How Are We Treating Others?

 N.T.#532 "How Are We Treating Others?"

April 18, 2025 

Luke 7-Part 7

And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with her hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with ointment. (verse 38)

LET IT GLOW

If the only accusations of being a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of the publicans and sinners was all Jesus had to contend with, it would have been an easy ministry. However, it seemed the religious leaders were most of the time just around the corner, ready to pounce on the Messiah with threats and accusations of sins. It would have been a privilege for the Savior to have been called a friend of sinners. Yet, we know they eventually carried it to the extreme of killing Jesus on a cross, which was not merited. Jesus did no sin, thought no sinful thoughts, nor did He say anything but the truth. Looking back, we know it was in God's plan all along for the Perfect Lamb of God die in us sinners' place.

Look at what happened next. Jesus went to eat in the home of Simon, a Pharisee. Here was a host that was curios about this controversial rabbi. 

During the dinner party, an unexpected and uninvited guest showed up. What do we know about her?

• a woman in the city (who must have heard about Jesus' love, forgiveness, and healings);
• she was a sinner (perhaps a loose woman or prostitute) who was not welcome among these dinner guests, except for Jesus;
• this unnamed woman came with a mission (probably a believer in Jesus as Savior by this time);
• she brought a gift for the King Jesus, an alabaster jar of perfume (an expensive perfume imported from India);
• not only the perfume, but the woman brought with her love and praise and worship of the Master;
• she expressed her love with weeping, wiping, kissing, and anointing Jesus' feet with ointment (verse 38).

Such humility and humiliation in the company of religious leaders is shown here. It was known what lifestyle this woman lived, yet she had the gall to walk in and do this to the honored guest. Jesus didn't send her away, though. 

Jesus doesn't send us sinners away nor look the other way when we come to Him. He welcomes us with open arms like the children.

LET IT GROW

How did the host of the dinner party react to this woman? Verse 39 tells us of his thoughts: If Jesus was a prophet, he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that touched him, for she is a sinner. 

While the woman worshiped, the Pharisee condemned her. So the Pharisee concluded that Jesus wasn't an emissary of God because He tolerated the presence of a sinner and welcomed her devotion, too. (Swindoll)

How devoted are we to Jesus? Does it matter who is around us whenever we praise Him or worship Him? Do those around us know we are a believer?

How are we walking?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for loving us so much that You died in our place to pay for our sins!

Help us show Your love to others today.