The Woman Washing Jesus' Feet with Her Tears - Luke 7:38

Luke the beloved physician wrote 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, 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, ...”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-eight of his book Luke shared how the woman, “stood at his feet behind him weeping” where we read:

And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

The verse reads, “And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, ...” Luke began with the words, “and stood at his feet” or “the woman was standing in the rear of where Jesus' physical feet were located”, “behind him weeping” which means “ was standing in the rear of where Jesus lay His feet and she began to mourn, weep and lament”, “and began to wash his feet with tears” or “and the woman started moistening and wetting Jesus' feet with the tears from her eyes”, “and did wipe them” which means “and the woman began to wipe away her tears from Jesus' feet” “with the hairs of her head” or “using the hair upon her physical head”. Luke shared how the woman took a humble position to the rear of Jesus' feet and began to cry. Her “tears” fell upon Jesus' feet, and she began to wipe off her “tears” using her hair.

The verse goes on to say “... and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” Luke continued with the words, “and kissed his feet” which means “and tenderly and earnestly kissed the physical feet of Jesus”, “and anointed them” or “and rubbed Jesus' feet” “with the ointment” which means “using the expensive perfumed oil which was in the alabaster box”. Luke shared how the “sinful” woman also “affectionately kissed” Jesus' physical “feet” and began to “rub” them with the “perfumed oil”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we notice how this “sinful woman” was overcome by the presence of Jesus, and she began to softly “cry”. Her “tears” flowed upon Jesus' feet, so she began to “wipe” His “feet” with her hair. Afterward she took the “perfumed oil” from the “alabaster stone box” and began to “anoint” Jesus' feet with the “ointment”. This demonstrated her humility and desire to worship Jesus for the “Savior and Lord” He was meant to be, and she understood that no one else could change her life but Him. God loves people who will humble themselves, offer their most “expensive” form of worship and receive His Son Jesus into their lives. Those who study and think through what this woman did should see a perfect example of how Jesus desires that we come to Him, and when we do, He is willing to give us what we need.

Next time Luke shares what the, “Pharisees which had bidden him saw it” did, 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".