Crashing a Party?

At first glance, the story of the 'sinful woman' below may be quite curious. How did this woman enter the house? Wasn't the door locked? Did she crash the party?

Actually, I learned this morning through the IVP Commentary that it was common for people to be able to enter and watch a special dinner, especially when a respected teacher was one of the invited guests. This dinner fits the bill. So, we may imagine that there were many onlookers watching the special dinner unfold.

³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:37-42)

So it wasn't shocking that the woman was there but her proximity to Jesus and the intimacy of her act toward him. She moved out of the crowd, wiped his feet, kissed his feet, and undid her hair to wipe them. At the time, this was an extremely culturally shocking event! In fact, I don't think I've ever witnessed anything so shocking in a personal way.

The Pharisee's response must've been partly a response to this shocking event, but it also magnifies the 'separationism' theology of the time. There were the pure (the prophets) and the unclean (sinners), and those who were pure and upright needed to keep their distance, keeping their distance from sinners. Such a mindset let to the rebuke of which Luke often comments (5:29-32, 15:1-2, 18:9-14).

But time after time, we see examples that prove that Jesus is not of this mindset. Separation is not the name of the game. In fact, his critique suggests that the Pharisees, who have not expressed such great love, have not truly recognized the forgiveness of sins.

For, I am of the believe that the amount in denarii here is merely symbolic. We are not supposed to measure our sin against another person's, but measure our sin against the price that was paid on the cross. In that respect even the smallest sin (if there exists such a thing), is certainly more than $500... it cost a death on the cross by our Lord Jesus.

Separationist theology has no place in Christianity... for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thank you, Father, for all that You have done for us. We love You so much for all You have forgiven, all our lives. Help us not to forget how You have restored us to You... the beautiful work of restoration that You have done, allowing us to come close to You.