Glynnis Whitwer Team Member
of Proverbs 31, Women's Ministries
Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
(NIV)
Reading:
There
once a Pharisee named Simon who was very sure that if God had a list of favorites, he would be among the first. As a member of the Jewish elite, took pride in keeping the Ten Commandments and wear clothing that distinguished it from ordinary people. As a Jew, like generations before him, Simon hoped that God would send the promised Savior.
There once was a woman who was just as safe. However, she was sure she was not on anyone's list. Knew it was not worthy of anything but contempt for men and women he met. She was a woman who had not saved any rules of God, or of the men and had no hope that ever accepted.
And amid all this was Jesus. Disturbing and disconcerting, broke the laws of men to follow God, and filled with love to those who thought they were the least deserving.
These three are the key characters of a story found in Luke 7, verses 36-50. Simon had invited Jesus to dinner, but did not show any kind of basic courtesy. Jesus did not washed their feet. Did not give him a kiss on the cheek, and his head anointed with oil. All Attendees should have noticed this lack of courtesy. In the air must have felt the tension. It was as if Simon would have been slapped Jesus.
As dinner progressed, a woman across the yard. She knelt next to Jesus, tears streaming down her cheeks and fell splashing the feet of Jesus. She took her hair down and gently wiped the mud from the feet of Jesus. Then anointed them with perfume. His feet were dirty, cracked and calloused, but it was beautiful.
Scripture tells us how this woman knew Jesus, but is clear that he knew enough to act in a very detailed way to show your love and gratitude.
A Simon must have upset this display of emotion. Simon Judge, whose heart was linked to pride, a woman judge and Jesus. In Simon's heart was no love.
is at that moment Jesus reads the thoughts of Simon. Simon himself said: "If this man were a prophet, would know who is who is playing, and what kind of women: a sinner."
Jesus
recognizes the thoughts of Simon and teaches a lesson about forgiveness and love.
What impresses me about this story is the parable Jesus teaches that it is important enough to treat by itself, but the fact that Simon has spent his entire life waiting to see the Messiah. Jesus was the fulfillment of the promise for all ancestors of Simon and yet, when the Messiah, God incarnate, entered the house of Simon, and he did not recognize him.
In Matthew 5 Jesus taught what we now call "The Beatitudes." In the verse 8, Jesus says these words: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." The truth of these words was demonstrated in the story of Simon.
Simon made sure that the outside of his life had very good looks, but neglected the state of his heart. Simon did not see his need for forgiveness, or that needed a savior. The woman in the story was quite the opposite. The outside of your life was a mess before I met Jesus, but she knew she had a great need for salvation. His heart was stripped of pride and overflowed with love. Think then what the two saw God?
A clean heart ... the ability to see God ... is it possible for me ? Only with the help of God and a willingness to be completely honest with regard to the sin that has been hiding in my heart. I know I'd rather have the heart of this woman and see God work in my life, to be linked to pride and miss it.
Dear Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to those who seek you with humility. Help me find any sin that has ignored or forgotten in my heart. I long to be front of you with a clean heart and I know I need your help. In Jesus name, Amen.
Steps for implementation:
Pray Psalm 139:23-24. Ask God to reveal any sin lurking in your heart walk. You have a commitment to ask God for forgiveness for this sin and seeks assistance to deal with the same .
Related Resources:
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Reflections:
What are the risks this woman to come to the house of Simon and bow to the Jesus' feet?
What are some easy to hide sin in our hearts?
What risks and benefits face when we are honest about sin we hide in our hearts?
verses that give you strength:
Luke 7:47: "Therefore I tell you if she loved much, is that her many sins have been forgiven." (NIV)
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way, and lead me in the way everlasting. " (NIV) Psalm 51:10 "Create in me, oh God, a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (NIV)
© 2010 by Glynnis Whitwer. All rights reserved.
Thanks for your help in translating this devotional.
Natasha Curtis
Waleska Nickerson
Veronica Young