Daily Devotional (GPS)
The Woman’s Generous Thanks Echoed Jesus’ Generous Forgiveness
Daily Scripture
Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. 37 Meanwhile, a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster. 38 Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner.
40 Jesus replied, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Teacher, speak,” he said.
41 “A certain lender had two debtors. One owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work [Or five hundred denaria]. The other owed enough money for fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.”
Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.”
44 Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet. 47 This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has shown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other table guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this person that even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
DID YOU KNOW?
Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-7 told similar stories. Bible scholars debate whether these accounts describe the same event or separate occasions. Scholar William Barclay captured the uncertainty: “It must always remain a most interesting question whether the story Luke told is, in fact, the same story as is told by Matthew and Mark and John.” Whatever the answer, he added, “the story is indeed what Jesus called it—the story of a lovely thing.” *
This story had an unseen ‘prequel.’ Verse 47 made it plain this wasn’t the first time Jesus had met this woman—he must have generously extended grace to her earlier. The ungracious Pharisee Simon, who felt no need for grace, was in greater spiritual danger than the grateful woman. Author Philip Yancey asked if we “church people” might be more like Simon than we realize. “Recall the story of Jesus’ dinner at the home of Simon the Pharisee, in which a woman poured perfume on Jesus and provocatively wiped his feet with her hair. Simon was repulsed—such a woman did not even deserve to enter his house!… Why is it, I ask myself, that the church sometimes conveys the spirit of Simon the Pharisee rather than that of the forgiven woman? Why is it that I often do?” ** Jesus asked Simon a piercing question: “Do you see this woman?” “Simon saw only sin, but Jesus saw the woman and her lavish display of humility, nurture, generosity, and love.” ***
- Scholar William Barclay noted that “For a Jewish woman to appear with hair unbound was an act of the gravest immodesty…. The fact that this woman loosed her long hair in public showed how she had forgotten everyone except Jesus.” **** Have you ever sensed yourself limiting generous expressions of gratitude to Jesus—or of grace to others—out of fear about “how it will look”? How much does others’ opinion of you shape your actions?
- Jesus generously saw in the woman a beloved child of God, cause for a party in heaven (cf. Luke 15:7, 10, 32). Simon saw only a ‘sinner’—someone who didn’t deserve attention, respect, or love. Jesus told his story specifically to challenge Simon’s attitude. Spend a few moments in silence and listen. Does Jesus have anything to say to you today (verse 40)?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, deliver me from the inner Pharisee who haunts my heart. Remind me of how much I need your grace, and how much of it I receive every day. Help me generously show it to you and to others. Amen.
GPS Insights
Siphiwe Madi
During 2025 we are introducing you to writers from our global Missions partners every few weeks. They add perspective to our understanding of Resurrection's reach around the world.
Reverend Siphiwe Madi, who serves as lead pastor of the West View Methodist Church in South Africa, wrote today's Insights. He loves helping people to think more deeply about their faith and to find meaningful and practical ways to follow Jesus daily. Whenever he has time, he loves watching soccer either at the stadium or on TV and supports Arsenal, a major English team. He is married to Lwethu and they have 2 children, Esihle and Okuhle.
The Scripture passage for today reminds me of a saying that I heard in my earlier years of following Christ while I was still in High School. The saying, adapted from Jesus’ words, goes like this: “To those to whom much is given, much is expected.” This saying has resonated with me for more than 20 years and somehow still captures my own relationship with God. Over the years as I journey with God, I often can’t hold back my tears when I think of the many experiences of God’s love, favor and grace over my life. Mine has been and continues to be a life in which God shows up in unexpected times and places with exactly what I need for those moments, spiritually, materially, and in other forms.
This has made me live in gratitude to God for God’s generosity towards me. The words of verse 43: “Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.’ Jesus said, ‘You have judged correctly’” are true to my own journey with God. I am one who had the largest debt cancelled and this reality continues to shape how I live out my faith in the world. In other the words, the experience I have of the generous love of God compels me to respond to God with thanksgiving and generosity each day. This is why I spend each day looking for moments and opportunities to be generous towards God, God’s people and God’s creation. Sometimes this generosity is in monetary terms, but often it is through acts of kindness that acknowledge God’s image in other people and caring for creation in small yet valuable ways. This type of generosity enables me to participate in bringing about the Kingdom of God in small but meaningful ways that don’t feel like a burden but in ways that bring joy to my life and those I serve in my local congregation and community.
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