Sermon Notes by David E. Owen

Mother’s Day 2015

“Behold, a Woman” (Luke 7:36–50) Introduction: Last year (2014) the Central Intelligence Agency looked at the population and demographics of the world and estimated that for every 1,000 women on planet earth, there are 1,014 men. 1 So there are about as many women in this world as there are men. But guys, what do we know about our co-inhabitants of the planet? What do we really know about women? I found one book online entitled “What Men Know About Women.” But unfortunately, the book was completely blank on the inside. Even the renowned scientist Stephen Hawking said in a 2012 interview that “Women are a complete mystery.” 2

There is one man who understands the minds and hearts of women. The God-man, Christ Jesus, the One who actually created both male and female, understands the thoughts and feelings of women.

A Christian counselor was asked to list some of the top ten things that women struggle with. And she said that based on her experience in counseling with women … 1. Many women struggle with Feeling Loved and Valued (because they don‟t feel that way in their lives) 2. Many women struggle with Anxiety (the inability to relax) 3. Many women struggle with Self-worth (they never feel that they measure up) 4. Many women struggle with a Negative Body Image (in other words, they frequently feel bad about how they look) 5. Many women struggle with Depression (sometimes due to chemical imbalances that happens with hormones at various stages in life) 6. Many women struggle with Feelings of Inadequacy (we watch other super moms and think we don‟t measure up) 7. Many (perhaps most) women who are mothers struggle with various forms of Fear and Worry about their children. [From what I‟ve observed, that doesn‟t stop when the children grow up either. Let me say to all the sons and daughters out there, Momma is always going to worry about you. And I‟ll let you in on a little secret. Daddy‟s always going to worry about you too.] 8. Many married women struggle with the idea that their husbands won‟t find them attractive anymore or that their husbands won‟t love them when as they get older 9. Many women struggle with the Fear of not being a good Wife or Mother 10. Many single women Fear that they will never find anyone to love or someone that will love them.

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One woman in her late sixties who had gone through the experiences of an abusive relationship, widow-hood, and re-marriage said that at different times … 1. She has struggled with loneliness and feeling like she didn‟t belong. 2. She has struggled with the empty nest syndrome, with always being accustomed to having a husband and kids to fill your time and then suddenly it‟s only you. 3. She has struggled with the aspect of having couple friends when you were a couple, but then when she became a widow, she felt like a 3rd wheel. And then, instead of joining in, you choose to stay alone which led to depression and sadness. 4. She has struggled with trying to keep peace in the family and mend old wounds. 5. She has struggled with having a child that has remained very distant for years. 6. She has struggled with regret and wishing things had been different.

All women (and all men) have struggles in life. But as Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote many years ago, “Jesus knows all about our struggles.”

The unnamed woman in our passage in Luke chapter 7 had her share of struggles in life. Many commentators agree that this account took place in Capernaum. Harold Willmington summarized the account of what took place here saying that… As Jesus dined in the home of Simon the Pharisee, a woman known to be a sinner began washing His feet and weeping in sorrow for her sins (7:36-38). When Simon reacted with disdain, Jesus told a parable about a money lender who forgave two debts, one large and one small. He applied the story to the sinful woman and Simon.

The Baker New Testament Commentary says that there is a connection in this passage to the preceding verses. In verse 30 Luke, quoting the words of Jesus, focused our attention upon self-righteous Pharisees, and in verse 34 on people of bad reputation, “sinners.” An example of each is given in the present account. In this passage then, we see… 1. The Incident with the Sinner 2. The Illustration of the Savior 3. The Indictment against Simon The account begins in verse 36 where the Bible says… (Luke 7:36-38) And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. {37} And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, {38} And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. The woman comes into the account in verse 37 where the Bible says, “And, behold, a woman…” That‟s the title of my message today. “Behold, A Woman.”

