By Pastor Milton O. Bradford, Good Hope Baptist Church
Cleveland Ohio
Luke 7:36-50 And 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. And, 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, And 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. Now 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. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And 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. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore 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. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Many years ago Sidney Poitier starred in a movie called, GUEST WHO IS COMING TO DINNER. Sidney Poitier, a black man for all who do not know, played a controversial role which was very much a taboo, it was a no-no of that time, where a Negro was engaged to marry a white women, may even had put his life at risk. Nevertheless, it demonstrated all the problems, all the biases, and the racism that worked not only then but also still now in 2002. He had not only to tell his parents but the greatest hurdle was revealed in breaking the news of their relationship to her white parents and seeking their blessing. The couple decided to break the news over dinner to all four parents at the white parent’s house, thus “Guest Who Is Coming to Dinner” was born. Once the door was opened nothing had to be explained. You can be sure that what they had to say was known long before they ate one morsel of food.
Many a story can be told as to what happened and the experiences shared while breaking bread. Stories of business associations being strengthen, and friends and relatives reaffirming their care for one another have often taken place over a meal. A gentleman can give you a scoop on his attempt to wine and dine a lady to win her affection. In fact, many young ladies not only believe but practice right now that "ole" adage , that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. More relationships has been enhanced over the dinner table.
In our text Jesus had accepted a dinner invitation. For the bible says that 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. In this text something is revealed about the host. Let’s look for a moment at the host maybe we can find a clue at to who this is who disturbed His dinner arrangement.
1.He was a Pharisee. A Pharisee was a religious leader of the Jews. In fact this text is literately surrounded by controversies that Jesus had with the Pharisees. In chapter 6 in Luke the Pharisees squabbled with Christ over the Sabbath. Many suffered chronically from self-righteously, "How dare Jesus let His disciples do work on the Sabbath, they are picking grain, and He is healing the man with the wither hand." Scripture said that they watched Him closely for a chance to accuse Him.
Why would Luke need to talk about self-righteous folks surely we don’t have that today!!!!
2. In verse 40, we find out this Pharisees’ name was Simon. What else can we find out about this host? Well, let’s turn to a parallel gospel. Matthew 26:6-13
Although scriptural research does not specifically say that this was the same situation; there are several things that show such striking similarities that it is hard not to envision that this event is one and the same. It must be remembered that the gospels do not necessarily tell things in chronological order. They were for the most part emphasized what happened as opposed to when it happened unless it is specifically stated.
Matthew 26: 6-13 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Now we can learn 2 other things about the host from this text.
1. Pharisee, a religious leader of the Jews
2. Named Simon
3. Simon was a leper
4. We learn his house was in Bethany
He was host of the gathering in which he invited Jesus.
How did we merge these text. It is clear that what sticks out to Luke is the conversing that Jesus had with Simon the Pharisee about self-righteousness. The focus of this text other Gospels from Matthew and John perspective is that great act of love showed Jesus as He moves closer to the cross.
Whenever we engage in a dinner affair, we know not just one thing takes place but several things are happening simultaneously. All may be quite active mingling in the crowd but what sticks out to each of us and what we each of us remembers is influenced by at least three things. These are...
(A) whom I am with,
(B) what are the things important to me, as well as (C) in my circle of activity what is it that I see and hear.
Just have a back yard barbecue and invite the community. Many things are happening at the same time.
... somebody is playing spades or monopoly... shouting "I use to play spades for bread and meat if I did not win; I didn’t eat". Don’t let them win for everyone will hear,"Give me a fish that can swim or a monkey that can dance".
...somebody else is playing Bingo with 10 cards to everyone else’s one and still losing.
...somebody else is watching or talking about sports...
...some are reminiscing about the good ole’ days...
...someone else says point me to the drinks...There is always a fermented grape juice crowd; a barley hops crowd, or a stronger drink crowd who wants to shake hands with Mr. Jack Daniels, or Mr. Chevas Regal, for them no gathering can be of any worth without those guests...
...still while others are busy about preparing and serving the meal...
So Luke in his text focuses on the attitude of this self-righteous Pharisee, and saying to himself 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. The other gospels acknowledge the great act of love that Jesus said would be a memorial to this woman. If it is possible that this is the same event, the same alabaster box, the same ointment; the same Simon, with his many hats, Simon who lived in Bethany, and the woman from the same city.
...whom one text says was a Pharisee, you know Simon as Matthew identifies as the leper....
than seated with him around the table, the One of honor, Jesus; the disciples tagged along,
GUEST WHO CAME TO DINNER? Who is this woman???? Look at John 12:1-8
John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and Martha, a woman who had been the sinner. Simon was the host of the gathering, a Pharisee, you know Simon the Leper in which he invited Jesus, the disciples tagged along; Lazarus, fleshly risen from the grave, and Martha as always served.
This sinner, this unnamed woman in Matthew’s, unknown in the eyes of many who came to see the one whom had been raised from the dead, is none other than Lazarus’s sister Mary.
