Luke 7:36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”
He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Historically, ever since the Gospel was reclaimed at the time of the Reformation, the preaching of God’s Word of salvation has included two parts, the Law and the Gospel. The first part is the Law; I would not come to have known sin except through the Law. Romans 7:7 One purpose of the Law is to explain to people whose consciences are dull and hearts are hard how they have sinned against their Creator, showing them their utter hopelessness, and calling on them to repent. Obeying the Law cannot save you. In fact, no one has ever been justified by the Law because the Law condemns. Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the Law. Galatians 3:11A
However, rather than leaving people in despair as Law breakers, the second part of the message of salvation explains to people the Good News of the Gospel; Christ took upon Himself the punishment that we have all deserved for our sins. Christ bore our sins in his body on the tree… 1 Peter 2:24, which is why The righteous shall live by faith. Galatians 3:11B
If we are to save those who are captured by this sin, then we must speak that wonderful word, the first word of salvation, which is “repent.”
(O. Palmer Robertson, 2022 General Assembly, PCA)
The Pharisees, being self righteous, were self-assured. They were certain that they needed nothing from Jesus. Like many of our contemporaries, they believed that because they were pretty good they had done enough to earn their way into heaven. To the Pharisees, Jesus was not a Savior, rather, if anything, they thought Jesus was a false religious teacher that they intended to entrap and discredit.
On the other hand, the prostitute, understanding the Law of God, and, therefore, knowing that her sin and shame was great, worshipped at Jesus’ feet. And in understanding that her sin was great, she came to realize that the love of Christ, forgiving her from her sins was even greater. She sought salvation not by her works for she had not obeyed the Law. Rather she was graciously granted salvation by her faith for Christ had obeyed the Law and would stand in her place before God the Judge.
The self-righteous Pharisees, placing their faith in their works, again accused Jesus of violating their religious laws by allowing a sinner to touch him. But Jesus, who came to seek and to save the lost, Luke 19:10, further offends the Pharisees by forgiving the sins of the woman worshiping at his feet, telling her that because of her faith in Christ she was granted salvation and peace.
Isn’t that just what our restless, searching, despondent, lost contemporaries need to seek and find: salvation and peace from the fear of both meaninglessness and death?
It would be wonderful if we found that a grand cosmic drama was going on in which we human beings play a starring role. We haven’t… We are in the position of a company of players, that have by chance, found their way into a great theater. Outside the city streets are dark and lifeless, but the theater lights are on, the air is warm, and the walls are wonderfully decorated… The players are just amusing themselves and they will have to return to the darkness outside the theater…This is the melancholy view of human life.
(Steven Weinberg, Living Philosophies, Edited by Clifton Fadiman, Doubleday, 1990)
Contrary to Dr. Weinberg’s cosmic atheistic pessimism, there is indeed a “grand cosmic drama.” It is our joy to invite everyone to faith in the truth of God’s Revelation. Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. 2 Corinthians 5:11