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And as we behold this woman, I want us to think about …

I. Her SINFUL LIFE (The Past Guilt) (Luke 7:36-37,39,40-43) The Baker New Testament Commentary says that… One day a Pharisee, named Simon (verse 40) … invited Jesus for dinner. Why did he extend this invitation? We are not told. Verses 44-46 clearly indicate, however, that he did not do so out of love or even high regard for Jesus. He may have been motivated by curiosity. Having heard that many people were calling the Master “a great prophet” (7:16), he may have invited Jesus in order to see whether there was any substance to this fame the so-called prophet was acquiring. John Phillips said that… No group of men was more consistently hostile to Christ than the Pharisees. … The Lord assuredly knew that He was on hostile ground in Simon‟s house. But the same love for lost people that brought Him down from high heaven above to this hostile world was the love that took Him into Simon‟s inhospitable house. The Lord held His peace, but He noted the fact that Simon made no attempt to extend to Him the common courtesies that an Oriental host generally offered guests. Once in the house, the Lord was seated for supper. On such occasions, the various ones present reclined on couches arranged around the table. Each one rested his left elbow on the table with his feet pointed away toward the wall. Into this private apartment and this hostile environment, the woman came. As we are introduced to this woman in verse 37, we begin to see …

A. The REALITY of Her Sinful Life (Luke 7:37) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, Marvin Vincent in his Word Studies in the New Testament said that… Her presence there is explained by the Oriental custom of strangers passing in and cut of a house during a meal to see and converse with the guests. (R. C.) Trench cites a description of a dinner at a consul‟s house in Damietta. “Many came in and took their places on the side-seats, uninvited and yet unchallenged. They spoke to those at table on business or the news of the day, and our host spoke freely to them.” Craig S. Keener, in his IVP (InterVarsity Press) Bible Background Commentary on the New Testament said… That this woman is a “sinner” may imply that she is a prostitute … or at least a woman known to be morally loose and probably seeking something disreputable. Not only do we see the Reality of her sinful life, but we also see …

B. The REPUTATION of Her Sinful Life (Luke 7:39) Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. H.A. Ironside said… I have no question but a number of those in the house knew who she was. She had no character, was despised by everyone, and yet she wanted to see Jesus. Warren Wiersbe noted that… Simon said to himself, “She is a sinner”; but he needed to say, “I am a sinner.” The Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible says that… The man considered himself better. He felt he was better than the sinful woman, so he would never allow her to touch him. He would keep his distance, ignore, and have nothing to do with her. But note something else. He

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considered his judgment and knowledge, opinions and behavior to be better than others. He expected others (Jesus) to judge and act as he did. He thought that if Jesus only knew who the lady was, then He would reject her. Many do live self-righteously. They feel that they live and act better than others. … The man sensed no need for forgiveness and repentance. He thought of himself as good enough in two areas. He was good enough in religion … (and) he was good enough in behavior. By contrast, this woman had realized her own insufficiency.

Not only do we see the Reality of her sinful life, and not only do we see the Reputation of her sinful life, but we also see …

C. The REPRESENTATION of Her Sinful Life (Luke 7:40-43) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. {41} There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. {42} And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? {43} Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. Remarkably, even though Simon said “within himself” in verse 39 that Jesus must not be a prophet, Jesus was enough of a prophet to know what Simon had said “within himself”! And Jesus answered Simon‟s self-righteous conclusions by sharing a story, a parable about a creditor and two debtors, one who owed a large amount and one who owed a small amount. Warren Wiersbe said that… In His parable, Jesus made it clear that all of us are in debt to God and are unable to pay because we are spiritually bankrupt. The two debts ($80 vs. $8) represent not the amount of sin, but the awareness of guilt. As John Phillips said… Both people owed money to the same creditor, but one of them owed ten times more than the other one. Both people were bankrupt, and both of them were forgiven their debts. “Which of them will love him most?” Jesus asked. “I suppose,” said Simon cautiously, “that he, to whom he forgave most.” The answer was correct though grudgingly given. Simon and the woman were the bankrupts. Simon, for all of his self-righteousness, was just as hopelessly in sin‟s debt as the woman he despised (7:40-43). As Ellis J. Crum wrote… He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away. And, now, I sing a brand new song, “Amazing Grace.” Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

We see the Sinful Life of this woman. But I also want us to think about …

II. Her SINCERE LOVE (The Penitent Gratitude) (Luke 7:38,44-47) There are differing views on whether this woman is now coming to Christ for the very first time for forgiveness or whether she had met the Lord prior to this occasion. Wiersbe said… If you check a harmony of the Gospels, you will discover that just before this event, Jesus had given the gracious invitation, “Come unto Me … and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-30). Perhaps that was when the woman turned from her sin and trusted the Saviour. Her tears, her humble attitude, and her expensive gift all spoke of a changed heart.