How had Mary been viewed in the eyes of others
A. She was the worst of sinners in the eyes of many Pharisees of which Simon was one
There is always someone who remembers you before you met Jesus. Some need to know anyway even if they don’t believe you been changed. Let them know about you since you met Jesus. Let them see you serving Jesus. Even if they remember you when; if they know about all your before activities, they need to know about your after you met Jesus activities. They need to know that the Lord not only makes a different but He all by Himself is the “Difference”. She was a sinner… is not all of us
But I learned that if I want to view myself right…as God sees me. I can with His help achieve. If I view myself as I am without God, I know I am nothing. So I want to witness of His goodness to me.
B. She was seen as just one of many in the crowd. If we are just one of many in the crowd--- In the eyes of many just a woman; no moral judgment was made of this woman—many did not know her. She still wanted all to know if they did not know her how I feel about Jesus.
Mat 26:6,7 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment. To many she was just an unknown woman in the crowd--
John 12:9-11 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus---They wanted to destroy the evidence.
C. Finally, there were some who knew and loved her. In the midst of friends and family. If we have intimate relationship with those we know and know us. Those who know us best never see us honor Christ
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
OUR CHALLENGE IS TO AVOID THE UNEVEN PRAISE OF CHRISTIANITY— This is a sweet fragrance to our Lord.
Mary didn’t let how others view her stop her from worship and honoring Jesus. She knew what He had done for her. She LOVED much.
One of the great problems of Christianity we have selected praise…IF
… the environment is right…
… the people are right…I don’t like some of this folks
… the music got to be a certain way… then an only then will we dispense our hallelujahs or lift our voices in prayer— but if I am uncomfortable with these folks, with this environment,with these attitudes.
This is the buffer that prevents that. This is the sweet fragrance that filled the whole room.
MARY LOVED MUCH LUKE 7:47 I got stuck right here.
Was not it demonstrated by Christ’s story "A certain moneylender had two debtors; one owed 500 denarius and the other 50 denarius." (One denarius was worth 18 cents in silver, equivalent to a day’s wages.) Thus, one man owed 500 days of labor, and the other 50 days of labor. Now the day of reckoning arrived, and the moneylender approached the men for payment, only to discover that neither man was able to repay his debt.
The Pharisees sought anything that would give them an opportunity to expose Jesus as a fraud, or to foreclose on His newfound popularity.
As a result, when Jesus came for dinner, no common courtesy was shown to Him. In those days, the servant of the house would take off the guest’s sandals, wash his feet with water, and anoint his head with oil. In the case of a Rabbi such as Jesus, the master of the house would then give him a kiss on the cheek, and escort him to the head of the table. Instead, He was ignored, and given the seat nearest the door... but SHE LOVED MUCH
HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE HIM?????? This is the proof
SHE HAD BEEN AT HIS FEET FOR INSTRUCTION
Nobody spoke like Jesus.
LUKE 10:38 ¶ Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
Martha was concerned about serving BEFORE she sat at His feet
Maybe she heard Him say the Son of man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many. She knew that was just what she needed.
SHE HAD BEEN AT HIS FEET FOR COMFORT
John 11:32 She KNEW Him as the Life and the Resurrection
Now-- SHE WAS AT HIS FEET FOR SERVICE --she knew she was preparing Him for burial.
John 12:3 she knew that He would bare her sins and the sins of others on the cross
If we are seen the worst of sinners in the eyes of others- Remember she Loved much.
If we are just one of many in the crowd - Love Jesus much
If we have intimate relationship with those we know and know us --They need to see us loving Him much
SO THAT WHEREEVER THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED
Her story and YOURS will minister to everybody to those who are self-righteous; to those who just see her and YOU as one in the crowd; and to those who intimately know her and YOU.
Oh if we were a people who would just glorify Him—Somebody in fact all of us ought to bow at His feet because He has made a dead men alive. In any crowd and crowds are no different now as there were then somebody has been arisen at just a word from Him. There are some Lazarus’ here right now. Some of us were dead spiritually longer than 4 days and stinking mightily but thank God for Jesus.
Simon only knew parts of her story of what she had been; he did not know about what she had become once she had met Jesus. Is not it amazing how folks are quick to parade what you use to be, they will be a one-man band, and play out all the sour notes of your life of how they knew you when, and what they remember. But Mr. Simon, Mr. Pharisee look like you ought to focus on your own problems of how YOU need Jesus, maybe you ought to look at not covering your own leprosy.
Looks like Simon would have wanted Jesus to heal him of his leprosy that he obviously hid because no one would have come over his house....He invited Jesus in the house for social status and that he might look good, but underneath the fine garment; foul and ulcerated skin; Jesus 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. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Judas jumped off of the couch. "Leave her alone, Judas she is preparing me for my burial"
How strong the contrast between the indifference of the Pharisees and the earnestness of the penitent! Says Augustine, "He withheld water; she gave precious tears, the blood of her heart, He gave no kiss to his cheek; she covered his feet with kisses. He grudged even a drop of oil; she broke the box of rare ointment for her Lord. He treated him with despite as an underling; she adored him as a prince. The water for the feet, the kiss and the oil for the head were ordinary Oriental courtesies.
I am glad Jesus can deal with us on any level. Don’t be surprise but all of us have our own lives and our own need for salvation. All of us need to be arisen for the dead, not just Lazarus but she knew she needed Christ for her salvation. Jesus let Simon the Pharisee know he needed Him. Look what she did, she loved much though Judas jumped off the couch, and said emphatically "this ought to be sold and given to the poor". Too bad Judas missed it. Don’t miss it!!!
