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8/5/2024 A picture of forgiveness and Grace! The sinful woman who jesus poured out His Grace on!Read Now God’s Grace in Action: Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman - Luke 7: 36-50 The woman had a very bad reputation in her town, racially and morally she was an outcast. Uninvited, she entered the home of a wealthy religious leader, a Pharisee. Jesus was a guest and was eating dinner when she approached Him, bent down and began to anoint His feet with expensive perfume. Crying, she wiped His feet with her tears. It took great courage for her to walk into a room full of sophisticated, religious leaders—but she had to get to Him! She was forgiven and she had to get to Him! For a woman who was a sinner, possibly a prostitute, to enter the home of a Pharisee and weep at the feet of Jesus had to be an uncomfortable moment for all the guests at the table. Mary had to be conscious of the looks of disapproval sent her way, but that did not stop her from lavishing Jesus with her adoration. She made sure that Jesus knew what an impact He had made on her life. Outraged, the Pharisees began to complain that Jesus was touched by a sinner—but Jesus didn’t push her away. Every time I read this story, I am moved by the compassion and love Jesus showed this woman. The fact that He acknowledged what she had done for Him, once again gives me a picture of the depth of His grace. And in more ways than I can even explain, it challenges me to develop this kind of deep love for our Savior. The story of the sinful woman in the gospels gives us even more insight into how much Jesus loves the sinner, no matter what their past may be. Mary’s alabaster box was her most precious and treasured possession. She had saved up a year’s wages to buy it. This expensive oil was of great value to her. As an act of worship and adoration for the Lord, and gratitude for the depth of grace and forgiveness He gave her, Mary’s alabaster box had to be broken and poured out as an offering unto the Lord. The alabaster box was a symbol of her old sinful life. Though it was very beautiful and costly, but it had no relationship with God. Though she didn’t say a word, her actions spoke volumes. She knew she was forgiven and she was so thankful for all that He had done for her, she just had to get to Jesus! She took her most valuable possession, the jar of oil she saved a whole year for, and kneeling and weeping, with her tears falling on His feet, she kept kissing His feet and pouring the oil on Him. WOW! “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48 Once Mary broke the alabaster box and the oil spilled out, there was no going back! It was gone! Just like her old sinful life was now gone, she gave it all to God as an act of worship and repentance! He poured out His grace on her—grace is to favor or honor someone. Jesus honored the sinful woman in this story. He honored her above the religious leaders in that room. Grace is the intentional act of forgiveness which God offers, bestows and gives us. Forgiveness of our sins and old life. He replaces all the past with salvation. Grace is not based on our “religiousness.” The Pharisees in the Bible knew the Law and they looked spiritual, but they didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. They didn’t know Him personally! WOW! Grace is God’s unearned favor Ephesians 2:8-9 shows us that grace is a gift from God, proclaiming, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” This passage underscores that grace is not earned through righteous deeds but generously bestowed upon believers. Grace, in its purest form, is unmerited favor granted to humanity, irrespective of worthiness or merit. It’s not something we can earn. The Pharisees were educated men, they had book knowledge but they didn’t have heart knowledge. But the sinful women was given more grace and honor than any of them. Because she loved much, she was forgiven much. The sinful woman knew the depths of her sin and what she had done in the past, and she knew she had been wholly and completely forgiven. She also knew her forgiveness was not earned through righteous deeds, but though God’s grace alone. Understanding the Concept of Grace in the Bible The concept of grace in the Bible is more than mere kindness or pardon. It shows God’s boundless love and mercy extended to His creation, even when undeserved. This unearned favor is a testament to the following principles:
Luke 7:36-50 NLT tells this story: One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard He was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” He said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer Me water to wash the dust from My feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet Me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing My feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint My head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that He goes around forgiving sins?” And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” More Examples of Grace * The woman caught in the act of adultery - John 8:1-11 * The woman at the well - John 4 * The prodigal son – Luke 15:11-32 * Peter’s restoration after he betrayed Jesus – acts 9: 1-19 * The conversion of Saul - Acts 9:1-19 Paul went from a murderer to preaching the Gospel * David’s sin with Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 7:15 and 2 Samuel 11 * David was a man after God’s own heart but he sinned with Bathsheba and even killed her husband and covered it up. But David had repented from his heart when he messed up! He asked for forgiveness. Psalm 50:10-12
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