#44 Luke 7:36-50 Do You See This Woman?

Amy:
Episode#44 Luke 7:36 – 50

Welcome

Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are so glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin. I’m usually here with my daughter Joy but she’s out this week. Don’t worry, she’ll be back next week.
 
If you are anything like us, you desire God’s presence and divine direction every day of your life.  This podcast makes space for that. Here, we offer few words of our own and make room for Christgazing, the act of looking steadily and intently at Christ. Each week we read one passage from scripture several times and create stillness after each reading that we might be still ourselves and intimately, personally know God.
 
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke, focusing on the things Jesus said and did when he walked the earth. 

Pour Out Your Heart to God

Amy:
Before we begin, take the next minute to give God the things stored up in your body, your mind, and your heart. Maybe it is gratitude, anxiety, sorrow, grief, joy, exhaustion, or expectation. Whatever your body feels, your mind thinks, or your heart desires, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next few moments.
 
[Pause and pour out]

What Does This Passage Say About God?

Amy:
Today’s passage involves three main characters, Jesus, a Pharisee named Simon, and a woman who lived a sinful life. As I read, consider the question, What does this passage say about God? What is his heart toward Simon? What does Jesus think about this woman?

Luke 7:36 – 50 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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. 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.

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.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 
 
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
Take the next minute to answer the question: What does this passage tell you about God?
 
[Pause and know]

What Does This Passage Say About People?

Amy:
As I reread the scripture, consider the question: What does this passage tell you about people?
 

Luke 7:36 – 50 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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. 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.

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.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 
 
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
Take the next minute to answer the question: What does this passage tell you about people?
 
[Pause and know]

Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?

Amy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
 

Luke 7:36 – 50 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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. 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.

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.”

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 
 
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
 
Take time to ask God, “Lord, what would have me know or do today?”
 
[Pause and listen]

Blessing

Amy:
Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. May you keep your face turned toward Jesus today and know his overwhelming love and forgiveness.

One Response

Amy:
What a kind teacher Jesus was to Simon, the Pharisee. I hope Simon was able to learn.

One thing I love and appreciate about Jesus is the way he sees you and me.
 
Before we put our trust in Christ, he can see us separate from our sin.
 
When we put our trust in Jesus, he does separate us and sees us forevermore totally distinct from sin and united with him.

Closing

Amy:
As always, you can find a transcript of this episode at amyburgin.com. Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, remember with us, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails, and so do you.

It blesses me to hear from you! Please leave a reply here.