Anointed Jesus’ Feet

We read about a lady that anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7:36-50, “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.’

And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’

So he said, ‘Teacher, say it.’

‘There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?’

Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’

And He said to him, ‘You have rightly judged.’ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’

Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’

And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’

Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’”

I think most of us would answer as the Pharisee did, as far as the debtor’s story goes, saying the one forgiven most will love most.  We are not told much about the woman, outside of the fact that she was a sinner and she lived in that city.  She might have been a wealthy woman because of the expensive ointment she poured on Jesus’ feet.  Her weeping was a sign of repentance.  She could have heard of Jesus’ miracles or even witnessed some of them.  All that the Pharisee seemed to see was a sinner, and even though she did fit that description, he fit in that same category also, but didn’t even know it, for he couldn’t see his own sins.  He didn’t have any problem seeing her sins, and had no problem standing in judgment of her and Jesus also.  

Then Jesus did something only He could do, he forgave her of all of her sins, how excited she must have been.  Read what it says in Romans 4:7, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

This could only be done by Christ’s atoning work on the cross, praise the Lord!!  Jesus didn’t say that her tears or her love saved her, no, it was her faith.  Read what it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

How grateful are you for the Lord’s mercy and grace towards you and His forgiveness?  How much do you love Him?  Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!