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Monday

Read Luke 7:36-38

Jesus was a radical. Still is. His teachings and actions would have been considered politically incorrect at that time, and many still see them as such today. He “violated social taboos to reach out to those marginalized not only racially, economically, and religiously but also morally, as in this [Luke 7] story.” (Craig Keener) 

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to his house for dinner. “We may reasonably infer that this was one of the better class of Pharisees who had a certain measure of respect for our Lord’s teaching, and was half-inclined (Luke 7:39) to acknowledge Him as a prophet.” (Charles John Ellicott) Simon expects Jesus, a prophet, to know what kind of woman was wetting His feet with tears and pouring perfume on them. Jesus showed love to Simon, a Pharisee, by coming to his house for dinner. He didn’t seek out this kind of attention, but when invited, He saw an opportunity to do His Father’s work. 

Reclining to eat was the custom in the East. In homes of the religious, they would often open their homes for the poor, and this woman manages to get in. These uninvited guests were to stay around the periphery of the main dining table and only observe. But SHE dares to approach Jesus’ feet. She could not get near His head as it was closest to the table, but His feet were available. Known as a morally loose woman, this was reprehensible to Simon. 

But this woman could not help but show her love and honor to Jesus by washing His feet with her tears. How much she must have shed to douse His feet! Respectable women had their hair up and covered, but this woman didn’t let that stop her. She was aware of her great sin. Her hair dried His feet. She showed her adoration by kissing His feet and finally pouring perfume on them. 

Simon used his status as a way to be close to Jesus, and he may have even thought he was showing Jesus’ love. But this woman had nothing, and yet she gave all of herself to be close to Jesus and love Him with her nothingness. How radical!

Reflective Questions

What is the most radical thing you’ve done lately to show the love of Jesus and possibly raise a few eyebrows? 

Prayers

Stephen and Kate Clark—Campus2Campus (C2C) Ministries 

The Clarks are thankful for Glenkirk’s prayers and the ways Glenkirk loves and supports their family. Two months ago, due to a pipe leak and a major mold issue, the Clarks had to move out of their home in Louisiana. After a lot of work, the Clarks are about to move back home! Thank God for His provisions during this “forced remodel” and that soon they will be able to live at home.

 

Tuesday

Read Luke 7:39  

Our inner mumblings, gripes, and complaints may go unheard by those around us, but not by Jesus. We may think we are doing well to keep our mouths shut and not let our yucky thoughts and judgments out of our mouths. But God knows our heart, and, as proven here, He knows our thoughts. 

That Simon thought Jesus was a prophet at all was remarkable “because Jewish people generally believed prophets ceased to exist after the Old Testament period.” (Craig Keener) Simon mumbles inside his mind that if Jesus were truly a prophet that He would know about this morally loose woman who is touching Him. She was a sinner! And Simon wasn’t? At this moment, he was certainly implying that he wasn’t. He was setting himself apart and above this woman with her hair uncovered and daring to approach Jesus.

Oh, believers, are we not guilty of doing the same to others around us who do not measure up to some standard we have set up in our mind by which we think they should be abiding? Can we be aware of those thoughts quickly and burn them on the altar? How would Jesus want us to see others around us? Are we even putting ourselves in proximity with the marginalized to see their needs, let alone judge them?

If the Pharisees touched the garments of the common people, they were defiled. So, when they were walking in the streets, they would walk on the sides of the ways in order to not be defiled “by the touch” of the commoners. Simon would not dare be touched by this woman, but Jesus dared. And Simon judges Him.

Jesus is telling us here that to show His love to the common people (which we all are), we must be willing to touch them and let them touch us. If we truly believe that God is transforming us into the image of His Son—that we are image bearers of God—well, then? Let’s place our whole bodies on that same altar where our mumblings, gripes, and complaints went and show His love.

Reflective Questions

How will unbelievers come to Jesus unless we are willing to show them His love and saving grace? Do you have a neighbor who needs to hear about Jesus or needs His love demonstrated to him/her?

Prayers

Stephen and Kate Clark—Campus2Campus (C2C) Ministries 

Kate is on a sabbatical and it has been refreshing in many ways. She has been able to spend more time with their toddler, Ridley, and do the final things needed to move back into their house. Pray for continued refreshment in the Lord and sweet time with family.

 

Wednesday

Read Luke 7:40-43

In today’s verses, Jesus conceals His deeper point under the veil of a parable and makes Simon himself give his judgment upon the case. Simon, remember, was muttering inside himself and pronouncing judgment upon Jesus and the woman washing Jesus’ feet. However, Jesus does not call Simon out or shame him in front of the other guests. But He does have something to share with him.

Jesus used parables as a powerful and effective teaching method to convey spiritual truths in a way that was both accessible and memorable for His diverse audience. He shares the parable about the two people who owed money to a moneylender. “The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of the one was ten times that of the other (in the proportion of ‘five hundred’ to ‘fifty’); but both being equally insolvent, both are with equal frankness forgiven; and Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her Divine Benefactor with the deepest gratitude.” (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)

We are all equally insolvent when it comes to being able to repay the debt for our sin. It is beyond the cost of what we could ever pay. God knew this, and Jesus willingly laid down His life for us, paid the penalty for our sin, and became the way for us to be reconciled to God. It doesn’t matter how much you, I, or anyone else has sinned. Sin … is sin. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins” (Romans 3:23-24). None of us have the right to look down our noses at someone and say they are outside of God’s grace. 

