Sunday, October 15, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
Luke 7:36–50

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. And 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. She 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. Now 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.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 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 bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, 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.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (NRSV)

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Reflection

If you were to open a Bible to this passage, the heading most likely reads something about a sinful woman. The encounter is widely known as “Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman.” These are titles and headings we have created over the centuries to describe the story.

Yet as I read this passage, I can’t help but get a little frustrated that we have put the focus on this unnamed woman and her sin. It could be our assumptions that her sin is related to sex — though most scholars will point out that there is little biblical evidence for that. It could be that in a tradition long dominated by men, it has been far too easy to label women as sinful. The focus of our lesson shouldn’t be the woman or her sin but the man at the table who fails the test.

Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus over for a meal. This wasn’t a simple meal but one in which other Pharisees and teachers gathered to discuss theology. The invitation was meant to honor Jesus, but Simon’s hospitality was less than honorable.

Three significant cultural expressions were ignored: Jesus’ feet were not washed; he was not offered a kiss of greeting; and he was not anointed with oil. The woman interrupts the meal and begins to offer those expressions that Simon did not. Simon was so offended by this woman, her presence and actions, that you can read disgust in his rebuke of Jesus. Jesus speaks up, “Do you see this woman?”

Simons fails to truly see the woman beyond her sin and to offer love and welcome. Simon, a Pharisee, distanced himself from sinners because they were untouchable, offensive. Jesus welcomes the woman and shows us a new way in which God’s love knows no bounds and sin is not forever.

So, if this story isn’t really about the woman or her sin, maybe it should be retitled “The offended man doesn’t get it.”

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Prayer
O God, I am so often like Simon — seeing people as their sin. Help me to see people for the truest truth of who they are: your children, worthy of my welcome and love. Amen.

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Written by Shawn Fiedler, Major Gift Officer

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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