The Woman with the Alabaster Jar

1. Read: Luke 7:36-50

2. About the Text:

1) We need to be like Jesus more and more every day.

2) This story from Luke teaches us some things about Jesus that we need to know.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Simon invited Jesus to his house.

1) Jesus did not reject him.

2) What were Simon’s motives?

3) He was a Pharisee.

4) He probably didn’t like what Jesus had to say.

2. The woman invited Jesus to have his feet washed.

1) She was not invited to the house.

2) Luke says she was a sinner.

3) This was a real risk for her.

4) Jesus let her wash his feet.

3. Will we invite Jesus today?

1) He wants us to invite Him into our lives.

2) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

3) We need to listen to what Jesus has to say.

1. Luke made it clear that this woman was a sinner.

1) She may have been a prostitute as some have suggested.

2) The alabaster jar she had was a common container for perfumes for women.

2. Simon saw her as a sinner to be rejected.

1) Was it because of her reputation? Or his experience?

2) He may have seen her as ritually unclean.

3) But what is she doing in his house?

4) Why hadn’t Simon called her to repentance?

3. Jesus saw her as a person to be accepted.

1) He saw her godly sorrow for her sin – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor.7:10).

2) He saw her giving spirit.

3) He saw her love for others in her sacrifice.

4. Jesus came to save sinners.

1) “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).

2) “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

1. The woman brought her best to Jesus.

1) She cleaned Jesus feet with her tears.

2) She used her hair, a woman’s crown and glory, to dry Jesus’ feet.

3) She even kissed Jesus’ feet.

4) The alabaster jar held expensive perfume that could only be used once.

5) In all aspects, she offered Jesus a real sacrifice.

6) Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.”

2. Simon treated Jesus as an inferior.

1) He did not offer water to Jesus to clean his feet.

2) He did not greet Jesus with a kiss, which was customary.

3) He did not offer Jesus oil for his head.

4) Simon invited Jesus into his home to judge Him, not to learn from Him.

5) This is clear from verse 39.

3. Jesus knows the difference between sincere devotion and pretension.

1) “Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:7-9).

2) “But all their works they do to be seen by men” (Matthew 23:5).

1. Simon invited Jesus to dinner to confirm his disbelief.

1) He didn’t treat Jesus like a guest.

2) He questioned Jesus’ reputation as a prophet, much less, the messiah.

3) He and his friends at the table expressed dismay that Jesus forgave sins.

4) They were like the foolish man who heard Jesus’ words, but did not do them (Matthew 7:26-27).

2. The woman came to dinner to express her belief.

1) She sought Jesus out where she wasn’t wanted.

2) She gave Jesus her most costly possession.

3) She sacrificed of her own person.

4) She believed that Jesus was the rock of her salvation.

5) “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).

3. Jesus forgave her sins, but not Simon’s.

1) Jesus had mercy to her because of her devotion, contrition, and repentance.

2) He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

3) He said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

4) She received forgiveness and peace because of her faith.

5) Why would Jesus do this for her? Because he loved her.

6) Jesus loved Simon too, but could not forgive him because he wouldn’t let Jesus do it.

1. From this story we learn about Jesus.

1) Jesus response to all invitations.

2) Jesus chooses to see the good in people, not the bad.

3) Jesus sees and knows real sacrifice.

4) Jesus rewards faith in Him.

2. Invitation