RPG Adults
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS SELF-ABASEMENT
LORD’S DAY, MAY 25
Luke 7:36-50
Luke 18:9-14
“…Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven; for she loved much…”
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS VERSUS SELF-ABASEMENT
In this account, we again see the humility of Jesus. Jesus could see into the heart of man. When Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus for dinner in his house, it was not because he loved Jesus. Simon had Jesus over to his house to trap Him if he could, to find some incriminating evidence against Him. This we can see from his snide remark inwardly against Jesus when a woman came to anoint Jesus with perfume. He was quick to criticise Jesus. He questioned whether Jesus was truly the great Prophet (cf. Luke 7:16). In self-righteousness, he judged that if Jesus were truly a prophet, he would have known that the woman who was anointing His feet with perfume was a sinner, and would have rejected her.
What is remarkable about the whole episode is that Jesus though knowing the heart of Simon — that Simon despised Him — accepted his invitation. Simon dispensed with all the customary courtesies accorded to invited guests. He treated the Lord shabbily. He did not provide water to wash Jesus’ feet, welcome Him with a kiss, or anoint His head with oil. The reception was a cold and patronising one. It was an insult.
This woman who had been forgiven of her sins is a good example of what it means to take on the yoke of Jesus, and to learn from Him. She emulated the conduct of Jesus by putting on His yoke of humility. She humbled herself before Jesus by cleaning His feet with her hair and her tears. She honoured Jesus by anointing Him with expensive perfume in deep gratitude.
Who displayed true faith and, as a result, received God’s blessing? Not the self-righteous Simon, but the self-abasing woman. If we want to receive God’s forgiveness, we must be like her.
THOUGHT: “The chief praise of Christians is self-renunciation.” (Calvin)
PRAYER: Father, I am eternally grateful to Thee for saving me from my sins.