3359. Penitence, Pardon, and Peace

A Sermon Published On Thursday, June 19, 1913.

And, behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet, behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. {Lu 7:37,38}

For other sermons on this text:

   {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 801, “Woman Which Was a Sinner, The” 792}

   {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 3359, “Penitence, Pardon and Peace” 3361}

   Exposition on Lu 7:18-50 {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2876, “Christ’s Crowning Glory” 2877 @@ "Exposition"}

   Exposition on Lu 7:24-50 {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 2484, “Very Friend You Need, The” 2485 @@ "Exposition"}

   Exposition on Lu 7:36-48 {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 3550, “Earnest Entreaty, An” 3552 @@ "Exposition"}

   Exposition on Lu 7:36-50 {See Spurgeon_Sermons No. 3015, “Two Debtors, The” 3016 @@ "Exposition"}

   {See Spurgeon_SermonTexts "Lu 7:38"}

1. This is a marvellously vivid gospel incident. Every detail is plainly and forcefully presented, so that we can picture the scene, making it live before us, without much mental effort. And yet, in some respects, there is a great reticence, a divine delicacy, gloriously characteristic of so tender a book as the New Testament. The evangelist — “the beloved physician,” Luke — does not lay bare the minute details of this woman’s life’s sins, but rather delights to dwell on the story of her penitence and its fair fruits, and so makes her to shine resplendently as a wonder of redeeming grace. The symptoms of her soul’s horrible malady he reveals in a single phrase, and that in a general description, but on the details of her gracious cure he delights to dwell.

2. We will consider the life of this famous penitent, as the Holy Spirit shall help us, under three points, and notice, first, her former character; then, her deed of love which showed her new character; and, thirdly, our Lord’s treatment of her.

3. I. Let us very briefly look at: — THE WOMAN’S CHARACTER, to begin with, in order that we may see the horrible pit out of which she was taken.

4. We do not know much about her. Roman Catholic expositors generally insist on it that she was Mary Magdalene, but this appears to other writers to have been quite impossible. Certainly it does not seem probable that a woman possessed with seven demons should follow the trade of “a sinner.” Demoniac possession was akin to madness, and it was frequently accompanied by epilepsy, and one would think that Magdalene was more fit to be a patient at an infirmary than an inmate of a reformatory. Some have even been so mistaken as to suppose this woman to have been Mary of Bethany, but this will never do. One cannot associate with the lovely household of Martha and Mary the horrible course of pollution implied in the vice which earned for this woman the special name of a “sinner.” Besides, although both women anointed our Lord, yet the place, the time, the manner were all different. I need not take time to show you the difference, for that is not my purpose just now.

5. This woman was distinguished by the title of “a sinner,” and her touch was regarded by Simon the Pharisee as defiling. We are all sinners, but she was a sinner by profession, sin was her occupation, and probably her livelihood. The name in her case had an emphatic sense which involved shame, and dishonour, of the worst kind. The city streets where she lived could have told you how well she deserved her name. Poor fallen daughter of Eve, she had forsaken the guide of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of her God. She was one of those against whom Solomon warns young men, saying, “Her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead.” Yet just as Rahab was saved by faith, even so was she, for grace covers even a prostitute’s sins.

6. She was a well-known sinner: ill repute had branded her, so that Simon the Pharisee recognised her as one of the city’s unhallowed sisterhood. Her way of life was common gossip; people of decent character would not associate with her, she was cut off from respectable society, and, like a leper, put outside the camp of social life. She was a sinner marked and labelled: there was no mistaking her, infamy had set its seal on her.

7. She was one who had evidently gone a great way in sin, because our Saviour, who was far from being prejudiced against her, as Simon was, and never uttered a word that would exaggerate the evil in anyone, yet spoke of “her sins which are many.” She loved much, for much had been forgiven; she was the five-hundred-pence debtor as compared with Simon, who only owed fifty. It is not difficult to imagine her unhappy story, because that story is so commonly repeated around us. We do not know how she was at first led into evil ways. Perhaps her trustful heart was deceived by flattering words and promises; perhaps the treachery of one too dearly loved led her into sin, and afterwards deserted her to loneliness and shame. Perhaps her mother’s heart was broken, and her father’s head was bowed down with sorrow; but she became bold enough to pursue the sin into which she had at first been betrayed, and became the enticer of others into sin. That long hair of hers, I fear, is rightly called by Bishop Hall “the net which she was accustomed to spread to catch her amorous companions.” She was a sinner of the city in which she lived, and, though her name is not mentioned, it was far too well known in her own day. We do not know for how long she had lived an evil life, but, certainly, she had greatly sinned, for her own flowing tears, as well as the Saviour’s estimate of her life, prove that she had been no ordinary offender. Let equal sinners be encouraged to go to Jesus as she did.

