The woman here was forgiven of many sins, but her name is not given.
While Mary of Bethany possessed insight as to the upcoming death of Christ,
the woman of Luke had no such insight; she exhibited just loving worship of the One who forgave her of her sins.
There certainly are many similarities in these incidents that have caused some confusion, one of which is the presence of an alabaster box.
TBS.(the bible says) He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table.
If there was anyone who wasn't worthy to be in the presence of Jesus it would've been this Pharisee...
probably the only reason that he had invited him over to his house was to try to glean more incriminating evidence on JESUS.
Jesus wasn't at his home because of the relationship that he had with him... It was purely political in nature.
On the other hand... This woman's reputation proceeded her.
By her own actions or those of others... She no doubt had been the object of gossip for a long long time.
And while many knew about The way of life she lived, the fact that her name is not mentioned
might give reason to believe...that many people may have only known her as that woman.
TBS. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”
Such a hypocritical statement… One that a lot of people are guilty of making about someone else, on frequent occasions.
Well, did you see with so-and-so has been doing and to think they call themselves a Christian...
How could they even have the nerve to set foot in church...its a good thing mankind is not in charge of forgiveness. Amen??
What The Pharisee did… has no doubt been done many times throughout the course of history, all in the name of religion.
However, what this woman did took an amazing amount of courage!
Just like the woman with the issue of blood… This woman also had to make her way to Jesus.
Just like the woman with the issue of blood… This woman probably had to push her way through the crowds as well.
I don't imagine when she came to the door of the Pharisees house... That she was welcomed and asked to come in.
I would suppose, that as soon as the door opened she pushed her way through and sought out Jesus
and begin to worship and to pour out the contents of her alabaster box.
And Probably the moment she did... The fragrance of the perfume filled the air and everyone took notice of what was happening.
The Pharisee clearly knew who this woman was and you would've thought the moment she did what she did,
that he would've been rejoicing with her the moment that Jesus for gave her instead of ridiculing as he did.
I'm not sure what he had been doing in his role as a religious leader… But clearly
he had not been praying for the woman to come and seek forgiveness, or for her to seek out a better lifestyle.
As a Pharisee, I'm sure he thought he was doing the right thing. But he could not of been further from the truth then he was at that moment.
And Jesus was about to give him a lesson in truth that he would not soon forget.
Vs 40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Oh??? Tell me.” (his attitude was like oh really… You're going to tell me something… Please!!! Do you know who I am? But JESUS was not swayed by his smugness!!)
41-42 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”
43-47 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume.
She had treated Jesus with the utmost respect and honor that he deserved.
She had taken everything she had, gave it and poured it out lavishly on JESUS!!
Simon the Pharisee had treated Jesus like a common criminal... While she had given her all.
Jesus said...Impressive, isn’t it? (I believe that was the equivalent of what Jesus had said very few times in his ministry… And that was, never such great faith have I seen)
Hebrews 11:6 KJ
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Jesus said...Impressive, isn’t it.
When no one else would offer her hope...she somehow had heard about the hope that Jesus could not only offer but extend to her as well.
And that amazing hope and the story of the gospel took seed in her life and begin to grow…
Unto the point, that the hope of Jesus changed her life and caused her to lay it all on the line.
She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”
48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”
49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”
50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Jesus rewarded her diligence...Jesus always rewards faith and He doesn't care who is around when He does it either...
Psalms 23:5-6 NKJ
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
She repented, she was forgiven much, her life was forever changed.
Not unlike anyone who has ever came and asked the forgiveness of Jesus...
Isaiah 64:6 KJ
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
While many would like to categorize this woman's actions and deeds…and try to establish different degrees of sin like the Pharisee did....
We are all guilty of sin and have all been forgiven much!
And for that we should be grateful...and should remember what Jesus has done for each and every one of us.
Our theme song for all of us should be "its my desire"
Illus. If you could see where Jesus brought me from
to where I am today,
You would know the reason why I love Him so.
So you can take the world’s wealth and riches;
I don’t need earth’s fame.
It’s my desire to live for Him.,
She was all in...her desire that day and the rest of her days, was to follow Jesus!
Like her desire...we should turn our desire into something memorable…
Something that will last a lifetime,
tell someone else about the reasons you love him so and what he's done for you in your life and by doing so you'll make every day a memorable day.
Amen?
Let's pray
