An Alabaster Box of Ointment - Luke 7:37

Luke the beloved physician shared about Jesus, “And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-seven of his book Luke wrote how, “a woman in the city, which was a sinner … brought an alabaster box of ointment” where we read:

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

The verse reads, “And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, ...” Luke began with the words, “and, behold” or “and lo, look and consider”, “a woman in the city” which means “a female human being within the dwelling place where the Pharisee's home was located”, “which was a sinner” or “who was devoted to sin, wicked, heathen and sinful”, “when she knew that Jesus sat at meat” which means “at the time and moment the sinful woman understood, perceived and noticed that Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate reclined to eat food” “in the Pharisee's house” or “within the home and dwelling place of the Pharisee or religious leader”. Luke shared how there was a “sinful woman” who noticed that Jesus had gone inside the “Pharisee's” home to eat food and did the following.

The verse continues, “... brought an alabaster box of ointment,” Luke added words, “brought an alabaster box” which means “carried, bore and provided a box made of alabaster stone in which unguents are preserved” “of ointment” or “containing perfumed oil”. Luke shared how the “sinful woman” carried in a “box” made of “alabaster stone” which contained a very expensive “perfumed oil” like “myrrh”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn of a woman who had a “wicked” reputation who noticed that Jesus went inside the “Pharisee's” home to eat. She carried with her an “alabaster stone box” which contained an expensive “perfumed oil”. In other words, she came bearing a “gift” for Jesus. We shall learn what this woman does with the box and the perfume within it in the next few verses, but for now let us envision this “needy” woman coming to Jesus with her form of worship. God loves us to come to Him just as we are and without regard to our reputation or past. When we come to His Son Jesus humbly like this “woman”, we shall find Him ready to receive us and bless us for our submission to Him.

Next time Luke shares how the woman, “stood at his feet behind him weeping”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".