May 7, 2025

Today's Reading: Luke 7:36-50

Daily Lectionary: Exodus 34:29-35:21; Exodus 35:22-38:20; Luke 7:36-50

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.’ And he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:47-48)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

In this passage, the Pharisees directly encounter Jesus’s tendency to scandalize the piety of the arrogant and self-righteous. Here, we see Jesus is invited to dine with the Pharisees, and a woman labeled “a sinner” hears that Jesus will be there and crashes the party. Let’s take a step back and think through all of the implications of this: the Pharisees are the teachers of the law, are all men, and are trying to learn from this interesting rabbi by having a respectable meal with him. Then, their all-male party is crashed by a woman. This is boundary stretching on its own, as this culture certainly had a healthy respect for distinguishing between male and female spaces. But she’s not only a woman; she’s also a “sinner.” The text doesn’t detail the particulars of the woman’s sin, but it’s been widely accepted by scholars, from the context, that she was likely a sex worker. This makes sense, as we are clearly meant to understand that she isn’t just a regular sinner; she’s a pretty grievous public sinner. Yes, we all know that we’re all sinners, but most of us have a hierarchy of sins, and frankly, that type of sin was and is considered especially egregious. So, people let their imaginations work, put together a woman who was a great sinner who obviously had money, and draw a conclusion. We can easily see how the dinner party would be surprised at her arrival, but imagine how brave she must have been. She knew what she was walking into, and instead of waiting for a time when Jesus was on His own, where she could avoid the condemnation of the Pharisees, she marches in with her savings in the alabaster jar and worships her Lord with her love and her tears, because that act was more important than her pride. Jesus knows exactly who she is and what she has done and is more aware of her sin than even she is, yet He uses this to preach on love and redemption. She loves Jesus because she knows how very much she needs saving, and that He can do this. The lesson here is not that bigger sinners love Jesus more, but rather those who know intimately just how very much they need Jesus, who know their weakness, can rest in Him as their strength, especially when the world would shame us for that weakness. We happily give Him everything we have, because we know that we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

For all the faithful women Who served in days of old, To Your shall thanks be given; To all, their story told. They served with strength and gladness In tasks Your wisdom gave. To You their lives bore witness, Proclaimed Your pow’r to save. (LSB 855:1)

- Deac. Eleanor Corrow, Higher Things Board Member and coordinator in LCMS Missionary Services

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

Andrew R. Jones identifies ten lies Satan uses in attempts to dismantle God’s people and His kingdom. Find encouragement in God's Word of Truth and remember the final victory we have in our Savior, Jesus Christ.