“BREAKING THE BOX”
LUKE 7:36-50
Many times in the Bible when a certain woman is mentioned she is often symbolic of the church. In Luke 15, we have the woman who had ten coins and lost them. It is a picture of the church as she lights the light, cleans the house, and searches diligently for what is lost.
In Rahab, we have the picture of God’s children being covered and protected. In Hosea, the wife who prostituted herself is a picture of the unfaithful church. In Proverbs 31 the virtuous woman is a picture of the church working for the cause of her bridegroom.
In Luke 7 we read about another woman mentioned in all four gospels who is also a picture of the church. Jesus says wherever the gospel is preached she would be mentioned. According to all four accounts, we learn the disciples as well as Lazarus are present.
The others in attendance sat and at with Jesus like He was one of the guys. Unfortunately, we too tend to treat Jesus like He is one of the gang. He is not “the old man upstairs” or your next door neighbor. He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God who deserves to be worshipped. The people around Simon’s table had grown comfortable with Jesus. When we think of Jesus as one of us it does not bother us Jesus is offended by our sin and grieves over our rebellion.
Perhaps these men were so involved in the work of the Lord they forgot the Lord of the work. The devil wants you to work in the church, In fact, he wants you to be so involved you do not take time to know Jesus. If he can convince you it is work Christ wants from you, not an intimate love relationship, then he has you right where he wants you.
In Psalm 51, David cries out for forgiveness from his sin with Bathsheba. "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it. You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:16-17)
Simon did not bother to wash Jesus’ feet which was customary for the host to do for a guest in his home. Many people come to church: “Here I am, Lord, bless me! Do something for me!” Instead of approaching this as a time where we are seated with Christ around the table to honor, reverence, and worship Him, we tend to act as if we have had a feast, filled our spiritual stomachs, unbuttoned our pants and sit back with a toothpick in our mouths relaxed and satisfied.
This is how those around Simon’s table were acting. But this woman about to upset their comfort zone. She should not have been there because she was not invited. She was crashing the party. They all knew what kind of woman she was.
This woman came with a purpose. She had something to offer Jesus, something precious. Nothing was going to stop her - not the crowds gathered outside, not those in the house with Jesus, especially not what others were thinking about her.
What you have to offer Jesus is important to the Lord. It may be great or it may be small. Whatever you carry to Him today is precious be it money, time, work, friends, or even our own lives, is an offering of worship and praise. Give it to the Lord regardless of how others may act.
The Pharisees spoke terribly of this woman just as the 2025 Pharisees may do. People may laugh, ridicule, or pull away from you, but give it anyway. There may be consequences of friendship loss or popularity loss or financial loss. Give it anyway. Real worship is to focus on the Lord and to offer Him you all without thought of what others may think.
OUR ATTITUDE
This woman let down her hair. In 1 Corinthians 11:15, the Bible teaches a woman’s hair represents her glory, the source of her pride. This woman laid her glory at the feet of Jesus.
Too many churches glory in themselves, or in their buildings, or in their programs, or in their reputation. The Bible reminds us: "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." (Psalm 127:1) I am thankful for First Baptist Church and all we are, but this is not our church. This is the body of Christ. He will create it and use it as He desires.
Too many people glory in themselves, their achievements, their abilities, their possessions, or social status. We often talk about laying our burdens at the feet of Jesus, which is important. It is time we stop glorying in ourselves and lay our glory at the feet of Jesus. It is time our church stops glorying in herself and lay our glory at the feet of Jesus.
This woman let her hair down. She let go. When was the last time you let your hair down before god, let the tears flow, and worshipped God in spirit and in truth? When this woman got to the feet of Jesus, she wept.
A child does not realize the wrong he has done until he is in the presence of his parents. A child can be doing whatever but until judgment shows up, the child realizes he is in trouble. In the same manner, we do not truly understand the magnitude of our sin until we get clos to God for we begin to understand what we have done.
As this woman got close to Jesus, she broke out crying. It was not a sobbing but a pouring of tears. When you are aware of the presence of God, it will cause you to seek His forgiveness and to worship Him. Your praise and your worship are a precious ointment unto the Lord.
OUR ACTIONS
This woman brought a precious ointment in an alabaster box. This expensive perfume was costly but she was willing to give it. It will always cost you something to truly worship the Lord. If your worship costs you nothing, then your worship is worth nothing.
She broke the box. No holding back. No control over how it came out. Once you break the box, you cannot hold back the contents. To truly worship God is to quit trying to hold back, to quit trying to control how much you let out. This woman broke the box and let it flow freely.
You have an alabaster box called your heart which is filled with love, worship, and praise. But instead of emptying the box and letting it flow freely, we tend to ration it and dab it because we d not have the faith to empty it. Perhaps we are afraid the box will never be replenished. The Lord said, "Prove me now that the windows of heaven will pour out a blessing that you will not have room to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
Are you tired of leaving church with a full box? The value of something is dependent upon the price someone is willing to pay for it. I can say this watch is valued at $5,000, but if someone does not pay me for it then it is worthless.
The Lord said, “I love you and I am going to prove it. I will send my only begotten Son to die for your sin. I give to you what is most precious, most valuable to Me. My only Son, because I love you and want to save you from your sin.
Jesus paid the wages of sin with His own death. The Lord emptied His alabaster box for you and for me with His own Son. I am not going away from this, or any, worship service with a full box of worship.
I am going to sing until my throat hurts.
I am going to shout, “Amen!” and not care what people think.
I am going to preach and teach God’s Word as long as He allows.
I am going give my tithes and my offerings.
I am going to praise Your name with all that is within me.
I am going to give You my all.
Every day you wake up, I will rise praising Your name.
I will carry You with me to work, tell others about how good you are, and lay
down at night praising Your name.
This woman broke the box and let it flow freely. She came to Jesus with all her imperfections and knelt at His feet. She broke the box and it began to pour out. While others talked about her, Jesus said, Her sins, and they are many, are forgiven. It does not matter what other people think of you.
I invite you to pour it all out at the feet of Jesus. Every hurt, every care, every sin, every problem, every circumstance. Let us lay our glory at the feet of Jesus and not become complacent in His presence. If you want a blessing, then break the box.
