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Copyright © 2012 J. Neely. All rights reserved.
Chapter 27 - Two Debtors
Luke 7:44-46
44 And [kai] he turned [strepho] to [pros] the woman [gune] , and said [phemi] unto Simon [Simon] , Seest thou [blepo] this [taute] woman [gune] ? I entered [eiserchomai] into [eis] thine [sou] house [oikia] , thou gavest me [didomi] no [ou] water [hudor] for [epi] my [mou] feet [pous] : but [de] she [houtos] [autos] hath washed [brecho] my [mou] feet [pous] with tears [dakru] , and [kai] wiped [ekmasso] them with the hairs [thrix] of her [autos] head [kephale] .
45 Thou gavest [didomi] me [moi] no [ou] kiss [philema] : but [de] this woman [houtos] [autos] since [apo] the time [hos] I came in [eiserchomai] hath [dialeipo] not [ou] ceased [dialeipo] to kiss [kataphileo] my [mou] feet [pous] .
46 My [mou] head [kephale] with oil [elaion] thou didst [aleipho] not [ou] anoint [aleipho] : but [de] this woman [houtos] [autos] hath anointed [aleipho] my [mou] feet [pous] with ointment [muron] . KJV-Interlinear
44 And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45 'You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 'You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. NASB
Knowing that Sion has already seen the woman, and even has had contemptuous thoughts regarding her, Jesus still asks Simon if he sees the woman. Also, everyone who is within hearing of His words, will now have their attention directed toward the woman.
All eyes are now looking at the woman. She is the center of attention. But all ears are still hearing the words of Jesus.
Now who are the key players in his parable, in this home? Jesus is the first player. He is God. Specifically, He is the Son of God who has become flesh and is now sitting at the table having dinner with all who are present. And I will repeat - God is present in the room, that everyone can see Him, speak to Him, interact with Him at will. What would you do or say if God was present in your home in this same way?
Now there are two people who are the focus of the parable. The host who perceives that he has little sin, if any, is better than most, but especially better than this, this - woman, who has entered into his home.
He, as the husband, the master of his home, has a certain obligation following ancient tradition, of seeing to the needs of his guests. He should be instructing the servants to get the water, to see to His coat and hat (figure of speech). In other words allow the guest to be freshened up and have his traveling clothes taken care of. This is the very least that the host should see to for any guest.
When the guest is of a higher rank, or is superior to the host, then there are certain greater courtesies that the host should look to for the guest, Gen. 18:4, 24:32, Judg. 19:21, 1 Sam. 25:41. All of these courtesies are set in tradition. And if you recall, the Pharisees are a traditional group. They lean heavily in tradition and follow it rigidly.
Here Simon has forsaken all courtesies for Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Simon does not believe that Jesus is who He says He is. Simon invited Jesus into his one home, but not because he could learn something from Him, but because he was more concerned with his own reputation, and this would give Him a little public opinion lift in his local community.
He, Simon, with all the richness of a splendid public preparation, had omitted the common courtesies of regard and affection toward his guest.
The woman on the other hand, in humility, had bowed at His feet, had watered them with tears, and had not ceased to kiss them.
The woman whose identity is never known to us was more humble, demonstrated more care and concern. She knew of His reputation, of His identity, and she believed in Christ and in His ability to do what He said He would do for her.
She washed His feet with the tears of her own eyes. Simon did not even draw water from an otherwise dirty well which might be used for animals. She used expensive perfumes to clean His feet, while Simon would not even get out some inexpensive olive oil such that his guest could put a little on the head for cleansing and refreshment from the days travels in the sun.
Simon did not give the usual greeting, a kiss to either cheek (today in our society we extend the hand to shack hands in greeting). To withdraw or withhold the greeting is a certain discourtesy in some cases, or can be perceived as a rudeness.
Simon withheld all of the normal and ordinary courtesies that would be expected. The woman gave far more than would have been expected. This was not even her home, but her attention was on Christ, not on the courtesies of greeting. Her motivation was on love and thankfulness for who Christ was. She expected nothing for herself. No one knew her name when she arrived. No one knew her name when she left. One might even assume that she will become one of the many women who will follow Christ all the way to the time of the Cross.
Recall that at the Cross there were many women who stood near by observing His suffering. Where was this Pharisee? That isn't recorded in the scriptures.
People who are not interested in God, people who are more or less indifferent toward God, the Bible, their own spiritual life will not give out the time of day for Bible study. We can suppose that Simon gave these courtesies to other guests, but a negative person while ignoring the importance of Gods Word in their life will give much time and attention to other facets of their life. They will spend time on their favorite TV shows, their favorite social activities, their favorite reading material, their favorite whatever it is in their life that they like to do - even if it is sitting around and looking at the wall. They will even get upset if they miss out on their daily or weekly routine. But they will not give God the courtesy of their attention to His Word.
On the other hand, those few who genuinely desire a relationship with God, will feel off balance if they do not give time to their Bible study. They find time, they make time. Everyday, no matter what they are doing, when the day is over, they make extra time to study, and learn, and review their own personal life, with the objective of advancing in their spiritual life.
Can anyone see your spiritual advancement? No.
Only God can accurately measure your growth, and only you can begin to sense your maturity with the passage of time.
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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