Singapore Moses Supporter Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist

Eastern people reclined on couches at meals with the feet outward behind them. She came behind Jesus and shed tears on His feet. This was a custom among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. It was a mark of affection and reverence. It was practiced by supplicants in making an important request and by conquered people as a token of subjection and obedience.

1. Simon, the host did not show the common courtesy that is always customary with guests by washing My feet, but this woman has tried to make up for what you Simon failed to do. Simon did not greet Jesus with a kiss of welcome but this woman has not ceased to kiss His feet (Lk. 7:38). 

2. Simon did not anoint His head to refresh Him after My long journey of over 21 miles and after His sermon and much work in healing the multitudes of all manner of diseases, but this woman has freely anointed Him with her expensive ointment.

3. However she hath washed His feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Where the soil is dry and dusty and sandals are worn, frequent washing of feet is necessary. It was as much a part of hospitality for a host to see that his guests had their feet washed, as to provide food and lodging (Gen. 18:4; 24:32; 43:24). Basins were always kept ready for this purpose. Servants did this work (1Sam. 25:41; 1Tim. 5:10).

Jesus saw her love she expressed and she expressed it because she loved Jesus so much as her sins were many that are forgiven. Jesus said to her, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little" (Lk. 7:48) 

Christ forgave many people without and before water baptism (Mt. 9:1-7,22 Mk. 5:34; 10:52; Lk. 7:48; 17:19; 18:9-14,42; 19:1-9; 23:43; Jn. 4:49-53; 7:31; 8:30-31 etc.). Faith in the blood of Christ and in His name still saves (Mt. 1:21; Lk. 13:1-5 Rom. 3:24; 10:9-10 Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9 1Jn. 1:9; Heb. 9:22).

April 12 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the woman's actions toward Jesus (specifically, the contrition that she expressed by the tears with which she moistened His feet) were her silent form of asking for forgiveness for her sinful actions. Similarly, the manner in which she dried His feet with her hair and anointed His feet with the ointment that she had brought with her were an expression of her love and thankfulness to Jesus for the forgiveness that she knew He could (and did) give her.

All her silent actions also showed her faith that Jesus was the Son of God, and thus that He would not only know what her actions were indicating and the sins for which she was asking forgiveness, but also that He had the authority to forgive those sins, for which her anointing and kissing of His feet was (as Jesus pointed out to His Pharisee host) an expression of love that the Pharisee had not shown Him.

Further, they showed her humility before Jesus as God, since she had not even presumed to speak to Him, but was forgiven in the same manner as the publican in the parable that Jesus told later in Luke's gospel (Luke 18:9-14), who had not even dared to raise his eyes to heaven while praying, but went home justified. God hears and responds even to silent prayers for forgiveness that are made in contrition and humility.

April 11 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report