36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50
Many have heard this very story of the woman and the alabaster jar. But have you ever asked yourself why she was crying? What was she doing there? and how did she end up crashing the party? There are so many cultural scandals of this passage that forego so many of the norms of the time it is taking place and the significance of these outrageous actions are something we have to pay attention to.
Now, traditionally when a teacher had entered someone’s house for a feast, people from the outside were often permitted to partake in the meal together regardless of social class or connection. For the woman, it would have been alright in the eyes of others for her to be there if she just sat amongst the many and stayed quiet. But the scandal is that she approaches Jesus, and not only that begins to show affection in a way that was so intimate, it was considered shocking to the eyes of Jewish people. Not only that, she undoes her hair and pours close to a year’s wages worth of nard, a perfume given to her at marriage. This symbolizes that somehow Jesus was more significant to her than her marriage, and the gifts given to her by her husbands family. Her need to see and worship Jesus was more important to her than her reputation. But if we look closely at who she might be, she is quite well known. She is considered a “sinner” by Simon the pharisee and others in that room. Historically she is often considered a prostitute by those who would interpret this passage (though we are unsure exactly).
What does this reveal to us about Jesus? This completely shatters our perception of what many consider to be the culturally correct way of receiving salvation. By obeying the laws, and following the customs of the church – in this woman’s case the old jewish customs and laws of the synagogue. The pharisee Simon had a certain picture in mind of what salvation would mean for her, that she come to synagogue, face her persecutions, and live a life worthy first before she could consider herself saved and forgiven of her sins. But this woman does something different, and Jesus accepts her looking at her heart more than the raw manner of her repentance. The woman was expressing her love for Jesus in the only way she knew how. The temple priests and pharisees would not accept her, and labeled her as unclean – someone and something to be avoided. But Jesus considers her accepted, and forgiven.
The greatness of our God is reflected in the greatness of his acceptance for us. And in his great acceptance of us, reflects just how great his love is for his people – regardless of where we have come from. Will we continue to express our love for God then in a way we consider as “culturally fit”? or if we understand how extravagant God’s love is for us, that we too would do the same for him.
How will you respond to God’s love for you today?
T H E O P H I L U S 
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