The Woman who Led a Sinful Life: repentance, forgiveness, and a display of love and gratitude

She is not known by name but her story is a lesson in devotion, forgiveness and humility. The woman who led a sinful life had a reputation as a notorious sinner, most likely a prostitute. Rather than deny or defend herself, she admitted her sin and made a spectacle of herself in a passionate display of love and gratitude. Luke 7:36-50 tells her story. Jesus forgave her sins and commended her for her great faith and love. Someone who has been forgiven a great deal loves the most. Why is her story significant? What is so important about feet washing? And lastly, the truths we must know about sin. 

After being forgiven for her sins, she wanted to show her gratitude that she took a jar of alabaster, filled with perfume, and entered a home where she was not invited. Kneeling before Jesus, she poured the entire jar onto his feet and proceeded to wash his feet with her tears and her hair (Luke 7:38). This woman’s action highlights a very important lesson that many people may overlook. No matter how sinful, how broken or how entrenched in error one may be, forgiveness is available when we seek it in faith. Jesus promised. Luke 7:50, “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Her story also warns others about judgment. Jesus’s host, Simon the Pharisee, couldn’t believe that Jesus was letting this woman touch him (Luke 7:39). Unfortunately, Christians tend to develop harsh attitudes toward the sins of others.Like Simon the Pharisee, his societal position blinded him to his own sins. Jesus used the woman’s display as a lesson for Simon, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:47).  

Feet Washing is an act reserved for the lowest, most inexperienced servant of the household. As sandals or bare feet were common, travelers coming into a home would remove their sandals at the door. A good host would make sure his guests’ feet were washed and comfortable in his home. It was a duty of hospitality. A show of respect to the guest and a token of humility and affection from the host. In Luke 7:44, Jesus points out that Simon failed as host as he did not provide any water for his feet. It was an unpleasant and humbling task that gained little notice from guests. Did Simon believe that Jesus wasn’t worthy of this customary act? It’s possible. It wouldn’t have been that Simon didn’t know because feet washing has been featured throughout the Scriptures. Genesis 18:1-5, Abraham provided water for his guests to wash their feet. In Exodus 30:19-21, priests were required to wash their hands and feet before entering the temple. Of course, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper (John 13:1-17). It was an act of love and service. A lesson for the disciples to show brotherly humility toward others. 

There is a truth that people have a hard time grasping. It is a simple truth. Sin is sin. There is no sin scale. All sins deserve the same punishment. There are a few truths of sin. First, sin is a cosmic treason against a holy God. “God is holy and everything owes its being to him” (McGarry, 2019). Second, sin comes from mankind’s desire to act independently from God. We are born in sin (Psalm 51:4). We are unable to see the sinfulness of our hearts, our minds, our decisions, and our daily activities. Sin is powerful and pervasive. It is the easy way out. The pleasurable way. The selfish way. Third, sin and death always belong together. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and eternal separation from God. Even if sin seems to have no consequences in life, there is one we experience after death (McGarry, 2019).  Fourth, everyone is a sinner. Everyone! Romans 3:23 says “or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Lastly, sin is great but God is greater. Romans 3:24 says “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

In conclusion, the woman who led a sinful life knew she had done wrong. She knew she deserved any punishment that would come. And yet, it didn’t. She received forgiveness instead. In an act of love and devotion, she washed the feet of Jesus. A task his host did not perform despite the social custom. We, like the woman, have sinned against God. It may not be as socially egregious as the woman or others around us, but sin is sin. Despite our sinful nature, despite our rightful punishment, we have a gift of forgiveness through Jesus. Belief in Him, faith in Him from the heart is all that is needed. 

Reference

McGarry, Mike (May 15, 2019). Five Truths We Must Teach About Sin. Rooted. www.rootedministry.com/five-truths-we-must-teach-about-sin. 

Daniel and Hosea: a study in dreams, visions and warnings

This month’s study is on two books, Daniel and Hosea, and will be a bit longer than usual. Daniel was one of four men who were chosen to learn the language and literature of the Babylonians. He was even given a Babylonian name, Belteshazzar. Everyone knows the stories of the fiery furnace, the lion’s den and the writing on the wall. Few remember Daniel was also an interpreter of dreams and had dreams himself. These dreams foretold the future. Some were fulfilled quickly while others have yet be fulfilled. Hosea is a prophet in the northern kingdom. Hosea’s life is an illustration of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God and his desire for reconciliation. Hosea takes a wife who is unfaithful to him. Despite her unfaithfulness, Hosea remained married. His life became a living, prophetic example of Israel. Hosea also proclaims to Israel the changes against them and the coming punishments.

