Luke 7:39 - Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
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What does "Luke 7:39" mean?
This verse from Luke 7:39 reveals the internal thoughts and judgment of a Pharisee named Simon who has invited Jesus to dine at his house. Let's break down what it means:
"Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it..." This sets the scene. Simon, a Pharisee, is hosting Jesus for a meal. Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and their focus on outward religious observance. The "it" refers to the woman's act of approaching Jesus and anointing his feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair.
"...he said to himself..." This indicates that Simon's thoughts are private and not spoken aloud (at least not yet). This is key because Jesus often reads people's thoughts or is aware of their internal judgments.
"This man, if he were a prophet..." Simon doubts Jesus' prophetic abilities. In Jewish tradition, prophets were believed to have special insight and divine knowledge.
"...would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner." This is the core of Simon's judgment. He believes that a true prophet, like Jesus should be, would immediately recognize the woman's sinful nature and, more importantly, would avoid contact with her. Simon's reasoning is based on the Pharisaic understanding of purity and defilement. Contact with a known sinner would have been considered defiling and something a religious leader would avoid.
In essence, the verse means:
Simon believes that if Jesus were a real prophet, he would be aware of the woman's sinful reputation and would not allow her to touch him. Simon is judging both Jesus and the woman based on his own rigid interpretation of religious law and social expectations.
The verse reveals several things about Simon:
He doubts Jesus' prophetic abilities.
He is judgmental and focuses on outward appearances and reputations.
He prioritizes ritual purity over compassion and forgiveness.
He lacks the ability to see beyond the woman's past and recognize her potential for repentance and redemption.
This verse sets the stage for Jesus' parable that follows, where he challenges Simon's perspective and highlights the importance of love, forgiveness, and understanding. Jesus uses the story of two debtors to show that the one who has been forgiven more loves more. He ultimately demonstrates that the woman's act of love and humility is a greater expression of faith than Simon's polite but detached hospitality.
Luke 7:39 - Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
What does "Luke 7:39" mean?
This verse from Luke 7:39 reveals the internal thoughts and judgment of a Pharisee named Simon who has invited Jesus to dine at his house. Let's break down what it means:
"Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it..." This sets the scene. Simon, a Pharisee, is hosting Jesus for a meal. Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to Jewish law and their focus on outward religious observance. The "it" refers to the woman's act of approaching Jesus and anointing his feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair.
"...he said to himself..." This indicates that Simon's thoughts are private and not spoken aloud (at least not yet). This is key because Jesus often reads people's thoughts or is aware of their internal judgments.
"This man, if he were a prophet..." Simon doubts Jesus' prophetic abilities. In Jewish tradition, prophets were believed to have special insight and divine knowledge.
"...would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner." This is the core of Simon's judgment. He believes that a true prophet, like Jesus should be, would immediately recognize the woman's sinful nature and, more importantly, would avoid contact with her. Simon's reasoning is based on the Pharisaic understanding of purity and defilement. Contact with a known sinner would have been considered defiling and something a religious leader would avoid.
In essence, the verse means:
Simon believes that if Jesus were a real prophet, he would be aware of the woman's sinful reputation and would not allow her to touch him. Simon is judging both Jesus and the woman based on his own rigid interpretation of religious law and social expectations.
The verse reveals several things about Simon:
He doubts Jesus' prophetic abilities.
He is judgmental and focuses on outward appearances and reputations.
He prioritizes ritual purity over compassion and forgiveness.
He lacks the ability to see beyond the woman's past and recognize her potential for repentance and redemption.
This verse sets the stage for Jesus' parable that follows, where he challenges Simon's perspective and highlights the importance of love, forgiveness, and understanding. Jesus uses the story of two debtors to show that the one who has been forgiven more loves more. He ultimately demonstrates that the woman's act of love and humility is a greater expression of faith than Simon's polite but detached hospitality.