Luke 7:36-50
Genuine repentance knows no limits, surrender all to Jesus.
I got my revelation of this passage studying it together with another disciple. It will be great if a picture represents the background setting.
The invitation
A Pharisees invited Jesus for a meal together (Luke 7:36). This happened, probably, before the tensions between Jesus and the Pharisees.
What it means when people eat together?
It is more than the consumption of food. Closer ties as people bond over meals. Just like current time. These bonds are among friends and families. Jesus loved eating with people including sinners and tax collectors.
The host
The host greeted guests with a holy kiss (Luke 7:45) and provided water for their dusty feet to be washed (John 13:4-5).
The host poured perfumed oil on the heads of his guests (Luke 7:46). This depended on the occasion and the host’s wealth.
The host served meals depended on the occasion and the wealth of the host.
The guests
Guests washed their hands at the table in the sight of everyone. Water was passed and everyone saw that hands were washed. The Pharisees criticized Jesus because His disciples ate without washing their hands (Mark 7:3).
Seating arrangements
How did the woman managed to go into the house where Jesus, the host and guests were seated? Meals were usually eaten outside but even when eaten inside, spectators could come inside and watch the festivities of the rich.
Guests were seated by age or importance (Genesis 43:33; Luke 14:1-14). The place of honour was in the middle of the table where no more than three people sat. Special honour went to the one who sat on the right-hand side of the host and reclined in his bosom.
Jesus sat down or reclined to eat (Luke 7:36b). Like a later occasion “the Lord’s Supper” (Mark 14). People reclined to eat on cushions, couches, or divans (Amos 6:4; Esther 1:6; John 21:20). Guests leaned on the table with their left elbow and ate with their right hand (See picture).
Reclining at the table
A Roman dining room was called a triclinium because it contained three couches, set around a central table. The table was a low block with couches around it on three sides. There would be a single couch in the middle, where the host would sit, and one couch to his left, and one to his right, opposite each other. The side opposite the host would be left open for people to bring food to the table. The couches would be covered by a cushion, or a cushion would be provided for the guest to lean on. The guests approached the table from behind the couches, then reclined on their left side, supporting their head on their left elbow, leaving their right hand free to take the food. A normal Roman triclinium would seat nine people, with three on each couch. For the last supper there were thirteen people present. Either they used larger couches, or laid on cushions on the floor, or were closely squashed together as particularly intimate friends.
Their feet would stretch out behind them, away from the table. This would make it quite easy for Jesus to go round and wash the disciples’ feet without them having to move (Jn 13:1-17), and for “the woman” come in and anoint Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:37-38) without having to climb over Jesus to anoint His head.
Learnings from Luke 7:36-50
1) Genuine repentance knows no limits
Mary poured a bottle of expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus. Then, in what may have been an even more daring act, she wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3). Not only did Mary sacrifice what may have been her life’s savings, she also sacrificed her reputation. In first-century Middle Eastern culture, respectable women never let down their hair in public. But true worship is not concerned about what others think of us (2 Sam. 6:21–22). To worship Jesus, Mary was willing to be thought of as immodest, perhaps even immoral.
2) Real repentance receives real forgiveness
The Lord Jesus, obviously happy at the woman’s sincerity in repenting of her sin, spoke to His host about God’s forgiveness. He told the Pharisee that though this woman was a sinner, her genuine repentance is received and is rewarded with complete pardon.
Such is the wonderful truth that all of us should know. Anyone who repents, regardless of history or background, can and will be forgiven by God if the repentance is genuine. Even if the people around us won’t believe in our repentance, God sees the real issue inside our hearts.
3) Sincere repentance doesn’t care about public opinions
The woman did her act of repentance inside the house of a Pharisee, religious leaders known for their strict adherence to the Law. This woman, a “sinner” as she is, will not be given any room in a Pharisee’s house. Yet, here she is, braving the people’s rejection so she can come and repent before the Lord.
