Do You See This Woman
True Honor Comes from the Heart
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 7:39, 44 NLT - …"If this man were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him. She's a sinner!" ... Then He [Jesus] turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here…"
OBSERVATION:
In Luke chapter 7, we see two people who honor Jesus. One is a Pharisee, and the other is a woman. One is outwardly religious and pious, while the other is a notorious immoral sinner with a bad reputation. Both of them, in their own way, acknowledged Jesus as someone important. But only one showed true respect, while the other merely paid lip service.
The account starts with a Pharisee (possibly Simon) who invites Jesus to dinner. During the meal, an immoral woman—according to Luke—comes into the house and begins to do something that might seem strange and even a little awkward.
Luke 7:37-38 NLT - When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
At first glance, if you're like me, it might cause some anxiety and awkwardness. “Um, is this acceptable?” could have been my thoughts. Or, “What is she doing?" Yet Jesus did not stop her. You can imagine the silence that filled the room — no one spoke; they just watched. Then Jesus broke the silence by responding to a question from Simon. However, the question was never spoken aloud — it was heard only by Jesus.
Luke 7:39 NLT - When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!"
This was Simon’s thought as the woman honored Jesus. At first, we might agree with Simon, but Jesus knew better—and so should we.
It was common practice at the time to invite a guest of honor to your home and provide water for washing their feet, oil for anointing their head, and a greeting kiss upon entry. All of which the Pharisee refused to do.
Showing honor without genuine respect. No heart behind it, just words. Yet Jesus allowed it, knowing a teaching opportunity would arise.
The immoral woman—the notorious sinner—taught the religious, cold-hearted Pharisee a lesson in honor and devotion to Jesus that he never could.
APPLICATION:
Two different people asked one question that day: the Pharisee and Jesus.
Do you see this woman?
The Pharisee showed only superficial signs of respect. However, when it truly mattered, he never genuinely honored Jesus. He only paid lip service and kept up a false appearance. When faced with the immoral woman, he saw only her sin rather than recognizing that she was someone Jesus had forgiven. True honor would be to thank Jesus for forgiving such a notorious sinner.
The woman, known and labeled by her sin, was only recognized as that—a sinner. No name is given, only her actions. That is, until Jesus told her, “Woman, your sins are forgiven.”
This woman not only carried honor in her heart—gratitude for forgiveness and freedom from sin and bondage—but she also outwardly displayed honor that even the Pharisee refused to give Jesus. She did not just honor Him with her words, but with all her heart. What was not done when Jesus entered the house, this woman did when Jesus entered her heart.
Jesus’ response to Simon’s silent, unspoken question reveals the true heart of Jesus: to forgive, free, and restore even the most notorious sinners—like you and me!
Luke 7:39, 44 NLT - …"If this man were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him. She's a sinner!" ... Then He [Jesus] turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here…"
OBSERVATION:
In Luke chapter 7, we see two people who honor Jesus. One is a Pharisee, and the other is a woman. One is outwardly religious and pious, while the other is a notorious immoral sinner with a bad reputation. Both of them, in their own way, acknowledged Jesus as someone important. But only one showed true respect, while the other merely paid lip service.
The account starts with a Pharisee (possibly Simon) who invites Jesus to dinner. During the meal, an immoral woman—according to Luke—comes into the house and begins to do something that might seem strange and even a little awkward.
Luke 7:37-38 NLT - When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
At first glance, if you're like me, it might cause some anxiety and awkwardness. “Um, is this acceptable?” could have been my thoughts. Or, “What is she doing?" Yet Jesus did not stop her. You can imagine the silence that filled the room — no one spoke; they just watched. Then Jesus broke the silence by responding to a question from Simon. However, the question was never spoken aloud — it was heard only by Jesus.
Luke 7:39 NLT - When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!"
This was Simon’s thought as the woman honored Jesus. At first, we might agree with Simon, but Jesus knew better—and so should we.
It was common practice at the time to invite a guest of honor to your home and provide water for washing their feet, oil for anointing their head, and a greeting kiss upon entry. All of which the Pharisee refused to do.
Showing honor without genuine respect. No heart behind it, just words. Yet Jesus allowed it, knowing a teaching opportunity would arise.
The immoral woman—the notorious sinner—taught the religious, cold-hearted Pharisee a lesson in honor and devotion to Jesus that he never could.
APPLICATION:
Two different people asked one question that day: the Pharisee and Jesus.
Do you see this woman?
The Pharisee showed only superficial signs of respect. However, when it truly mattered, he never genuinely honored Jesus. He only paid lip service and kept up a false appearance. When faced with the immoral woman, he saw only her sin rather than recognizing that she was someone Jesus had forgiven. True honor would be to thank Jesus for forgiving such a notorious sinner.
The woman, known and labeled by her sin, was only recognized as that—a sinner. No name is given, only her actions. That is, until Jesus told her, “Woman, your sins are forgiven.”
This woman not only carried honor in her heart—gratitude for forgiveness and freedom from sin and bondage—but she also outwardly displayed honor that even the Pharisee refused to give Jesus. She did not just honor Him with her words, but with all her heart. What was not done when Jesus entered the house, this woman did when Jesus entered her heart.
Jesus’ response to Simon’s silent, unspoken question reveals the true heart of Jesus: to forgive, free, and restore even the most notorious sinners—like you and me!
Do you see this woman? Simon, do you see her love, her repentance, her devotion? That’s what I see. …Simon the Pharisee did not see the woman as she was (a humble sinner seeking forgiveness, pouring out love for Jesus) because he looked at her as she had been (a notorious sinner). – David Guzik.
It is not easy for us to blot out a past, and to free ourselves from all prejudice resulting from our knowledge of that past. Yet that is exactly what the Lord does. And He does so, not unrighteously, but righteously. He knows the power of His own grace, and that it completely cancels the past, and gives its own beauty to the soul. – G. Campbell Morgan.
It is not easy for us to blot out a past, and to free ourselves from all prejudice resulting from our knowledge of that past. Yet that is exactly what the Lord does. And He does so, not unrighteously, but righteously. He knows the power of His own grace, and that it completely cancels the past, and gives its own beauty to the soul. – G. Campbell Morgan.
Charles Spurgeon sums it up with these words:
O for more of this love! If I might only pray one prayer this morning, I think it should be that the flaming torch of the love of Jesus should be brought into every one of our hearts, and that all our passions should be set ablaze with love to him. – Charles Spurgeon.
PRAYER:
Jesus, please give me a heart that honors You. May I rejoice with the notorious sinner who comes to You, and remember that I am just as they are. Fill me with Your heart for the lost. When I tend to say, “Do you see this woman?” let it be in awe, not in judgment.
Jesus, please give me a heart that honors You. May I rejoice with the notorious sinner who comes to You, and remember that I am just as they are. Fill me with Your heart for the lost. When I tend to say, “Do you see this woman?” let it be in awe, not in judgment.
True honor for Jesus flows from a forgiven heart, not outward appearances.
Posted in 03 - Luke
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