Luke 7:39

New International Version (NIV)

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.”

For Meditation

She knew her situation – the woman who anointed Jesus at dinner in the house of the Pharisee (Lk. 7:37-38). She had lived a sinful life, but she had met the One who alone could make her whole and reset her life. Obviously, her notoriety as a sinner  was known to the community and the religious leaders; and they had classified her as untouchable. That may have excluded her from the company of the “righteous.”  But, here she was – gatecrashing this Pharisee’s dinner reception for Jesus. She wept, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Now, that stunned the Pharisee into disbelief. “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” (38-39).

If the Pharisee really knew Jesus before inviting Him to dinner, he would have known that receiving a repentant sinner like the woman was Jesus’ greatest delight on earth, far more than the dinner reception. The penitent woman gave Him a better reception than He received from the Pharisee. She poured her heart out to Jesus for mercy and received forgiveness and salvation – the very thing Jesus was ready to offer the Pharisee in exchange for his heart (44-48, 50). He desires the same for everyone today; more than anything we could bring Him.

1. Have you thought that somebody was unfit for salvation before?
2. Do you think that the sin of your neighbor is beyond God’s love and mercy?
3. Is that why you haven’t shared Jesus with them?
4. In church, have you been tempted to shun the company of someone because you thought they were steeped in sin?
5. Can you rather look at them through the eyes of Jesus and be broken in prayer for their salvation?

I pray we do not allow ourselves to be tempted to look down on people like our friend, the dinner host of Jesus, and lose our eternal perspective.

Rather, may we have compassion for ‘sinners’ and pray for them; and may you share the love of God through Jesus with them. Who knows what God will do through you?

Shalom