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The Baker New Testament Commentary says that… It is clear from the present account that whatever she had been she was no longer. She must have heard the words of Jesus. And these words, spoken on previous occasions, must have been applied savingly to her. Also, even now there was present in her heart the beginning of a consciousness of having been divinely pardoned. Whether she had met the Lord previously or whether this was her first encounter with Christ, her actions reveal a deep sense of appreciation (thankfulness) and affection and admiration (reverence) for the Lord and how He was willing to forgive her and change her life. The record of her actions is given briefly in verse 38 and then Jesus reiterates what she did in verses 44 thru 46 in order to show a contrast in how Simon the Pharisee treated Him. Her sincere love for the Lord is shown in an HUMBLE way through …

A. The TEARS of Her Affection (Luke 7:38) And stood at his feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Craig S. Keener, in his IVP (InterVarsity Press) Bible Background Commentary on the New Testament explained that the fact that … She stands “behind Him” and anoints His feet instead of His head has to do with the posture of guests reclining on the couches; He would have had His left arm on the table and His feet away from the table toward the wall. … Common hospitality included providing water for the feet (though well-to-do householders left the washing to servants). As Jesus elaborates upon her actions in verse 44, the Bible says … (Luke 7:44) And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Samuel Cox in The Biblical Illustrator said… Seest thou this woman? -- Simon had not seen the woman yet He had only seen the sinner. Look, then, on the woman at last, O Pharisee. Look upon her in the light of the parable you have just heard. Look on thyself, too, for as yet thou hast not seen thyself -- the Pharisee hiding the man from thy (indifferent) eyes. Thou poor blind Pharisee, if love be the proof of forgiveness, how much hast thou, loving so little, been forgiven? John Phillips wrote… “Seest thou this woman?” Jesus asked. The expression this woman rang out again and again, three times in three verses (7:44-46). The Lord faced her, speaking to Simon over his shoulder. “Seest thou this woman?” Simon had seen nothing else since the moment she burst into the room. Matthew Henry expanded upon Jesus’ statement, saying … “Thou lookest upon her with contempt, but consider how much kinder a friend she is to me than thou art; should I then accept thy kindness, and refuse hers? Thou didst not so much as order a basin of water to be brought, to wash my feet in, when I came in, wearied and dirtied with my walk, which would have been some refreshment to me; but she has done much more: she has washed my feet with tears, tears of affection to me, tears of affliction for sin, and has wiped them with the hairs of her head, in token of her great love to me.” Her tears were like rain (Martin Luther said “heart water”) falling upon the Lord’s feet, and when she saw her tears running through the dust on His feet, she began to wipe His feet and dry the wet tears with her hair. I’m reminded that in 1 Corinthians 11:15, Paul said that a woman’s long hair is her glory. (1 Corinthians 11:15) But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. So for this woman to wipe His feet with her hair, it suggests the idea that she was laying down her own glory for His glory! Her sincere love for the Lord is shown in an HUMBLE way through the Tears of her affection. Then her sincere love for the Lord is shown in a HEARTFELT way through …

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B. The TOKEN of Her Affection (Luke 7:38) And stood at his feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:45) Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. In the Bible, often a kiss is not just a kiss. Matthew Henry said … “Thou didst not so much as kiss my cheek” (which was a usual expression of a hearty and affectionate welcome to a friend); “but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet (v. 45), thereby expressing both a humble and an affectionate love.” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that… The kiss is common in eastern lands in salutation, etc., on the cheek, the forehead, the beard, the hands, the feet, but not (necessarily) the lips. In the Old Testament, “to kiss” is used… (1) of relatives (in a greeting or a farewell). (2) as a display of friendship and affection. (3) as a display of love; i.e. Song of Solomon 1:2, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth”; Proverbs 7:13 (of the feigned love of “the strange woman”). (4) as an expression of homage or worship or adoration. The word that is used here in Luke 7 is kataphileo, and it is an expression of special regard and affection. It is the word that is used when Judas kissed Jesus, and there it seems that Judas was deliberately greeting Jesus with an over-dramatized kiss of greeting to draw the soldiers‟ attention to Jesus. The same word is used of the father‟s greeting of the returning prodigal (Luke 15:20); and of the farewell to Paul of the Ephesian Christians (Acts 20:37). It is thus a repetitive kissing that expresses deep emotion. James M. Freeman in his Manners & Customs of the Bible said that kissing the feet was… A customary practice among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. It was a mark of affection and of reverence. It was also the practice of supplicants, and of those who had an important request to present.

