The Servant Mesiah 13
Forgiveness and Self-Righteousness At The Same Table
Luke 7: 36-50
Messiah’s compassion must certainly be extended to the Pharisees again and again. If their eyes could be opened and their hearts could be warmed, they would be effective messenger for the new kingdom. They were indeed not far from the Kingdom of God.
Messiah accepted an invitation to dine with Simon and some of his friends. It was an appropriate occasion to interact in a close personal setting. The delightful food and the beauty of the surroundings would add to the warmth of the friendship. Suddenly there was an interruption. The atmosphere of the occasion is broken by an intruder. Unannounced a somewhat unattractive women charges into the room. Her clothes are soiled and drab, her hair uncared for, her face drawn. She falls at the feet of the Messiah. Tears fall on his feet and when she notices this very much embarrashed, she dries them with her hair. The situation is tense. The look on the face of the host appears irritated by this blatant interruption of so pleasureable a moment. Messiah is calm and understanding before this unusual burst of emotion. He does not resist her, he does not retreat, he offers no word of condemnation. The host graciously excuses the guest: "If you only knew what kind of woman this was, you would not allow her to do this thing. Simon was expressing the current viewpoint toward sinners in the community. This woman took no interest in the Synagogue, she had no respectable vocation. Her kind of life was held in contempt byt the decent people of the city. Very few befriended her or indicated any interest in her. For Messiah this was the essential problem: if she did not feel the compassion of God how would she ever change. So many of God’s righteous people were putting a wall around the flow of compassion. Messiah must make a strong effort to change this feeling.
Messiah uses the indirect approach in a situation Simon could understand. A creditor forgave a small debt owed him and also one with a large debt. Simon knew which one of these would be more grateful. Messiah applies the situation to the woman’s expression of gratitude and appreciation. Messiah forgives her sins and sends her on her way with a real peace inside.
Luke 7: 36-50
Messiah’s compassion must certainly be extended to the Pharisees again and again. If their eyes could be opened and their hearts could be warmed, they would be effective messenger for the new kingdom. They were indeed not far from the Kingdom of God.
Messiah accepted an invitation to dine with Simon and some of his friends. It was an appropriate occasion to interact in a close personal setting. The delightful food and the beauty of the surroundings would add to the warmth of the friendship. Suddenly there was an interruption. The atmosphere of the occasion is broken by an intruder. Unannounced a somewhat unattractive women charges into the room. Her clothes are soiled and drab, her hair uncared for, her face drawn. She falls at the feet of the Messiah. Tears fall on his feet and when she notices this very much embarrashed, she dries them with her hair. The situation is tense. The look on the face of the host appears irritated by this blatant interruption of so pleasureable a moment. Messiah is calm and understanding before this unusual burst of emotion. He does not resist her, he does not retreat, he offers no word of condemnation. The host graciously excuses the guest: "If you only knew what kind of woman this was, you would not allow her to do this thing. Simon was expressing the current viewpoint toward sinners in the community. This woman took no interest in the Synagogue, she had no respectable vocation. Her kind of life was held in contempt byt the decent people of the city. Very few befriended her or indicated any interest in her. For Messiah this was the essential problem: if she did not feel the compassion of God how would she ever change. So many of God’s righteous people were putting a wall around the flow of compassion. Messiah must make a strong effort to change this feeling.
Messiah uses the indirect approach in a situation Simon could understand. A creditor forgave a small debt owed him and also one with a large debt. Simon knew which one of these would be more grateful. Messiah applies the situation to the woman’s expression of gratitude and appreciation. Messiah forgives her sins and sends her on her way with a real peace inside.
posted by Dr. James F. Hubbard at 3:34 PM
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