Ex-sinners Make Wonderful Worshippers – Part 1

David W Palmer

(Luke 7:36–50 NKJV) Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. {37} 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, …

This is an amazing story about true appreciative worship. It has three main characters: Jesus, a woman who “was” a sinner, and a very “obvious” Pharisee. Regarding the woman, the emphasis here is on “was”; she “was” a sinner. Her life of sin was now behind her; therefore, she was now an ex-sinner. She must have known about Jesus, and came into the “house” where he was in the midst of the gathering. For us, this is a picture of attending a church service. Sadly it was a Pharisee’s house, representing an interesting church. Let’s read on to see what happened:

(Luke 7:37–38 NKJV) … Brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil {38} 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.

Many others came into that meeting with other motives and objectives, but the truly repentant ex-sinner came with only one objective: to worship, to thank, and to express her deep love, appreciation, and devotion to Jesus with all she had—her best. This is amazing worship. What’s more, because it is in his eternal word, this is the worship that God remembers and celebrates eternally.

(Luke 7:39 NKJV) 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.”

Note the Pharisee’s response; although he wanted Jesus in his “house,” his heart wasn’t with Jesus. We see this first by what he was saying to himself; he sounded more like he thought he should be Jesus’s coach than his disciple; he thought he knew more about Jesus’s ministry than Jesus did. Truly, we need to learn by what Jesus does—expand and change our thinking to a new shape and size till our worldview and understanding of reality fits with what Jesus says and does. We should let him inform and expand us, instead of trying to measure, assess, and change him until he conforms to what we already think.

Sadly, we each have to deal with our own personal “Pharisee” that lurks within our fleshly “old” nature; it tries to manifest itself when it sees an opportunity. How often are we tempted to judge another, or to decide if what happens in and through others is really from God. Obviously, if we choose to side with our old nature’s inbuilt Pharisee, we will be limited to the very dim light of our own understanding; and we will be judged by the same standard with which we are judging. Instead, Let’s put off the old man completely with all of his legalistic, deceptive, fleshly, accusative views and judgements.

At times, we too attend meetings in the “house” where Jesus is. But instead of coming with our eyes on the wrong things, let’s resolve to come like this ex-sinner—fixing our eyes only on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith:

(Hebrews 12:2–3 NLT) “… keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (3) Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

Deal with the Pharisee in your flesh today. Don’t box others into their past reputation. Instead, be like Jesus; be sensitive to their love and the way they express it in their worship. And let’s never be caught out judging the work of grace in another person. Don’t criticise their worship, and don’t assess what God is doing in or through others by how it fits with your dogma; rather, allow what Jesus does to assess and read you. Change your thinking; change what you believe; change your very worldview today to what you learn about Jesus and the Pharisee in this story. As long as it is consistent with God’s word and a godly lifestyle, allow others to be themselves; and allow what Jesus does in or through them to expand your understanding of him.

Then, despite the presence of Pharisees and their critical assessments; come into the house where Jesus is, focused only on worshipping him with your best. Love him, thank him, fall at his feet; give your all to him in fully surrendered worship. Even if others judge you, Jesus will never forget your love and worship.