Her sincere love for the Lord is shown in an HUMBLE way through the Tears of her affection. Her sincere love for the Lord is shown in a HEARTFELT way through the Token of her affection. Then her sincere love for the Lord is shown in an HONORING way through …

C. The TREASURE of Her Affection (Luke 7:37-38) And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, {38} And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:46) My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Craig S. Keener, in his IVP (InterVarsity Press) Bible Background Commentary on the New Testament further mentioned that for a host to give … Oil for the dry skin on one‟s head would also be a thoughtful act. Again, Matthew Henry said … “Thou didst not provide me a little common oil, as usual, to anoint my head with; but she has bestowed a box of precious ointment upon my feet (v. 46), so far has she outdone thee.” Matthew Henry went on to say that the reason why some people look down upon the extent of some Christians‟ zeal in religion is because they are not willing to live up to that level of devotion, but instead they “resolve to rest in a cheap and easy religion.” In thinking about the CONTAINER (the “alabaster box”), let me point out that… James M. Freeman in his Manners & Customs of the Bible said alabaster was… A stone found near Alabastron in Egypt, from which boxes were produced. The name was soon used for all perfume vessels, of whatever material they were formed. This stone resembles marble, but is softer in its texture, and hence very easily wrought into boxes.

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In Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 12 when Mary of Bethany‟s broke her alabaster box of spikenard and anointed Jesus‟ head with it, we are told that it was worth more than 300 pence (a year‟s wages). If the alabaster box of ointment here was of a similar value, then it was indeed a treasure from this unnamed woman. The Baker New Testament Commentary says that… Such an alabaster jar was a vase of white (or perhaps delicately tinted) fine-grained gypsum. It had a long neck. To pour out its contents this neck had to be broken. So the vessel was a hard vessel that had to be broken before what was on the inside could be useful. In a way, I think this is suggestive of this woman’s life too. In thinking about the CONTENTS (the “ointment”), let me point out that… When we see the word “ointment” in verses 37, 38, and 46, it is actually the Greek word for myrrh that is being used here. Myrrh is the aromatic resin that comes from piercing a particular species of small, thorny tree through the bark and into the outer wood, and when it is pierced like that the tree bleeds the resinous myrrh. Essential oil can also be extracted from the resin (and this by-product might also be referred to as myrrh). Myrrh has been used throughout history either as an aromatic perfume, as an ingredient in incense, or as a medicine. Craig S. Keener, in his IVP (InterVarsity Press) Bible Background Commentary on the New Testament said… Jewish people did not consider perfume sinful, but because this woman is a “sinner” and uses the perfume as a tool of her trade, Jesus‟ acceptance of the gift of perfuming would offend religious sensitivities. One preacher friend of mine (Daniel Trantham) said that … Most say that the ointment in the vessel had a sweet fragrance. [That it was used as an aromatic ointment, and it may have been.] But I believe it was more about the healing properties of the ointment. She was a prostitute and needed those oils to keep her healthy. I think when she broke the alabaster box she was saying, “I have been depending on this oil for my health, but now I’m going to depend on you, LORD!”

So the ointment was like a sweet smelling savor, a sacrifice that was well pleasing to God (cf. Philippians 4:18). But it was also something used for its healing properties.

We see this woman and her Sinful Life. We see this woman and her Sincere Love. But then we see this woman and …

III. Her SAVING LORD (The Plentiful Grace) (Luke 7:47-50) After showing the contrast between how Simon had treated Jesus and how this sinner had treated Jesus, He declared that like the debtor with the large debt (vs. 41 & 43), “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” (vs. 47). And because she realized that the great debt of her sin had been forgiven, “she loved much.” As Eugene Peterson paraphrased it, “She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful” (from The Message). And here in the text …

A. Jesus Mentioned Her FORGIVENESS (Luke 7:48-49) And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. {49} And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? A. T. Robertson explained that when Jesus said to the woman, “Thy sins are forgiven,” He meant that her sins… “Remain forgiven,” … in spite of the slur of the Pharisee. Albert Barnes said of Christ’s statement in verse 48… What a gracious assurance to the weeping, loving penitent! How that voice, spoken to the troubled sinner, stills his anguish, allays his troubled feelings, and produces peace to the soul!

