We Don't Know Who She was or What She did.

She should have quit, told them all to “take their religion and shove it” that she did not need anything they had to offer, that she had made it just fine without them before and she would make it without them now; then, perhaps in her cultural behavior, spit at their feet and stormed out! But she didn’t. I am sure her feelings toward the group at the table that day were not at the center of her emotions as she was focusing on her mission. She was a sinful woman we are told. Not what one would consider a flattering title. The Pharisee tells us that she was a sinner so we read into it that she was more than likely a whore, or the politically correct term; a prostitute. But we don’t know that she was, all we know is that she was a sinner. Some speculate she was Mary Magdalene out of whom demons had been cast out. She did not act like a demoniac toward Christ when she entered and apparently she still had her sins, which were many Jesus said, before her act; so I don’t think that it was her.  I do not think God intended for us to know who she was because we would not take this incident personal but would read it as a historical account instead of a present day lesson for us. As psychologists and psychiatrists would say we would project our sin onto her. It is a theory in psychology in which humans defend themselves against unpleasant impulses by denying those impulses existence within themselves, while attributing them to others. For example, a person who is rude may constantly accuse other people of being rude. So, a person who is a sinful person would say "this woman was a terrible sinner, which I am not".

She never let what the Pharisee or others thought about her stop her from seeking out Christ. He made Himself available to her that day, or did you think He just happened to be near where she was? Jesus never did anything coincidentally. Every move He made and everything He said was planned; for us. Of all the things this woman may have done or been accused of there is one thing we learn about her that is not listed in her résumé; she knew in her heart that Jesus was worthy of her worship. Jesus knew what she was there for; forgiveness. The moment she came in seeking Him she was forgiven. When a sinner decides to come to the altar they are saved before they ever step out of their seat; because Jesus sees what is in their heart.

For all those who in the eyes of the religious authorities are “sinful men or women” learn a lesson from this lady. It does not matter what “kind of man or woman” you are in their eyes. What matters is who Jesus is in your eyes. Jesus never turned anyone away that came to Him. Learn a lesson from this woman; don’t quit, don’t give up, don’t give in to shame. Bypass all the religionists and go straight to Jesus. He will do for you what He did for her.

 Read about her in the Book of Luke, Chapter 7 starting at verse 36.