SCANDALOUS

Imagine this: when someone who doesn't seem to deserve it gets something incredibly valuable. People often find this shocking and scandalous.

That’s how the world sees it.

Celebrity Admissions Scandal: In 2019, a scandal dubbed the "Varsity Blues" scandal rocked the United States. Wealthy parents, including celebrities like Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, were caught bribing college officials to secure spots for their children in prestigious universities.

Corporate Bailouts: During financial crises, governments sometimes bail out large corporations to prevent economic collapse. These bailouts are often controversial because they involve giving financial assistance to companies that may have engaged in risky or unethical behavior.

We are fast approaching the passion week of Easter. And I was moved by God to reflect back on one of the stories in Luke 7 leading up to passion week.

In this thought-provoking story in Luke 7, Jesus is invited to dine at a Pharisee's home. Unexpectedly, a woman known for her sinful past, possibly a prostitute, crashes the party. Ignoring social norms, she enters and approaches Jesus with an alabaster vial of expensive perfume. Overwhelmed with emotion, she weeps at Jesus' feet, washing them with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with the perfume.

This act of deep affection and humility shocks the Pharisee hosting the dinner. He silently questions Jesus' prophetic abilities, but Jesus responds with a thought-provoking parable about forgiveness.

Despite societal judgment, the woman's extravagant display of love demonstrates her profound gratitude for Jesus' forgiveness.

Read Luke 7:36-50

Luke 7:36–50 ESV

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.” 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.” 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. 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.”

The more we honestly think about how much we’ve been forgiven, even if it seems scandalous, the more sincere we’ll love Jesus and our neighbour.

Simon (the leper)

A pharisee.

Unsure when he had his leprosy (as a child or an adult), how long did he had it for and whether he was miraculously healed by Jesus or fully recovered through natural treatments (most likely the latter).

Simon could not have had leprosy at the time of Jesus’ visit since lepers were considered unclean and could not live in houses.

It is safe to assume that Simon has a clear idea on what it feels like to be isolated or “cast out” since he’s a Pharisee who knew about Lev 13:46.

Invited Jesus for dinner at his house and yet failed to show common courtesy, as making water available for washing the feet made dirty by the dusty roads was normally done.

Hospitality was critical in the ancient world, and guests were made to feel special.

Ironically, Simon felt that it was scandalous for the woman to touch Jesus since he assumed he was a prophet. And his tone didn’t just assumed, he “cancelled” Jesus for being a prophet.

Woman (of the city)

A prostitute.

Unsure of her exact identity.

Based on their social norms in the ancient world, she was not invited but allowed to come.

She showed what was apparently “scandalous” display of love and appreciation (she kept wetting his feet with her tears then wiping them with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant ointment; she did more than one could ever expect).

Its possible that she had met Jesus earlier, and he had forgiven her sins. Her sense of joy and gratitude caused her to break down, and she couldn’t stop weeping with her deep emotions as she stood at his feet.

v. 36-38

Are we like Simon who invites Jesus in our lives and yet have reservations in trusting and loving Jesus?

Are we like the woman who earnestly seeks Jesus that in the face of shame and embarrassment we come to Him in abandon to express our adoration, reverence and love for Him?

v.41-43

Jesus tells a story to help Simon see where he's gone wrong and why forgiveness is so important (7:41–42).

There's a moneylender unlike any other, with two debtors. One owed him nearly two years' worth of wages, while the other owed about a month and a half's worth. Both were in deep trouble because they couldn't pay up. Then, shockingly, the moneylender decided to forgive both debts completely.

The verb (echarisato) “cancelled”, stresses the (charis), emphasizes the “grace” behind the forgiveness, showing how it's like God's grace in forgiving sins.

Jesus asks the Pharisee, "Who do you think will love the creditor more?" The Pharisee reluctantly responds, "I guess the one who had the larger debt forgiven." Although hesitant, he couldn't avoid answering Jesus.

This question isn't just about gratitude but also about love. It points directly to the woman, who showed not only gratitude but also deep love and devotion. This parable perfectly illustrates the situation.

In Simon’s eyes, the woman had a much greater debt of sin to God, a debt that he wasn't willing to forgive.

Jesus' question forces Simon to reveal his true feelings and show his true colors.

We all struggle with feeling unhappy and measuring ourselves against others. It's a sneaky sin that often goes unnoticed.

It shows that our hearts need to be saved and transformed by the Gospel.

It also shows that joy and contentment is found only in Jesus who can truly satisfy our deepest desires.

John 15:11 ESV

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

v.44-47

When Jesus asks Simon, "Do you see this woman?" it's not just about her physical presence; it's about understanding who she truly is. She's someone who was once a sinner but has now been forgiven. Unfortunately, Simon fails to see her in this light.

