Examine Luke 7: 36-50, as I am going to give these passages my own spin based upon my understanding of the culture and human nature.
One day a Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner. He wanted to find out more about this man who others had been calling “a Prophet.” Jesus had the reputation for being a great preacher who healed the sick (on the Sabbath, a violation of Pharisaical rules), and some had claimed he had even raised the dead son of a widow. The skeptical Pharisee wanted to take a good look at this man.
They had just started dinner when a woman, a known sinner, came uninvited through the door. She approached the location of Jesus, bringing with her an alabaster box of ointment. While Jesus was seated at the table, she kneeled behind him. She was weeping and she washed his feet with her tears, and then dried them with her hair. She kissed his feet, and then anointed them with oil.
The Pharisee considered this outrageous. Why didn’t Jesus shoo away the filthy woman? He thought to himself: “She should not be in my house. If this man were truly a Prophet, he would know this woman was a sinner. She has contaminated him, and now he is unclean.”
Noticing the Pharisee’s disgust, Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
Simon the Pharisee replied, “Say on, Teacher.”
Then Jesus gave him this parable: “A moneylender had two debtors. One owed 500 coins and the other 50. When they had nothing to pay him back, he forgave the debts. Tell me, Simon, which debtor loved the moneylender the most?”
Simon answered, “The one who owed the most money.”
Jesus replied, “You have judged correctly.” He then pointed to the woman, and said, “See this woman? When I came to your house, you offered me no water for my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has not ceased in kissing my feet. You did not so much as anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet! This I tell you: her many sins are forgiven because she loved me so much. But, he who is forgiven little, loves little.” He then bent over toward the woman and said, “Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith saved thee. Go in peace.”
A commotion arose at the dinner table. People said things like, “What does this man think that he is to forgive sins?”
Moral: Did Jesus know this woman from his hillside preaching? There is no indication from the story. However, the story paints a clear enough picture. The Pharisee, no doubt, prayed and fasted. He kept the Sabbath according to his extensive rules. He studied the scriptures or at least the rabbinical interpretation of scriptures. He went to the temple regularly. He did so many things, but he did NOT recognize the Messiah seated at his own table. Self-righteousness is the highest form of self-deception.
By contrast, a woman, a known sinner, anointed the feet of Jesus and loved God with all her heart, despite all her many sins.
It is NOT a lifetime of so-called righteous living that brings us unto God. Instead, it is our ability to love God and love others. This is the currency God requires.
If Jesus sat at your table, would you recognize him? I fear I might be too much like the Pharisee.
Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
Please feel free to give my blog site a "Blogged.com" rating and review by clicking here.
Support Mormon Insights by making a COMMENT.
3 comments:
"It is NOT a lifetime of so-called righteous living that brings us unto God. Instead, it is our ability to love God and love others."
Well said, and I couldn't agree more. I read some of the reader comments in the Deseret news and cringe... one said referring to unauthorized immigrants... "Jesus would tell these people to stop breaking the law and go home." These people being the parents of citizen children, humble church goers with temple recommends. I say, where is the love and compassion and that Jesus gave to us for an example?
Mormon Scientist:
Thanks for commenting.
The Bible teaches all kinds of important moral lessons that people typically choose to ignore. Jesus welcomed the Samaritans. We should do the same.
What is the first thing democrats would do when Christ comes again? Give him food stamps and medical care.
What is the first thing republicans would do when Christ comes again? Deport him. Christ was not born in the United States.
Post a Comment