"Do you See this Person?"

Example

Two Questions:

Which of them will love him more?

Simon:

“Simon the Leper”? Morris doesn’t necessarily think so as Simon was a very common name.

“Good reasons for thinking that the other three are describing one and the same incident, but Luke a different one… The ‘sinner of Luke’s account wet Jesus’ feet with tears, wiped them with her hair, kisses and anointed them, which is different from what we read in the other accounts, as is the ensuing discussion. In Luke it is concerned with love and forgiveness, in the others with selling and the unguent and giving to the poor. There is no reason for holding that the woman in the other Gospels was ‘a sinner’ (John says she was Mary of Bethany).” Leon Morris

The King’s Questions:

Marriage Counselling:

Marriage is a Mirror

This passage is a mirror!

Do you see this woman?

Do you see a reflection of yourself?

Your own sin. Your own apathy. Your own brokenness.

Do you see this woman?

Also...

Do you see your forgiveness.

Do you see your gratitude!

Mirror of sin remains on the Pharisee...

How are we making room for Jesus in our lives?

Part I: An Unlikely and UnComfortable Guest

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Pharisee named Simon:

Probably not Simon the Leper mentioned in other stories in the Gospels...

A few too many different details to suggest it’s the same event as Matthew, Mark, and John

Before we take a look at the woman, let’s take a look at the Pharisee...

Prominent Pharisee:

Religious Status

Religious leader

Social status

Held up as important person

Hospitable:

v. 36: “Asked him to eat with him…”

v. 39: The Pharisee had invited him…

There’s this language of the Pharisee showing some form of hospitality...

But verse 37 introduces an unlikely guest… Someone who manages to squeeze her way inside this house of prominence.

A woman of the city (AKA), woman of the night, or, most succinctly, a prostitute, discovers Jesus is inside, and she goes and retrieves an alabaster jar.

She carries this soft stone container holding precious perfume.

All the men lie down around the food, and their feet are come out from the table like spokes out of the hub a bicyle...

What is she doing?

vs. 38: Standing and weeping

Kneels: Weeping so much she wipes them from her face onto Jesus feet.

She does what only a lady of the City would do and lets her hair down.

Her hair is long enough that her hair acts as a cloth to rub the tears.

She cleans her Saviors feet...

As she cleans, she kisses feet.

How long did this go on? 1 minute? 15 minutes?

She concludes her little cleaning ceremony with the ointment.

If people didn’t know she was in the room yet, they sure would have by now… The smell would have overwhelmed the room...

Have you ever considered how awkward this would be?

Prominent Pharisee, hosting the Messiah, future King of Israel. Probably pretty proud that he was able to catch such a big fish...

Prominent Pharisee vs. Prostrated Prostitute...

In tears.

Obviously oblivious to how awkward this would be.

So many social dynamics floating through this scene, but even for 1st Century standards, this is a pretty outrageous and socially egregious act!

Have you ever experienced just a really uncomfortable social event that just made everyone wonder, what is happening??

Story of Young man with Schizophrenia:

Early Communion:

“I’m full, thank you

So inappropriately out of place??

Sort of captures the feel of this moment. What on earth is happening here!

Part II: A Judgmental and Correct Host

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

v. 41-43: Two Debtors: “It did not need a great deal of insight to recognize which would love the benefactor the more.” Morris

500 denarii=20 months’ wages

50 denarii=2 months’ wages

Answer=The one who had greater debt!

“I suppose”= When I look at it and analyze it, the answer is the one whom he cancelled the larger debt.”

“You have judged rightly.”

Love, love Jesus’ brilliant response:

You’re judgment is right, but yet it’s so wrong!

So many “correct” things!

He invited Jesus into the home.

He answered correctly.

But his internal thought process is so wrong!!

v. 38: “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

v. 39: Inferred in the commentary:

“He must not be a prophet.”

“Jesus didn’t know the woman.”

v. 40: Jesus deals with these two inferences (READS MINDS!).

Part III: Simon versus the Sinner

44 Then 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 from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Do you See this Woman?

Look at her… So Simon observes:

Mascara all smeered on her face...

Hair dangling down without the dignity of a proper 1st Century Jewish woman.

She’s a mess...

But then Jesus begins to to compare the two...

We see how although Simon answers correctly, his heart is dirtier than her smeared mascara...

List of Ways Simon Failed:

Leon Morris Points out the Following:

1. No Washing vs. Washing:

“It would have been expected that the host would have provided water for his guest’s feet.”

Jesus received this watering through tears.

2. Kiss: “Greet one another with a holy kiss”

“In place of the kiss of welcome that might have been expected from the host, he had received kisses on his feet.” Morris

3. OIl vs. Ointment

Allibaster jar with expensive perfume THAT SHE RETRIEVED.

Simon didn’t even offer cheap olive oil.

Simon’s Actions Proved to Jesus how he viewed his position

“Look who I welcomed into my house.”

“I’m in charge of in this relationship.”

“I’m the one managing my house and social status while you can come and visit.”

“I’m the one with the social status in this relationship.”

Do you see her?

v. 44-46: Application

Morgan: “Simon could not see that woman as she then was, for looking at her as she had been.”

Let’s Look in the Mirror

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

What does Jesus see in this woman?

He sees a forgiven saint.

He sees a woman of faith.

He sees a woman sent with his blessing of peace!

He witnessed HER love and deeply personal affection in response to HIS amazing grace!

WHY DID SHE LOVE SO WELL? WHY DID SHE LOVE SO DEEPLY?

BECAUSE SHE WAS 100% AWARE OF HER SIN.

HER SINS ARE MANY!

BUT HER MANY SINS ARE FORGIVEN!

SHE LOVED SO WELL NOT TO EARN FAITH, BUT BECAUSE OF HER FAITH!

SHE BELIEVED HERSELF AS BEING A NEW PERSON, A NEW IDENITY!

v. 47: Her Many Sins are Forgiveness

Jerusalem Bible: “her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love.” Morris

“By contrast, he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Morris. Simon had apparently shown him little love?? “He certainly had shown little love and the implication is that he had not been forgiven very much.” Morris

v. 48–50: Jesus concentrates on the Woman:

“Your sins are forgiven.”

“Your faith has saved you.”

“As elsewhere in the New Testament it is faith that is the means of receiving God’s good gift. Jesus dismisses her with go in peace.”

Luke 8:48 “48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.””

Greek= ‘go literally into peace’

You walk INTO PEACE:

Morris: “It may be worth nothing that the rabbis held that ‘Go in peace’ was proper in bidding farewell to the dead, but to the living one should say ‘go into peace.”