The Fellowship that Enriches Us

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher” (Luke 7:36-40).

From the beginning of His ministry on earth the pattern was clear. The Word of God became incarnate and dwelt among men in order to reveal the grace, truth, and glory of God… “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The result was an ever-increasing crowd of followers wherever He went. But Jesus did not come to make followers. He came to make disciples. In word and deed His ministry was a relentless confrontation with His truth that challenged followers to step away from the crowd and closer to Jesus in order to mature from follower into disciple. In today’s text we see the Master provoking a follower who was a Pharisee to become His disciple by introducing him to the fellowship that enriches us.

The Pharisee gained an audience with the King. The Spirit did not inspire Luke to reveal much about the motivation behind Simon’s invitation to Jesus to come and dine with him. His reaction to the appearance of the woman “who was a sinner” implies that he had a judgmental heart. Perhaps he was following Jesus to find some way to discredit Him. Maybe he invited the popular celebrity into his home to gain some fame for himself. What we do know is that Jesus accepted Simon’s invitation without hesitation, knowing all that was in his host’s heart… “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?’” (Matthew 9:4). The Spirit reveals an important truth about Christ here. Though He is the Son of God, He is also the Son of Man. At the top of His list of priorities is seeking and saving the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He is eager to respond to seekers, no matter the motivation of their hearts… “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Jesus is always eager to meet with an earnest seeker.

The Pharisee witnessed the forgiveness of the Savior. The celebrity that brought attention to Simon’s home also attracted the devotion of a well-known sinner. She was not on the Pharisee’s dinner guest list, but she was on the Lord’s heart from the moment she entered the room. Her devotion prompted some serious questions in Simon’s heart, but the questions were not about the woman, they were about the guest of honor. How could such a popular figure risk His reputation by associating with such a well-known sinner? Jesus’ attention to the woman would reveal a precious truth about the depth of God’s forgiveness to the Pharisee if he was willing to learn from his guest… “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man” (Mark 3:28). Jesus is always willing to forgive any repentant sinner.

The Pharisee learned a lesson from the Teacher. The real reason for the Master’s acceptance of the Pharisee’s invitation became clear as Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to say to you”. Wow! Jesus had truth He wanted to reveal to a Pharisee! Religious leaders and scribes already knew all the truth of the law. In fact, many of them followed Jesus hoping to catch Him breaking the law. With the words “Say it, Teacher” Simon revealed a willingness to consider truth from the lips of Christ. The Spirit reminds us of Christ’s promise that diligent disciples will discover truth in God’s word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Jesus is always eager to teach a diligent disciple.

As we grow up into Christ and devote increasing time with Him and His Word we are blessed by…

The Fellowship that Enriches Us.