Luke 7:36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
Commentary really helps me understand today’s verses differently. It posits that the woman would have had to be really bold to come into the house of the Pharisee, that Jesus’s feet would have been the only thing she could reach as His head would have been reclined toward the table, that the alabaster jar would have been expensive, that the entire scene would have been awkward.
Luke 7:37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
This woman strikes me as incredibly brave. Even if I were not a notorious sinner (and commentary indicates that she probably was), I would not have been comfortable barging into a Pharisee’s house to…pay homage? give thanks? to Jesus for forgiving me of my sins. I’m sure she was displayed as the epitome of what not to do in life, but I say that her extraordinary homage to Jesus is a guide to how to show Him our deep gratitude for His mercy and love.
Luke 7:38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Precious Savior, Thank You for the example of the woman who lived a sinful life. Thank You for the beauty of her sacrifice–the sacrifice of her pride in coming into a Pharisee’s house to show her deep gratitude for Your goodness. Help me to look for ways in each day that I can show You my deep gratitude for who You are and who You are to me. Amen.
Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Have a blessed day.