1) Jesus approaches the Temple/Idol of her life – Her relationships have consumed her. Jesus confronted her on her idols; she admitted her guilt and then called the city to repentance
2) She responds by changing the subject
3) Jesus says it is not about place or time – but about the Truth and Spirit.
4) God is a Spirit we must worship in Spirit, and in Truth. So like all things Spiritual, God must be present.
5) God is actively seeking worshippers. Would we not like to be found by Him?
4) Jesus rewards her act of pure religion undefiled by disclosing – I
am the Messiah – To a non Jew, a fallen woman is first told- I am the Messiah.
Separate teaching on the Spirit of God and Worshipping in Spirit
2Co 3:16 But whenever it turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
2 Cor 3:17 And the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with our face having been unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord Spirit.
Have we looked at this truth, at what this worship looks like?
Mt 26:6 And when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
Mt 26:7 a woman came to Him, having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on His head as He reclined.
Lu 7:36 And one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And going into the Pharisee’s house, He reclined.
Luke 7:37 And behold, a woman, a sinner in the city, knowing that He reclined in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster vial of ointment.
Luke 7:38 And she stood behind Him, weeping at His feet, and she began to wash His feet with tears and wipe them with the hair of her head. And she ardently kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.
Luke 7:39 But seeing this, the Pharisee who had invited Him, spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, for she is a sinner.
John 12:3 Then Mary took a pound of ointment of pure spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
John 12:4 Then said one of His disciples (Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who was to betray Him
Luke 7:40 And answering, Jesus said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he said, Teacher, speak.
Luke 7:41 There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Luke 7:42 And they having nothing to pay, he freely forgave both. Then which of them do you say will love him most?
Luke 7:43 And answering, Simon said, I suppose that one to whom he forgave most. And He said to him, You have judged rightly.
Luke 7:44 And He turned to the woman and said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered into your house,
1) You gave Me no water for My feet.
2) But she has washed My feet with tears,
3) and has wiped them with the hair of her head.
Luke 7:45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
Luke 7:46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with ointment.
Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.
Luke 7:48 And He said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
Luke 7:49 And those reclining with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins?
Luke 7:50 And He said to the woman, Your faith has saved you, go in peace.
1) She worshipped in a house, a feast she was not invited to. She went anyway.
2) Her will, her commitment of mind and will, took her past all the stares and kept her going to find the Master.
3) Her mind had resolved to take her precious ointment to sacrifice to God. Some speculate this ointment the wages of years of prostitution. And so she poured the sum of her life out for the Master.
4) Her emotions broke in tears as she wept on his feet and the tears of gratitude and joy poured on her Master’s feet. The perfume of her prayers rose from His feet and bathed her face, as the sweet smell of her worship filled the room.
5) She took her body and her hair and she wiped his feet. It was total commitment to worship – all of her involved.
6) Simon said look who God allows to touch him. — God looks for worshippers in Spirit and in truth.
7) Judas said what a waste of money, we have a better use for the money for our priorities.
Men will criticize our love for our master but He is our husband and what goes on between God and us, is our private intimate business.
8) But Jesus said, Go in peace …and of that feast we don’t know which royalty was there, we only know who was not invited, who criticized her, and who came back glorified.
Do not expect everyone, even in the church, to like your worship, your music, or your acts of kindness. It is a personal matter between you and your husband; the Lord.
In conclusion:
Let us look at how we worship…
What is it to us??
Is it a mind, body, spirit, and emotional involvement – or is it two songs only sang to organ music in church?
Let us learn to worship. How we do it we will cover another time.
