Some Pharisees presumed Jesus Christ as a fake prophet for allowing a woman they considered a sinner to anoint him with expensive oil. The Pharisees believed Jesus violated the rule of being a righteous prophet for allowing sinners to come too close. The scripture reported,
“…Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (Luke 7:36-47).
Lesson:
Christianity requires spiritual exercise and spiritual understanding; it should not be misinterpreted as if it is an exercise that can only be analyzed with ordinary human knowledge. It takes a spiritual person to understand the things of the spirit, and it also takes a spiritually inclined person to make an accurate judgment in any situation. No believer will be able to adequately satisfy God without the leadership of the Holy Spirit in his/her life. Some characteristics of true Christianity are thereby presented:
1. A good Christian will always pray for infilling of the Holy Spirit
2. A good Christian will always ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit
3. A good Christian will always follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit
Prayer:
Dear God, please baptize me with your Holy Spirit. Let him (Holy Spirit) guide and direct me to do all things according to your purpose. Do not let me act in the flesh or follow emotional leading. Let my decisions be based on the leadership of your Holy Spirit. Please give me grace and strength to faithfully follow your guidance so that I can prosper every day of my life. For in the name of Jesus Christ, I make my requests. Amen.
