Bible Society of South Africa

See this woman? – Day 14

Bible text(s)

Jesus at the Home of Simon the Pharisee

36A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!”

40Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Yes, Teacher,” he said, “tell me.”

41“There were two men who owed money to a moneylender,” Jesus began. “One owed him 500 silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42Neither of them could pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?”

43“I suppose,” answered Simon, “that it would be the one who was forgiven more.”

“You are right,” said Jesus. 44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. 46You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume. 47I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.”

48Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49The others sitting at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

50But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:36-50GNBOpen in Bible reader

Here Jesus is having dinner at the house of Simon, the Pharisee. When Jesus ‘accepts’ the touch of an unnamed woman, it disturbs Simon so much that he thinks Jesus could not be a prophet or an honourable man.

1. Jesus tells Simon a story. What is it that Simon is supposed to learn from it?

2. Simon does not know that Jesus is a prophet. Do you think the woman knows?

3. See this woman? What new picture of her emerge from Jesus’ interaction with her and Simon?

4. What is it that demonstrated the woman’s faith?

5. Can you think of ways to demonstrate faith through being hospitable in your own context?

Bible Society of South Africav.4.21.9
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