For She Loved Much

“I came into your house.  You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.  You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little” Luke 7:44-47.

Back in the time of Jesus when someone would visit the home of another it sometimes involved walking great distances.  Regardless of the length of the journey, there were customary gestures of hospitality when entering someone’s home.  ‘Upon entering, every guest left his sandals outside the door.  Usually there were slaves ready to wash the dust from the sandaled feet of their guest and to pour sweet olive oil over their heads to soften their parched skin.  A kiss from the host upon the cheek was the ordinary salutation upon arrival.  Anointing was also a mark of honor which was usually bestowed upon the distinguished guest’ BibleStudyTools.com.  Any one of these gestures would have contributed to the honor Jesus deserved, but Simon the Pharisee did not even offer the minimal gesture of a slave washing His feet. 

I started thinking about that this morning…are we also approaching God with minimal gestures of our love?  Are we only doing the bare necessity to appear as a Christian?  Are we waiting on others to serve Jesus for us?  Are we judging the sins of others, totally oblivious to our own blatant shortfalls?  The woman’s example is one we should follow when approaching Christ.  We should approach Him in deep reverence at His feet.  We should drench Him with deep humility and repentance.  We should adore Him with public love and affection.  Lastly, we should serve Him with the aroma of Christ upon our lives. 

Also blessed is the woman who loves others through the same love she has for her God. "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40.  In the same spirit as our previous examination, we must question ourselves when considering our treatment of others.  Are we doing the minimal things in loving others?  Are we opening our hearts and homes when God offers the opportunities or are we expecting someone else to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters?  Are we serving God through serving others?  To sincerely and completely love God we are to extend this same love to the care and concern of others.  Without it, we are no better than Simon the Pharisee who occasionally and without reverence invited Jesus in.