When you love one person or one thing enough, you are unashamed of how that love is perceived by others.

Biblical worship is placing God at the

of your life.

Luke 7:36 CSB
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Two cultural characteristics of this time and place
1) Hospitality was a huge deal
2) There was a standard protocol for welcoming a guest into your home

–Greet them with a kiss.
–Wash their feet. Or at least provide water for them to do so.
–Provide oil for them to put on their hands.
–For a special guest - anoint their head with oil

Luke 7:36-39 CSB
37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume
38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”

Honor and shame culture.

Clean and unclean culture.

Unclean was not supposed to come in contact with clean.

Things with

were not supposed to be associated with those that were shameful.

Luke 7:40-43 CSB
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Say it, teacher.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” he told him.

50 denarii is roughly equivalent to $10,000 of our money
500 denarii is roughly equivalent to $100,000 of our money

Luke 7:40-43 CSB
44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair.
45 You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in.
46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.
47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The pharisee didn’t even show the

honor to his guest.

The woman used everything

to her to worship Jesus.

We can be

with Jesus. He is not put off by our emotions or affections.

Luke 7:49-50 CSB
49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Her faith saved her. Her heart’s devotion to him

Reveal Answer

overflowed

, leading to her displays of worship.

Psalms 51:14-17 CSB
14 Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—God of my salvation—and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.

God wants your heart.

Worship is a privilege.

By offering your worship, you can please the God of all creation.