The Pharisee’s Lady
Today, we begin with a question; who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
The answer is; Pharaoh’s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
The scripture passage we examine today is Luke 7:36 through the eighth chapter, third verse. Through the years this passage has been misinterpreted and misunderstood, since primarily male teachers have had inclinations to think sin all about women, when the subject actually includes men’s responses to our Lord. Last week you learned how women have been maligned for thousands of years because of misunderstandings that goes back to the ancient Hebrew language. Now that women have taken a much more prominent role in society and the church, it’s normal behavior that jokes would be made to ease men’s discomfort with these changes. A couple of examples are:
Did you hear about the guy who finally figured out women? He died laughing before he could tell anybody.
Here’s another. How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb? None, feminists can’t change anything.
Okay, just one more. What do you call a Chinese woman with an opinion? Wong!
Any belittling opinion about women expressed in the Bible has never come from Messiah or His Father, but from a point of human prejudice. Jesus has corrected such attitudes. One of the most famous is the story of the woman who was brought near Yeshua then accused of adultery. Read the whole story in John the eighth chapter. This is where the accusing men were told, “The one of you who has never sinned, throw the first stone.”
John 7:36 and on, has a similar attitude. This is where a Pharisee of Jacob’s tribe approached the Christ and asked him to have dinner with him. So, Jesus went in and reclined, as guests normally did. It is certainly curious that the Pharisee, whose name is Simon, would allow a woman with questionable character in the house at all, particularly when this well-known guest, Jesus, was there to be supposedly entertained. This Pharisee was a ranking member of a political party, one of four parties operating at the time, and a Jew. So we know his reputation among the people was important to his ambitions. Still, she was not only allowed in the house, but wasn’t stopped when she began honoring Christ with an anointing of a different kind. Simon, whose name means “to hear intelligently” may have watched this event or been busy in the kitchen while other guests were witnesses.
This is where this scene turns very interesting. Imagine Yeshua in the reclining position near a table loaded with bread, grapes, meat and cheese. There’s fine wine in front of Him as well. We also know that this woman is approaching Jesus from behind, as she focused on his feet, which were elevated in His position of honor. In her hand was an alabaster cruse of perfume. The cruse was expensive and so was the perfume. Who purchased this stuff; Simon? Custom of the time was that a servant, normally a child, would wash a guest’s feet with water. The perfume was available only in wealthy homes. If this woman was not invited or a resident of the house, she would have told the child servant to stay back so she could approach Jesus. Given her reputation and the Pharisee’s desire to impress Messiah, I can’t imagine that the owner of the house even knew she had come in. Verse 39 indicates surprise from the host that she was there.
What did she do with this opportunity? Her intention was to honor Him with expensive perfume so His feet would smell great. Instead, when she approached, her emotions took over, knowing what this Man was about and that He was not only remarkable, but One who could forgive her sins. As she stood over His feet, tears flowed as she wept, so much so that His feet were wet. Forget the towel, she used her hair, no doubt much softer than the rough cloth, to dry those tears. Now, she kissed His feet and gently rubbed the perfume over those tired feet, then continued kissing them.
What a scene! What did the Pharisee do? How did this man respond? We have his thoughts! If this man were a prophet (he is thinking) he would have known who she is and her reputation; for the woman who has touched him is a sinner! This was an “ah-ha” moment for this politician, who wasn’t all that thrilled that Yeshua was so popular that He could steal his notoriety. Is it possible that Jesus was an enemy in his mind, and this dinner was to find out how serious a threat Messiah really was?
Let’s reason for a moment how this scene could happen. Had this woman touched the Pharisee before? We don’t know for sure, but she certainly knew where the Pharisee’s house was, and also knew where the dining hall was as well. Isn’t it reasonable that she had at least been following either Messiah or the Pharisee, named Simon, to the residence? Was she a stalker or had she done business with Simon before? Besides, Simon not only knew her, but her reputation. Somehow, a previous or on-going relationship appears more than likely between these two. Of course, we know that today, there are no illicit relationships between politicians and women! Your laughter does not need to be silent. If Simon knew her that way, why would he be condemning her reputation and not his own? Jesus took the opportunity to address that very question.
“Simon,” the Master said, “I have something to tell you.”
“Sure, go ahead,” Simon responded. He’s thinking now that he’s about to hear something he could use against Jesus.
Yeshua begins His story. “There were two men who were debtors to a creditor; one of them owed him five-hundred pence, and the other fifty pence. And, because they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which one of them will love him more?”
The question is elementary to Simon, the smart politician, so he responded; “I think the one to whom he forgave more.” We don’t have Simon’s thoughts here, yet he must have silently said to himself, “How silly!”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus replied, while getting up from the table. Then, He turned to the woman, looked her in her eyes as He addressed Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me even water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not kiss me; but she, since she entered, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil; but she has anointed my feet with perfume. For this reason, I say to you, her many sins are forgiven because she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
While He is still looking straight into her soul through her eyes, He said, “Your sins are forgiven.” Do you think she wanted to hug Him?
Simon had a few other guests around the table, who began to whisper among themselves, “Who is this man who forgives even sins?”
