Monday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Luke 7:36-39
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. 37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
7:37–38 a woman. Unnamed. The aromatic and pure nard oil is extracted from an Indian or Arabian root. The sale of such costly oil would have yielded more than 300 days’ wages of a laborer. Some disciples are indignant over such “waste” (but see John 12:4–6).
Alabaster is a soft stone frequently used as a perfume container. Reclining toward a low center table(s), the feet of the participants would have faced outward like spokes from a hub. With her tears she washed Jesus’ feet (an act of hospitality omitted by Simon; Luke 7:44) and wiped them with her hair. Her tears are tears both of thankfulness and also of reverent awe as she senses the presence of God in the person of Jesus. Her act would have been considered improper, therefore it took great courage to honor Jesus in this way.
7:39–40 If this man were a prophet. The Pharisee charges that Jesus is not a prophet (contrast v. 16) because a true prophet would not allow a sinful woman to touch him. said to himself … Jesus answering. Jesus knows Simon’s thoughts, showing that he is indeed a prophet.
Alabaster is a soft stone frequently used as a perfume container. Reclining toward a low center table(s), the feet of the participants would have faced outward like spokes from a hub. With her tears she washed Jesus’ feet (an act of hospitality omitted by Simon; Luke 7:44) and wiped them with her hair. Her tears are tears both of thankfulness and also of reverent awe as she senses the presence of God in the person of Jesus. Her act would have been considered improper, therefore it took great courage to honor Jesus in this way.
7:39–40 If this man were a prophet. The Pharisee charges that Jesus is not a prophet (contrast v. 16) because a true prophet would not allow a sinful woman to touch him. said to himself … Jesus answering. Jesus knows Simon’s thoughts, showing that he is indeed a prophet.
Study Questions:
- We see two different responses to Jesus in these verses from both the religious and the irreligious. First, we see Simon the Pharisee, and then the immoral woman. Jesus calls out Simon's attitude towards the immoral woman. Simon calls her a sinner... implying that he ISN'T a sinner. Ha! The first point from Sunday's sermon was, "Those who have been forgiven much FORGIVE much." In other words, since God has been patient and gracious with us, we should do the same for each other. Some of us, like Simon, have very little patience and are slow to forgive others because we think we've been forgiven only a little. We, in our own self-righteousness, condemn others and isolate ourselves from them. Have you ever been guilty of this attitude? Are there relationships in your life where you need to extend a little more grace?
- The second point was, "Those who have been forgiven much LOVE much." The immoral woman was so overcome with love for Jesus that she acted on it in an extraordinary way. Her actions were considered abnormal, inappropriate and over the top. She was so desperate to get close to Christ that she was willing to humiliate herself in front of everyone. How would you describe YOUR love for Jesus? Is there emotion and passion in your worship of him? Do you pour your heart out to him in prayer? Is your heart moved with affection and love for God? Have you ever shed a tear because you were overwhelmed by all that God has done for you? If not, could it be that you tend to forget what you've been forgiven of? How much grace he's shown you?
Pray:
- That you would look for ways to extend grace to people this week.
- That your heart would be moved in affection to him because of all he's done for you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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