Bible Study Notes: St Luke's Gospel
Session 21 Chapter 7 : 36-50
A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dinner. He omitted the usual courtesies due to a guest. In accordance to usual Jesus expected a formal kiss of greeting; water to rinse the dust from his feet and a few drops of perfume (often the essence of rose petals) sprinkled on his head. Even the poorest family would host a guest this way. No such politeness was given to Jesus. In today's terms this would be like arriving at a host's home for a dinner, receiving no handshake or hug, being left to hang up one's coat on one's own and hearing no warm words of the perfume of welcome. Such was the cold reception Jesus received.
A sinful woman of the city learned that Jesus was in Simon's home. The context of the story implies that the woman was a prostitute. Unannounced, she intruded upon the dinner party, shocking everyone there by her unwanted presence. Given her reputation, she wounded the sensibilities of the seated guardians of public morality.
She offended their sense of propriety by approaching Jesus, kneeling before him, shedding tears on his feet, shedding tears with the water from her eyes and kissing them with her lips. She dried them with her hair. She brought an expensive alabaster phial of perfume, all of which she emptied upon his feet, anointing them with its fragrance.
Simon and his companions could not believe their eyes. Why was Jesus allowing her to do this? Why did he not pull away in disgust or order the servants to have her expelled? How could he let this moral untouchable place her hands on his feet and kiss them?
The overpowering sweetness of a whole bottle of fragrance poured out with abandon did not sweeten their attitudes, but had the opposite effect of souring their feelings. She had polluted their moralistic environment with her "evil" presence. As one of the town's most socially disapproved persons, she had filled the home of a religious leader with the taint of scandal. It was difficult to tell what bothered them more - the presence of a sinner or simply that of a social pariah.
The only one who did not look upset with her was Jesus. He smiled at her and made her feel welcome and at home. If Jesus was discontent with anyone it was with his hosts and he let them know it. He did not confront them with a public criticism at first, but rather with a story about a creditor. One person owed him a large sum of money and the other a small amount. The creditor forgave both debts. Which one would love him more? Simon replied that the one with the big debt would feel the most love and gratitude.
Jesus agreed and proceeded to contrast their discourteous treatment of him with the affectionate treatment he received from the woman. Detail by detail, Jesus forthrightly compared their callousness with the woman's kindness. Then he lifted the conversation to the moral level they loved so well. He turned matters upside down.
They dwelt hypocritically on her sins. Jesus focused on her faith and love. They viewed her from a harsh lack of compassion and forgiveness. He saw her as a woman who had the potential for great love and personal conversion. They saw in her only moral ugliness. Jesus saw more, her inner hunger for love and forgiveness, her potential for spiritual transformation.
Jesus told the dinner guests that the woman's great sins have been forgiven because she has loved much and she has believed it was possible. Looking at her with the most profound love, Jesus said, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace" (verse 50). We never get to know the woman's name. In a sense she stands for Everyman and Everywoman - for all of us who need to learn we can be changed, transformed from sinner into one who is forgiven.
Love surrounds the whole transformation event. Love brought her to Jesus.
Jesus brings her to greater love. Jesus tried to loosen up those tight-minded
religious leaders. He hoped to warm their hearts and set them free. He
succeeded with a detested sinner. The defenders of religion stonewalled
him. The question today is not what they did. The event questions our
consciences now. What will we do?
© Fr Michael Fuller: June 2009