Jesus used parables to expose the spiritual condition of His listeners. Those who were receptive to His message would find understanding, while those who were resistant would struggle to grasp the deeper meaning. Simon appears to have judged correctly when Jesus asks him who would be more grateful for the forgiveness of his/her debt. 

Reflective Questions

How do you think you would have answered if you were Simon? How can we be more welcoming of all people in order to share the love of Christ?

Prayers

Stephen and Kate Clark—Campus2Campus (C2C) Ministries 

A few years ago, Kate and Stephen experienced the tragic loss of their newborn. As Kate and Stephen continue their healing journey, pray that the time and effort of unpacking and fully processing this tragedy continues to be fruitful. 

 

Thursday

Read Luke 7:44-47 

I received a beautiful thank-you letter from one of my graduating seniors, whom I’ve known for all four years of her high school. She was part of the “lunch crew” who would come hang out in my room because I was always open at lunch for anyone who wanted a safe and homey place to eat or just hang out. One of the many sweet things she said was that she appreciated the time I took to listen to her. I took the time to get to know who she was and who she aspired to be.

Even though it was only for one evening, Jesus really sees this woman, weeping and washing His feet, and anointing Him with oil and perfume. Jesus asks Simon if he sees this woman. That was a rhetorical question because, of course, just as Simon didn’t “see” the woman, he doesn’t “see” Jesus either. This woman lavished her attention on Jesus and shows the love and hospitality that was lacking in Simon’s welcome. 

“Only servants or persons of low rank normally washed feet, but all good hosts would supply water for the guest to wash his feet. Setting aside normal protocols, Jesus openly exposes His host’s inhospitality.” (Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton) Simon’s actions toward Jesus were rather rude and demeaning. He didn’t really believe that Jesus was a teacher to be respected. He seems to have not really seen or known who Jesus was. 

Jesus really sees this woman. She really sees who Jesus is. Her love is lavished on Him in the only ways she knew. Jesus sees that. He knows her many sins, but He sees her heart and devotion. She knows her many sins, but she also knows to whom she could go for forgiveness.

We all want to be seen and known. I can show the love of Jesus to my students when I take the time to really see them and get to know them. Jesus is teaching us all that we need to see all of the people in the room. Those who know their need for forgiveness will love Him more. “See” people around you. “See” their need for Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

Reflective Questions

When you are in your familiar church pew, do you turn around and really “see” people? How will you show unfamiliar faces the love of Jesus and let them know you “see” them?

Prayers

Stephen and Kate Clark—Campus2Campus (C2C) Ministries 

Stephen just completed his first quarter of seminary at Fuller! He loves it and is so thankful for this opportunity. His next quarter starts the week the Clarks move back into their house. Pray for continued diligence and energy as he works during the day and then for several hours most nights.

 

Friday

Read Luke 7:48-50

“Forgive us our [sins] as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). How often do we pray these words in the Lord’s Prayer, but do we ever slow down to think about them? We are to ask our heavenly Father to forgive our sins. And just like He indeed does forgive us, we are to forgive anyone who owes us a debt because of something they may have, knowingly or unknowingly, done wrong against us. 

Jesus tells the woman her sins are forgiven. The Jews knew that priests might pronounce God’s forgiveness, but only God could forgive. Those in attendance began to talk amongst themselves and wonder about Jesus. “Who is this who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). They, like Simon, had heard the same parable that Jesus shared about the moneylender forgiving the debt of the two people who owed him. Sin is sin. There is no degree to which one sin is worse than another. Thus, both people were forgiven regardless of the amount of their debt. Yes, this woman’s sins were many, according to the text, but they were no better or worse than Simon’s sins. Everyone still needs forgiveness. The point Jesus was making was more about the gratitude that is shown when you know the depth of your sins being forgiven. This woman was somehow divinely aware of who Jesus was. She was aware of what she needed, and Jesus said her faith in Him saved her.

In 1 Peter 3:18, Peter tells us, “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time …” He suffered the same amount (which is insurmountable) for my sin as He did for yours or any of the worst kinds of criminals. He paid the price as the perfect and acceptable Lamb of God sacrificed for us! How much love God showed us in giving up His only Son! How grateful am I? How grateful are you? Being forgiven and restored unto right relationship with Him has been God’s plan from before time began. He knew we were going to blow it. He was not surprised. But He had a plan of restoration through His Son—through Him! God the Son died for us! How can we NOT show our love for Him!

Reflective Questions

How are you affected daily when you think of what God has done for you while you were yet a sinner? How do you show Him your love and gratitude?

Prayers

Stephen and Kate Clark—Campus2Campus (C2C) Ministries 

Pray for Ridley, Stephen and Kate’s son, who is nearly a year-and-a-half old. He is doing so well! He’s walking and talking and super social. Kate’s sabbatical has enabled them to do extra things, like toddler time at the library and the mid-week Farmers Market. 

 

Sources

• Craig Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Lisle, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993).
• Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers. Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub.
• Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, 1882. Biblehub.com. 
• Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016).

 

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