Daniel interpreted two dreams. First, in Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a large statute. The statue had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze and legs and feet of iron and clay. And a stone destroys each part, leaving no trace. No one could tell him the meaning of the dream until Daniel sought God’s guidance for the meaning (verse 18). Daniel interpreted the dream, telling the king that he is the head of gold. After his kingdom’s time, another kingdom will rise, inferior to his. Each succeeding kingdom will be inferior to its predecessor. The last kingdom is a mixture of iron and clay, mixed but not united. In this last kingdom, God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Many scholars believe this alludes to Christ’s earthly kingdom. Many scholars believe that the silver represents the Medo-Persian Empire, the bronze the Grecian Empire, and iron and clay the Roman Empire. Although, some scholars now believe the iron and clay represents modern world powers and we now wait for the coming of Christ’s kingdom. Second, Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar, once again, has a dream. This time he dreams of a tree. A large and strong tree which gave food and shelter until a messenger, an angel, comes to cut down the tree. Before Daniel gave his interpretation, verse 19 says he was deeply perplexed and it terrified him. The tree is the king and God has issued against him. He will be driven away from the people, to live among the animals. Seven times will pass by until the king acknowledges the Most High is sovereign. One year later, the dream is fulfilled with Nebuchadnezzar took credit for his kingdom (Daniel 4:28-37).

Daniel has dreams and visions himself. First, the dream of the four beasts in Daniel 7:1-14. The first beast was a lion with wings of an eagle. Its wings were torn off and it stood like a man. The second beast, a bear with three ribs in its mouth. A voice told the bear to get its fill of flesh. The third beast is a leopard with four wings like a bird and four heads. It was given the authority to rule. The last beast is the most terrifying, frightening and powerful with large iron teeth and ten horns. It crushed and devoured its victims. God reveals the meaning of the vision to Daniel (Daniel 7:15-28). The four beasts represent four kingdoms that will rise from the earth. Many scholars believe this is an end times vision. Second, the vision of a ram and a goat (Daniel 8:1-14). In it, there was a ram with two horns and a goat with one horn. The goat attacked the ram and the ram was powerless to overcome the goat. The goat’s horn would break off and four more grew in its place. The angel, Gabriel, gives Daniel the interpretation of the dream at God’s command (Daniel 8:15-27). The ram represented the kings of Media and Persia. The goat was the king of Greece. The four horns represent the four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation. These kingdoms will be less powerful than the original kingdom. 

In chapters 4, 5 and 7, Hosea details the charges against Israel. They have no faithfulness, no love, or acknowledgement of God (Hosea 4:1). God is angry at the priests who relished in the people’s sins for they profited from it. Hosea 4:7-8 says “The more the priests increased, the more they sinned against me; they exchanged their Glory for something disgraceful. They feed on the sins of my people and relish in their wickedness.” The more the people sinned, the more they offered as atonement. The priests would live on the offerings as stated in the Law (Leviticus 7:28-36). However, what they could not eat, the priests would sell. They were making money from the people’s sins. So what motivation would the priests have to help the people leave behind their wicked ways? God places the blame on the priests and the kings for the people’s sins. In Hosea 5:1, Hosea writes “Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, O royal house! This judgment is against you; You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.” Mizpah and Tabor may have been prominent sites of worship to the god Baal. Leaders encouraged the people to worship and sin at these sites. With the kings and priests encouraging sins for their own benefit, how could the people of Israel stand a chance to obey God. God still held the people responsible for their sins; however, when the civil and religious leaders whom they looked to for guidance were disobeying God, why should they? God wants to save Israel but they do not call out to him, they do not repent (Hosea 7:13b-14).

The coming punishment for Israel’s unfaithfulness Hosea 9: 17 says “My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations.” Due to their disobedience and their failure to repent and turn back to God, Hosea 10:13 says that the Israelites “have planted wickedness,” they have “reaped evil” and “have eaten the fruit of deception” and depended upon their own strength and “many warriors.” They believed they were safe due to the military might of the northern kingdom. God promised them that with the roar of battle, their fortresses will be devastated (Hosea 10:14). They will live in tents once again like they did when they were brought out of Egypt (Hosea 12:9). However, God still loves this people. He still wants to see them turn from their wickedness. Hosea 14:9 states “Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them? The ways of the Lord are right, the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” It is an appeal to listen, learn and benefit from God’s word. To those who receive the message from Hosea, it meant the difference between life and death. God judges the sin but shows mercy to the sinner when the sinner repents and turns back to God.

In conclusion, the dreams in Daniel were messages, warnings to things to come. Some events could not be stopped like the dream of the statute. It was a look into the future of the major world powers. Some dreams were a warning from pride like Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the tree. God used these dreams and visions to how his people that he is in control of heaven and of earth. He is the one directing the forces of nature, the destiny of the nations and the care of his people. In Hosea, God is the one who is forever faithful to an unfaithful people. In the book, God lists Israel’s sins against him and the terrible consequences if they did not repent and turn back to God. Despite Israel’s sins, God still loved the people. No matter what we do, God still loves us. There is still hope to turn away from sin and turn back to God. He waits for us with open arms, if only we are willing to walk into them. However, if we do not, we will suffer the consequences of our sins just as Israel did.