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Luke 7:36-50 ESV
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
How often do you think to yourself, “I don’t feel God’s presence in my life?” This week, the challenge is to base our relationship with God not on our feelings, but on the invitation to see, touch, and be touched by Jesus. As a result, we’ll experience God’s divine presence in our lives.
A pure heart = the ability to see God. Who are the pure in heart? “Those who are able to see Jesus for who he is and see themselves as they truly are.” —Pastor Jeff Keegan
In today’s passage, we are introduced to two individuals who saw God differently. Simon, a Pharisee, invited Jesus to his house for food. Simon’s outer life looked flawless; however, the condition of his heart was a different story. Simon did not see his need for forgiveness, or his need for a savior.
The woman in the story had the opposite response. Her outer life was a complete mess, yet she knew her desperate need for salvation. Her heart was stripped of pride and overflowed with gratitude and love for her Savior. Which one truly saw Jesus? What you see affects what you are.
“There is an interaction between seeing and being. The kind of person you are affects the kind of world that you see… And conversely, what you see affects what you are.” (Simon Tugwell, The Beatitudes)
Pray and reflect in the Lord’s presence. Invite God to help you see and uncover any ignored or overlooked sin in your life. Only with God’s help can we be honest with the state of our affairs. Ask God to help you be more like this woman and watch him act on your behalf! Accept the invitation to see him!