As you reread this passage consider that the fragrant oil was the equivalent of a laborers wages for one year. Why was she weeping? I believe that they were tears of JOY...see verse 47, "her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much." Great forgiveness provides the opportunity for great love. Keep in mind in Jesus story NEITHER HAD THE ABILITY TO REPAY THE DEBT THEY OWED!
Ponder that this woman NEVER SPEAKS ONE WORD, BUT HER ACTIONS, WHAT SHE DOES, says EVERYTHING! Her actions reflect GREAT CARE, COST, EMOTION AND GREAT LOVE!
Luke 7:36-50
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
Then one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil 38 and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him—she’s a sinner!”
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher,” he said, “say it.” 41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. 42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” He told him. 44 Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
In his little book What Jesus Demands from the World, John Piper shares some poignant insights into this passage.
This is a story about the way great love for Jesus comes into being. It comes into being when we are given eyes to see the beauty of Jesus in the way he loved us first. We did not love him first. He loved us first (John 15:16). Our love for Jesus is awakened when our hearts are broken because of our sin (unlike the judgmental Pharisee) and when we taste the sweetness of Jesus’ forgiving love preceding and awakening our love for him.
The Demand That We Love Him Is an Act of Love
There is no doubt that this love will produce the fruit of obedience to Jesus’ other commandments (John 14:15), and that it will incline us to fulfill the ministry he gives us to do (John 21:15-22), and that it will produce a longing that Jesus be honored and blessed (John14:28; 5:23). But beneath all this fruit is the fundamental reality of heartfelt love for Jesus—strong feelings of admiration for his attributes, abiding enjoyment of his fellowship, undying attraction to his presence, warm affection for his kinship, and strong gratitude for loving us before we loved him. These emotions and this fruit are what Jesus meant when he referred to our being “worthy” of him: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me’ (Matt. 10:37). Loving Jesus with these affections and with this fruit makes us “worthy” of Jesus. This does not mean that we deserve Jesus, as in the phrase “the laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7, literal translation). It means that Jesus deserves this kind of love. Our worthiness means that he has produced in us affections and behaviors that are suitable and fit for his worth. They correspond properly to his value. (Compare the use of the word “worthy” in the phrase, “Bear fruits worthy of [that is, suitable to] repentance,” Luke 3:8, literal translation.) Jesus demands that he be loved by the world because he is infinitely worthy to be loved. And since our love for him is the enjoyment of his glory and presence and care, therefore Jesus’ demand that we love him is one more way that his love overflows on us.
Father in heaven,
open the eyes our our hearts, my heart, to see YOU as YOU are, to behold YOUR beauty, enable me, enable us to love YOU as YOU command...command what you will, but will what you command...bring to completion the good work YOU began in our hearts. Hearts that burn with a desire to know YOU, love YOU, pursue YOU with a white hot passionate love...to remember, repent and pursue YOU like we did when we first came to faith in YOU. I confess that I cannot do this in my power, Holy Spirit of God enable me to love YOU in a manner that is Worthy of YOUR glory, honor, majesty...please work this for YOUR glory and my joy in YOU.
love,
m