Luke 7:36-50

Second in a three-week series on Worship with Judy Herminghaus

In this passage is the story about Jesus being invited into a Pharisee’s home but is not welcomed with any of the customary forms of hospitality. An unnamed “sinful woman” comes into the dining hall and anoints Jesus with her perfume and tears and in so doing goes beyond the acts of hospitality that were lacking. She is the heroine of the story as she faithfully responds to Jesus (she is a sinner in need of forgiveness and comes to Jesus for that forgiveness). She is contrasted to the religious rulers who don't really know who Jesus is, show no welcome to him, do not worship him, and are completely unaware that they are sinners. The outcome is that she is forgiven and she shows it by her love. She is a picture of a true worshipper in the New Testament because she received the one that God sent, Jesus (who is God with Us). True worship in the New Testament then, is to receive Jesus and live lives filled with love and thankfulness.