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Just as Simon’s inner thoughts had been revealed in verse 39, you’ll notice that the inner thoughts of the other dinner guests are revealed in verse 49. (“they … began to say within themselves” – vs. 49) Warren Wiersbe said of these inner questionings that… The legalistic critics at the dinner were shocked when Jesus said, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.” By saying this, Jesus was claiming to be God! (see Luke 5:21) But He is God! Cf. (Luke 5:21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? Not only did Jesus mention her Forgiveness, but then …

B. Jesus Mentioned Her FAITH (Luke 7:50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. T. L. Cuyler (in The Biblical Illustrator) said… It is not every faith that saves the soul. There may be faith in a falsehood which leads only to delusion, and ends in destruction. There is a faith that saves; it puts us into immediate and vital and permanent union with the Son of God. What was the nature of this woman‟s faith? Was it merely an intellectual opinion, a clear conviction that this wonderful man of Nazareth was a strong and sympathetic character whom she could trust? Yes, it was that, and a great deal more. It was a transaction by which she approached Christ humbly, embraced His very feet, acknowledged her sinfulness, and relied on Him to do for her some great spiritual good. The woman was really saved through her faith [“by grace through faith”]. Jesus Christ Himself did the saving work. When I turn the faucet in my house, it is not the faucet or the water-pipe that fills my empty pitcher. I simply put my pitcher in actual connection with the inexhaustible reservoir which is at the other end of the pipe. When I exercise faith in a crucified Savior, I put my guilty self into connection with His Divine self, my utter emptiness into connection with His infinite fullness. This is the faith which the apostles preached, and which you and I must practice. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. She was saved (delivered, protected, and spiritually healed by God) because she had believed in Jesus! Jesus mentions her Forgiveness. He mentions her Faith. And then, in a brief word …

C. Jesus Mentioned Her FUTURE (Luke 7:50) And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. William Hendrickson wrote in the Baker New Testament Commentary … “Go in peace,” says Jesus, as he dismisses her. Certainly nothing less than what is implied in the Hebrew Shalom, prosperity for both soul and body, can be meant here. This peace is the smile of God reflected in the heart of the redeemed sinner, a shelter in the storm, a hiding-place in the cleft of the rock and under his wings. It is the rainbow around the throne whence issue flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder (Rev. 4:3, 5). The Pulpit Commentary said that Jesus now sent… … her from His presence back again into the ordinary life of the busy world, but bearing along with her now His mighty priceless gift of a peace which passeth understanding. The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says that … The expression, “in peace,” is literally “into peace” [eis eireeneen] - „into the assured and abiding enjoyment of the peace of a pardoned state.‟

Her path now and into the future would be a path of having the peace of God.

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Conclusion: Several times in recent years, I have come across an article by Amy Young called: “An open letter to pastors {A non-mom speaks about Mother‟s Day}.”3 And in the article, she writes about the awkwardness and embarrassment of being a childless woman in her late thirties on Mother‟s Day when the pastor asks all the mothers to stand up and be recognized. Admittedly, we‟re going to do that here in just a little bit. And I believe it is a blessing to be able to acknowledge motherhood on this day. But regardless of your status, whether you are a mother or whether you‟ve never been a mother, whether you‟re married or widowed or divorced, … whether you‟re a man or a woman, whether you‟re a grown-up or a child, … regardless of your status, you can go away from here today as Jesus said, “in peace”; knowing the peace of God in your hearts as a result of being saved. You know, it wasn‟t just this woman who was “a sinner.” The Bible says that we are ALL sinners. We all need to be saved and to know Jesus as our Savior. And if you realize that today, I want to invite you to come to the front and let me pray (or someone else) pray with you and explain to you more about what it means to be saved. Maybe you are saved, and you just want to come and bow at the altar today and do what this woman did, and express your deep gratitude for what Jesus has done in your life. Whatever way you need to respond this morning, you do that right now in this time of invitation and response.

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https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328460.500-stephen-hawking-at-70-exclusiveinterview.html#.VU5JVvlViko 3 http://www.messymiddle.com/2012/05/10/an-open-letter-to-pastors-a-non-mom-speaks-about-mothers-day/ 2