Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. – Luke 7:44
In the ancient Middle East, the master of the house customarily provided water at the door so that those who entered could wash their dusty feet. Simon, a Pharisee, had obviously overlooked this important detail. The Savior used this oversight as a point to teach His host an important lesson about God’s forgiveness, grace, and personal worship.
A woman who was a prostitute had been waiting for the right moment to express her devotion to God. We’re not told how she got into Simon’s house, only that she suddenly began to worship at the feet of the Savior, and every man in the room noticed.
Without hesitation, she bowed before the Lord and broke the seal on a priceless bottle of perfumed oil. Obviously, she had heard Him teach and had repented of her sin. Nothing is so sweet to the Savior as the fragrance of our repentance.
This was her opportunity to say “thank you” to God for what He had done in her life. The perfumed oil she poured over His feet was very costly. Yet Jesus didn’t stop her from worshipping Him or question where she had gotten the money to buy such an expensive gift. He knew her actions were motivated by pure devotion to God. He also realized that her sacrifice was costly and that she would remember it for the rest of her life.
Though she didn’t know it, she was anointing the Savior for his burial. Simon the Pharisee, however, didn’t even offer a simple pan of water so Jesus could wash His feet. Instead, he acted in a typically legalistic fashion. He questioned why Jesus would allow such a display of affection, especially knowing that this woman was a sinner.
God loves each one of us. This woman fell at Christ’s feet, knowing that He had forgiven her many sins. She was there to worship Him. And today is the day that you can do the same.