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Copyright © 2012 J. Neely. All rights reserved.
Chapter 27 - Two Debtors
Luke 7:37-38
37 And [kai] , behold [idou] , a woman [gune] in [en] the city [polis] , which [hostis] was [en] a sinner [hamartolos] , when she knew [epiginosko] that [hoti] Jesus sat at meat [anakeimai] in [en] the Pharisee's [Pharisaios] house [oikia] , brought [komizo] an alabaster box [alabastron] of ointment [muron] ,
38 And [kai] stood [histemi] at [para] his [autos] feet [pous] behind [opiso] him weeping [klaio] , and began [archomai] to wash [brecho] his [autos] feet [pous] with tears [dakru] , and [kai] did wipe [ekmasso] them with the hairs [thrix] of her [autos] head [kephale] , and [kai] kissed [kataphileo] his [autos] feet [pous] , and [kai] anointed [aleipho] them with the ointment [muron] . KJV-Interlinear
37 And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume. NASB
We have briefly met Simon the Pharisee priest. Now the second person who will be included in the parable comes into the picture. She is a woman of the night. Though this is not directly stated, it is implied within the context.
Simon will make comments later, that imply her reputation. She will not be a prosperous woman given the implication of her reputation of being a prostitute. She will have a very expensive container and very expensive perfume within the container. Again the implication (by innuendo) is that she probably earned the perfume through the sales of her services and that the perfume was originally intended for 'other' purposes.
But the Bible does not come out and state that she was a prostitute. The Bible does not state her name. It only states that she is a sinner, and that shouldn't be surprising because we are all sinners. So this teaches us a certain principle from this passage.
People have preconceived ideas about others. They are either based on fact, or gossip, or prejudice. Their perception of others can be accurate or not. And as we will see, Simon will draw some conclusions regarding Jesus, just as he has drawn some conclusions regarding this woman. For all we know, this woman could have been simply the outcast wife of someone prominent (divorced in a marriage gone bad), and her bad reputation was built up from hateful gossip.
Folks should really be focused on their own spiritual status and of Gods opinion regarding themselves, rather than spending their time evaluating others.
Nevertheless, what we do know is that she is a sinner, and that is about all we know.
She heard that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's home, so she went there to see Christ.
She knows of His reputation. She has probably heard Him speak, and probably has heard his latest comments, 'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,' Matt. 11:28-30.
She has pressures in her life. Those pressures are not mentioned. Those pressures are not even implied as being connected with her reputation. But she, like everyone in this world, faces difficulties in life. And those difficulties bring pressures, and anguish, and anxeities and so forth. What we do know is that she is the target of hurtful gossip (the Pharisee's comments). That alone would make life difficult for someone, especially a woman.
She heard that Jesus was at the Pharisee's home, went there, and went inside to stand behind Jesus, who was reclined at the dinner table.
The home was open. The party was not limited to Jesus and the Pharisee's family, but most likely there were many guests. Since Jesus was being followed almost constantly, there would be additional people forming a crowd of some kind. So this party would be to the Pharisee's delight - all this attention - and ... at his home!
She was weeping, or rather she began weeping. This was not loud crying but a quiet welling up of tears resulting from very deep emotions. The woman did not ask anything, nor request anything, but assumed the role of a servant toward her master.
Her intention was to wash the feet of Jesus with the oil. Her tears came suddenly and apart from her control. She could not help herself. Her tears fell on Jesus' feet and she wiped them with her hair.
The tense within the original text suggests that she kept on wiping His feet. This is the action of a very grateful person. Someone who has received something in their life, and that something is of tremendous value to them.
Despite her reputation, this woman entered into the home of a person who has a very pious reputation. That action would intimidate most folks and prevent them from entering. What with peer pressure, public opinion, guilt, shame and such. Yet she entered the home of the priest despite the looks she most probably received from others.
She ignored everyone and went straight to Jesus. Note, that no one else went to Jesus. No one else washed His feet, or even displayed even the slightest courtesy toward Him. That is, except for this woman with a reputation.
When the perfume was opened and poured onto Jesus' feet, then that certainly got everyone's attention. The aroma alone would make everyone look to see where it was coming from, and then when they saw the woman with Jesus, then the snide remarks (mental thoughts) would begin.
This woman recognized Jesus as the Messiah. She was having a difficult time in her. Yet she set her life aside and ignored the opinions of people and went straight to Christ, and washed His feet - in public. This had to have been a very intimidating position for her to be in. She overcame public opinion, valuing Gods opinion more. People had nothing to give her, nor offer her, nor did they. God has infinite dreams come true, to offer. Which is worth more?
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