As the woman released her embrace, Yeshua said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Given the evidence in this story, Simon would have been wise to fall at Messiah’s feet and also ask forgiveness, but his pride got in the way. What would these other guests have thought if their political leader and big-shot had ask that his sins be forgiven too? He couldn’t admit he had done anything wrong. What about his political control of other people in his idealistic society? Of course, humanity has come so far since then that our politicians today admit their wrongs. Again, the laughter need not be silent. Before you snicker too hard, it’s not only politicians that hide their sins instead of giving them to Jesus. Simon’s name in Hebrew means, “to set apart”. Not all who are given names or opportunity for success accept their intended roles. The seed of the Gospel sometimes falls on rocky ground.
Simon was such a typical man who jumped at the chance to belittle the woman and feel a sense of superiority over Christ. Women at the time were not allowed to participate in the Jewish political system, so she had no defense or power to accuse Simon. Just like Adam, who tried to convince God that “the woman did it” so to relieve his guilt, we see that Simon chose the same path. Such reasoning didn’t work for Adam or Simon; does it work today?
The woman in this story certainly had a measure of guilt, but she humbled herself through her love and took action so that a new life was born in her. It was her, honoring the greatest power she knew of, that provided a huge and dramatic lesson plus made her pure again, something which this dinner host may not have been so happy about. Celebrate ladies, this woman rose above the political system, the perceived resident power of men to become a remarkable example. The other example in this story is how quickly Messiah responds to love for Him; even from a person considered to be lower class.
Stories of relevant woman didn’t stop at the end of the chapter. Messiah traveled to cities and villages, preaching and giving good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, and the women who were healed of diseases and unclean spirits. Mary Magdala was there, as was Joanna, the wife of Chuza, who was the steward of Herod, and Susanna and many others, who gave money to support Christ’s ministry. Like a modern tent revival featuring a famous evangelist, people came out in droves to hear Christ tell of the sower and seed he cast, to tell all would hear that he wanted them to be as fertile ground. The idea was that the word, when accepted by willing ears, would take spiritual root and multiply.
Our Lord made a bigger difference in this world than anyone who ever lived. Such change was accomplished with pure truth that leads to love, then and now. He didn’t say that we should only associate with each other, but go to dinner with modern-day Pharisees, even politicians, tax collectors, and others God loves. In the previous story we see where a woman with a questionable reputation loves with a different kind of love, one that included service and honor to the Master. We don’t know what motivated her to do this. It could have been the reputation Jesus had with people she knew that showed her that a different life is possible and successful. She may have met another woman at the market who supported Christ financially, or given that she knew Simon so well, she might have heard Simon talk about Jesus in derogatory terms while she knew that Simon’s philosophy was political power and prestige.
The meaning of the name “Simon” should fit us as well. We too should be programmed to “hear intelligently” so we will be “set apart” to be what God wants us to be and so well connected with Him and each other, that we join forces with the Master of the Universe in His purpose and plan. Names such as “Simon” and “Christian” are, or should be, names understood by society as noble labels and descriptions of a character that is truly a gift from God made possible through His Son.
In the Kingdom of God, our King is our Father. We have no business going against Galatians 3:28 where we read from the Aramaic, the Language of Christ, “There is neither Jew nor Aramaean, neither Servant nor Free person, neither male nor female, for all of you are one in Yeshua the Messiah. Idealism doesn’t allow equality, particularly in purpose. Self control or a Code of Conduct sufficient enough to save our souls through Grace, faith and love, means society will not only encourage individual freedom, but civility and reasonable opportunity for success. The Kingdom of God gives freedom to enjoy the marvelous gifts of God in every way we are intended to enjoy them. Simon, in his political mind, couldn’t comprehend how Jesus was not an enemy to his ambitions. How I wish we had a record of what he told his political-party friends about the event at his dinner table. There is no account of Simon changing his mind. There is a detailed account of women stepping up to the challenge and supporting the Son of God, even financially.
If you research the role of women in Canonized Scripture, and I sincerely hope you do, remember that selected reputations were never in question until Pope Gregory’s sermon in 591 that suddenly caused a flood of questions and assumptions. Gregory did not write the Scripture, nor should he have automatically questioned a person’s reputation on gender alone. Consider the question; why were the male disciples never called to question if Gregory accused the women around them of less-than-honorable reputations? If Christianity accepts Galatians 3:28, then the suspicion-inspired heretical and vile assumption that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, should always be corrected until such lies are never heard again! Folk belief about Mary has found its way into popular religiosity, and people who are not biblical scholars have carried that lie to the present time. Such blatant gossip that can ruin a woman’s reputation from the time of Christ, should never be entertained where such slander could hurt reputations today. If we are new creatures in Christ, as per 2nd Corinthians 5:17, then what does a person’s past have to do with their role in the Kingdom of God, much less the church?
The woman who approached Christ at Simon’s table, that wept and washed Messiah’s feet with her tears, then dried those feet with her soft hair must never be drug back to her past for somebody’s sad sense of judgment. Instead, forgive as Yeshua forgave because there is not one among us worthy of casting the first stone of criticism, judgment or reminder to God that another has failed. God has thrown those sins so hard into the past that He never remembers them again, and that’s a promise. If you are full of judgment of another, ask yourself if you are fast enough to can catch that sin and put it back in that person’s life? You would have to be God, and He has made up his mind.
Step away from delight in another Christian’s struggles unless you have the ability to also forget once that person has been made whole again. Being in Christ, in His truth and God’s love, means change—big change in our attitudes about ourselves, the people around us and how we relate to the needs and pain of others. If there is no change, then why did Christ die?
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.
©2013, J. Tilton
