Introduction
It appears that there is a curious Pharisee living in Capernaum, who has been following the ministry of Jesus. He is intrigued enough to risk his reputation and invite Jesus over for a meal with some of his friends. Jesus accepts the invitation and what transpires is nothing less than life transforming. Take a look!
Reading [You can read as much as you can, depending on your availability]
Luke 7:36-50
Meditating [Use these questions to start your thinking]
- What does this passage tell us about Simon the Pharisee (a religious leader of the day)?
- What does this “sinful woman” do that demonstrated real leadership humility?
- What were the disciples learning about leadership Jesus-style?
- What is this passage telling us about how we should love?
- What other questions do you still have?
Sharing: Text ONE of your answers to the questions above to your team. Each team should post a sharing from a team member in the comments below.
Maybe Simon the Pharisee was one of the elders who came to Jesus in Luke 7 to ask Him to heal the centurion’s slave. Or maybe he had been in Jerusalem and seen Jesus’ burst of outrage. We can almost certainly be sure that he was one of the Pharisees in Chapter 5 because of the topic of discussion that he and Jesus have. Remember the theme of the discussion a few months earlier?
The Pharisees had come wanting to know if Jesus would say that He had the power to forgive sins. Jesus responds, “‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins … I tell you, get up …’” (Luke 5:24). This miracle and Jesus’ response must have been lingering in the mind of this man and he wanted to know more. I also wonder who gave this story to Luke? I mean, who was the eyewitness that told Luke about what happened this day in Simon’s house? Maybe, just maybe, it was one of these two sinners that Jesus is going to reach out to.
Anyway, Jesus accepts Simon’s kind invitation and the Father’s divine appointment to reach out to this religious, self-righteous man and teach us something about leadership all at the same time. There were three customary things that this woman does for Jesus that Simon did not. Did you pick up on them? They are in Luke 7:44-46 — a foot washing, a kiss and an anointing. All three of these were Jewish customs for someone who was a guest of honour. Simon did not do this, so the Father sent a sinful woman to do it for His beloved Son. What a gift! Notice how, throughout Jesus’ life, His Father continued to send all kinds of gifts His way. Today, we see a beautiful gift wrapped in a dirty, sinful package. Jesus receives the gift from His Father as this woman humbles herself and lavishes Jesus with an expensive bath of tears and alabaster oil, much to Simon the Pharisees’ displeasure.
Thus, Jesus gives Simon a short story with a deep and abiding principle. The story is of two people who have a debt they cannot pay, just like you and me. I had a debt I could not pay; He paid a debt He did not owe. Jesus then asks Simon a question and he gives a great answer. The person who has been forgiven more (or at least thinks they have) loves more. You see, the woman knew she was a big sinner. She was honest and came seeking forgiveness from Jesus. Simon, on the other hand, really didn’t consider himself much of a sinner, at least not to the degree of this woman. After all, he kept the law and gave an outward impression of having a good, sin-free life. Yet the truth was that Simon was just as big a sinner as this woman, except he didn’t realize it. He was self-deceived. He had learned through his religious system how to cover his sins up, to keep them behind closed doors so that no one would know what a hypocrite he was. As a leader, don’t fall into the trap of hiding your sins — confess them one to another and pray for one another (James 5:16). Consider what Jesus is saying. If you do not feel you have been forgiven much, your love for Jesus will never be very intense. You have to come to grips with your own sinfulness, even if you have not physically killed, raped someone or committed adultery. Take a hard look at your thought life if you are struggling to see yourself as God does. You are a vile creature and all your good works are as filthy rags in God’s sight. Get over yourself. Start dying to the old self and living to God.
When was the last time you anointed Jesus with a gift like that of the woman in today’s story? When did you last give Jesus a foot washing, a kiss or an anointing with oil? Jesus said, “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?’…The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matt. 25:35-40). How do you wash Jesus’ feet, kiss Him, or anoint Him with oil? Do it to one another. Go to one of your disciples today and wash their feet, give them a hug or anoint them with oil and do it in Jesus’ name and you have done it to Jesus Himself. Go for it!
What is this passage telling us about how we should love?
This passage is telling us that we should love through the lens of God’s love for us, extending His love to others because He loved us first. When we’re able to adopt that perspective it empowers us to love and give freely to those around us because it doesn’t originate from us but rather we’re an extension of what we’ve experienced and come to know
What does this passage tell us about Simon the Pharisee (a religious leader of the day)?
What this passage tells us is that Simon was interested and curious enough about Jesus to invite him to his house to eat. But by the same measure, it seems he did not exactly respect Jesus because Simon did not extend a lot of the Jewish customs which should be extended to a guest. So it seems although Simon maybe wanted to investigate Jesus, he did not seem to extend him a lot of the hospitalities that should be given. I’m not sure if Simon was intentionally trying to disrespect Jesus or perhaps he didn’t think highly enough of Jesus.
Today’s passage was a powerful message that reminded me that I am no better than anyone else according to Jesus. I really like the example that Jesus illustrates to confront the difference in how Simon worships Jesus versus the women. No sin is greater and Jesus reassures that through his illustration. However, Jesus takes notice of how we come before Him and rely on Him. I can definitely see myself relating to Simon’s response because there are times when I find myself feeling more deserving because of what I have done or who I am. But in today’s passage, God confronts my heart and tells me to humble myself. I realize that I need to revaluate my mindset and come to Jesus like the woman and also love others like how Jesus did. Love those who are different from me and soften my heart to those who have made me bitter. This is challenging and a lot easier said than done but that is something that Jesus calls us to do.
What the passage tells me of Simon the Pharisee is that he was someone who could not look past status to see the person nor the irony. The woman was a sinner and so all Simon could see was someone who sinned, not someone who needed help from sinning. It seems to me that Simon, a religious leader, was more concerned for a person’s status, which reflects his own personal concern based on his response to Jesus’ interaction with a sinner. His concern was about his reputation as a religious leader and how it would be tainted if he were to interact with someone deemed of a lower religious standing than him, which is ironic given what he was preaching. If I learned anything from Simon, is that “preserving” one’s sanctity does nothing but keep one’s sanctity stagnant. If anything, we should be like the woman, who lowered herself further to bring Jesus higher for it’s God who should be receiving the status and the spotlight, not ourselves. Much like a lamp under a basket, a person’s sanctity is useless if it’s hidden from those who need to see and receive it.