Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. 37And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.’ 40Jesus spoke up and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Teacher,’ he replied, ‘speak.’ 41‘A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they could not pay, he cancelled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?’ 43Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he cancelled the greater debt.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’ 44Then turning towards 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.’ 48Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ 49But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ 50And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’
Your thoughts? Mine coming this weekend. Stay tuned...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Seven chapters down so far, this may be the first story that is distinctly Luke's. While it is similar to the anointing story found in Mark 14:3-9, Matt 26:6-13, and John 12:1-8, Luke's version contains specific points found only in his account. I find this very interesting. Sometimes I find myself comparing Luke's account to the other gospels. I think this particular passage is going to force us to only look at Luke, find his meaning and capture what he was saying.
So please add to this discussion. I think it can be meaningful for us to explore what Luke has written here.
I'd like to start with the hospitality of the sinful woman. So far the outcast poor have been on the margins of society contrasted with the elite religious folks. Here, the woman's hospitality shows she accepts Jesus. Although the Pharisee invites Jesus to the table, the Pharisee fails at hospitality and rejects Jesus as prophet.
Over and over again we see Jesus as the friend of sinners and continuously eating and drinking with them. Jesus is then recognized as a prophet by the outcasts.
How am I to respond to this? How does hospitality impact my faith? How do I live as one of the outcasts, maybe not in the financial/social sense but in the accepting of the prophet?
Post a Comment