Digging Deeper

This past Wednesday, I went to a Bible study at my church. The study was on Luke 7:36-50.

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward 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 has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The Bible study took a different approach than just looking at the words of the page, but incorporated historical context. A slightly different approach than some Bible studies, but a very useful approach. I learned a lot from the Bible study that I did not know before.

First, the customs of the time. We see from the story that Jesus says that Simon did not give him water with his feet, a kiss, or anoint his head with oil. In these times, it was common and expected practice for a host either wash or have a servant wash the feet of the guests. It was a common to greet with a kiss. And to honor someone, they were anointed with oil. Simon, a pharisee, did not of these, which would have been disrespectful.

Given this information, the actions of the sinful woman make much more sense. We understand more of what Jesus meant when he said that the one who was forgiven little would love little.

Next, we looked at what the Greek meaning of Simon's comment about the sinful woman is. When translated from Greek, the words of Simon would be better translated as “If this man were a prophet, which clearly he is not, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is trying to turn him on, for she is a sinner.” The first change, the noting that Jesus is clearly not a prophet, is based on the Greek word used which indicates a negative connotation. The second one is based on the actions of the woman, which in her time would be considered as scandalous.

The woman enters the presence of men, kisses Jesus' feet, lets down her hair, and touches him with her hair, all to a man she is not married to. The cultural response for Jesus would be to kick her and dismiss her. Instead, he acknowledges her and says that her love is great.

This extra knowledge takes the story deeper and shows that Jesus is not only forgiving her sins, but shattering the cultural separation of men and women.

Next we looked at the dilemma Jesus had. Simon sets the stage with his comment of Jesus, who is obviously not a prophet, is entertaining this adulterous woman who is turning him on. Jesus' dilemma consists of either standing for righteousness by dismissing her or accepting her sinful lifestyle. Jesus takes neither of the paths and instead gives a story illustrating that the woman has been forgiven of her sins and is expressing her love for that forgiveness. He then takes it a step further and says that her sins are forgiven. He performs an act that only God could perform. Simon thought he had Jesus trapped and that Jesus would be exposed. Instead, the identity of Jesus was revealed.

Finally, we looked at 7:47, Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. The leader of the study stressed that the Greek definition of the would for indicated that Jesus is saying that because she has been forgiven, she loves. It is not because she gained favor with Jesus by her love, but because He forgave her sins, she loves Him and is showing that love with her actions. We see this explained again in 7:50 when Jesus says that her faith has saved her.

Digging deeper took this passage which had a powerful message and gave it an even stronger message. Dig deeper, you might be surprised what you learn!