Jesus Ate with Pharisees

July 19, 2023

Luke 7:36-50 | Romans 2:11

The story of the alabaster-anointing woman is a notable and beautiful story. Don’t miss it.

But for today, let’s point out where it happened.

Jesus ate with Pharisees.

It’s well-known that Jesus ate with sinners. Usually we think of those sinners as the down-and-out. But apparently Jesus eating with sinners includes religious leaders like Pharisees. This Pharisee is even named: Simon. (There are but a few Pharisees named in scripture - Nicodemus, this here Simon, Saul/Paul, and Gamaliel).

Maybe it would just suffice to say that Jesus will eat with anyone who’d share the table with him.

Again: Jesus will eat with anyone who’d share the table with him.

Even a Pharisee.

Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.

Jesus replied, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher, speak,” he said.

“A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work. The other owed enough money for fifty. When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”

Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.”

Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Romans 2:11

God does not have favorites.

Prayer

Oh, God -

There are so many people I’d just like to dismiss. So many groups of people I’m sure are wrong. But I see that even if I’m right about these people being wrong, this is no means to not share a table with them.

What a message for today, Lord! Everything around us tells us to live and decide based upon fear and suspicion. The American Way includes dismissing those with whom I disagree.

Make me like Jesus, the Sharer of Tables.

By his spirit & in his name,
Amen.