The passage suggests that forgiveness comes before and enables love, indicating that love is a response to forgiveness.

Jesus not only proclaims the woman’s forgiveness but also her salvation, saying to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (7:50). It is critical to understand that her faith, not her actions of devotion, is what saved her.

Both owed unequal debt, yet both were equally forgiven; but had unequal love. (interestingly, the passage does not explicitly says that the Pharisee “loves” God)

It's not a matter of tallying up how much sin we have done, but an honest acknowledgment that we are utterly incapable of repaying the debt of our sins.

It's a recognition that forgiveness isn't a transaction we can demand from God, but a profound grace that God offers.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

v.48

And Jesus says and encourages us to "ask" - not "demand".

“Demanding” positions us as the ultimate authority, but God-honouring faith positions our hearts in humility, trusting someone greater than ourselves, Jesus.

Isaiah 29:19 ESV

19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.

1 Peter 5:6 ESV

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

It's not about what we're believing "for", it's who we're believing “in”. Faith in my faith is foolish compared to faith in Jesus who is powerful and loves us, is true worship.

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The passage raises the question of whether love causes forgiveness or if forgiveness leads to love, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between the two.

- 📖 The description of the woman's extraordinary acts of love towards Jesus serves as evidence of her already being forgiven, rather than the cause of her forgiveness.

Luke 7:44 “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.”

Genesis 18:4 “4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,”

Luke 7:46 “46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.”

Psalm 23:5 “5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Luke: Verse by Verse The Application of the Parable (7:44–47)

Jesus then contrasts his reception by the Pharisee with that of the woman (7:44–46). He failed to show common courtesy, as making water available for washing the feet made dirty by the dusty roads was normally done (as evidenced by the six water jars in John 2:6). Hospitality was critical in the ancient world, and guests were made to feel special. Simon’s failure to show hospitality itself was scandalous, but this may not actually be the emphasis. There

Luke: Verse by Verse The Application of the Parable (7:44–47)

just a failure to show honor. I think the latter, but this is not the point.

Luke: Verse by Verse The Application of the Parable (7:44–47)

Again, I do not think Simon was guilty of deliberate provocation and rudeness but rather did only what was customary at the most basic level (though many disagree), while she did more than one could ever expect.

Luke: Verse by Verse The Application of the Parable (7:44–47)

Jesus’ conclusion is found in verse 47. Jesus states, “I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown,” a translation that demonstrates that Jesus had previously forgiven her, and her acts of devotion were the result of the joy and gratitude she felt as a result. The Greek would also allow that Jesus forgives her sins here and could be translated, “her many sins have been forgiven because [hoti] she has shown great love.”

Luke: Verse by Verse The Message for the Forgiven Woman (7:48–50)

Jesus uses a parable to force this rigid religious leader to admit his prejudices and show his unwillingness to forgive in contrast to God’s (and Jesus’) willingness to do so. Jesus contrasts her deep gratitude and gracious shower of love and devotion to the basic courtesy but no more of the Pharisee (vv. 44–46). She, not he, exemplified God’s grace and acceptance. The Pharisee was not willing to forgive, but Jesus in verses 48–50 assures her not only that she has been forgiven but also that “her faith has saved her,”

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible In the New Testament > Leprosy, Leper

The attitude of Christ toward those afflicted with leprosy was in marked contrast to the rabbis of his day. One rabbi would not eat an egg purchased in a street where there was someone with leprosy. Another rabbi threw stones at lepers in order to keep them away.

I know that it is unlikely we at WOLCC “tallies up” how much we are forgiven and maybe we don’t even look down at other “sinners” prejudicially. But

-️ The immediate context and parallel statements within the passage support the idea that forgiveness precedes and enables love, indicating that love is a response to forgiveness.

- The cancellation of the debt in the parable serves as the cause of love, further emphasizing the precedence of forgiveness over love.

- The glorious conclusion drawn from the passage is that Christ cancels sins to awaken love in our hearts, highlighting the transformative power of forgiveness.

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If their faith alone had healed them, Jesus wouldn't have had to show  up or take any action at all, because their action of belief would have been sufficient. But it wasn't. Jesus is necessary. He has to make it happen. And beyond that, we've seen that He heals people  who don't even have faith at all - like the dead man and the dead girl.

He heals people who don't ask for it. He heals people who don't ask  for it but who do have faith. And people who do ask for  it but who don't have faith. There is no formula. This is not a combination lock; it's a relationship with a compassionate God! Our faith, on its own, cannot heal - no matter how strong it is.