8. But all her sin was known to Jesus. I mention this, not at all as a fact you do not know, but as one which any trembling sinner may do well to remember. If you have fallen into the same vice in a greater or lesser degree, whether others know it or not, Jesus knows all about it. Our Lord allowed her to wash his feet with her tears, but he knew well what those eyes had looked at. When he allowed those lips to kiss his feet, he knew very well what language those lips had used in years gone by; and when he allowed her to show her love for him he knew how foul her heart had previously been with every unhallowed desire. Her evil imaginations and unchaste desires, her lascivious words and shameless acts were all before the Saviour’s mind far more vividly than they were before her own, for she had forgotten much; but he knew it all. With all her tender sense of sin, she herself did not apprehend all the heinousness of her guilt as the perfect mind of Jesus did: and yet though she was a sinner, a well-known sinner, and known best of all to the Saviour to be such, yet, glory be to divine grace, she was not cast out when she came to Jesus, but she obtained mercy, and is now shining in heaven as a bright and special star to the glory of the love of Christ.

9. When this woman stood in the house of Simon she was a believing sinner. We do not know how she became a convert, but, according to the harmony of the gospels, this particular incident fits in just after Matthew 11; that is to say, if Luke has written his story with the intent of chronological correctness — and if the harmonies are right, this passage comes in after the following blessed word, “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest: take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Did this woman hear this gracious invitation? Did she feel that she was labouring and heavy laden? Did she look into the face of the great Teacher and feel that he spoke the truth, and did she come to him and find rest? Doubtless her faith came by hearing: did she hear in some crowd in the street the sweet wooing voice of the Sinner’s Friend? Was this the means of making “the woman who was a sinner” into the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet? We are not informed concerning the particular means, nor is it of any consequence. She was converted, and that is enough; how it came about does not matter. Perhaps even she herself could not have told us the precise words which impressed her mind, for many are most assuredly brought to Jesus, but the work has been so gentle, gradual, and gracious that they feel themselves renewed; but hardly know how it came about. On the other hand, from the marked change in her character, it is highly probable that she did know the day, and the hour, and the precise means: and if so, dear were the words which called her from the ways of folly, sin, and shame. I do not suppose that our Saviour had, at that time, delivered the memorable parable of the prodigal son, but it may have been some similar discourse which won her attention, when she was one in the crowd of Publicans and sinners who drew near to hear the Lord Jesus. Pressing forward among the men to catch those silver tones, so full of music, she wondered about the man whose face was so strangely beautiful, and yet so marvellously sad, whose eyes were so bright with tears, and whose face so beamed with love and earnestness. The very look of that mirror of love may have affected her, a glance at that holy countenance may have awed her, and his tones of deep pity and tender warning — all these held her firm, and drew her to abhor her sin and accept the joyful message which the great Teacher had come to proclaim. She believed in Jesus, she was saved, and therefore she loved her Saviour.

10. When she came to the Pharisee’s house she was a forgiven sinner. She carried an alabaster box in her hand with which to anoint him, because she felt that he had been a priest to her, and had cleansed her. She brought her best treasure to give to him because he had bestowed on her the best of all gifts, namely, the forgiveness of sin. She washed his feet because he had washed her soul, she wept because she believed, and loved because she trusted. She was, when she entered the room, in a condition of rest concerning her forgiveness, for men are seldom deeply grateful for mercies which they are not sure of having obtained. Though after that deed she rose a step higher, and became fully assured of her acceptance, even at her first coming she was conscious of forgiven sin, and for that reason she paid her vows to the forgiving Lord, whom her soul loved.

11. Our text begins with a “behold”; and it may well be so, for a forgiven sinner is a wonder to heaven, and earth, and hell. A forgiven sinner! Though God has made this round world very fair, yet no work of creation reflects so much of his highest glory as the display of his grace in a pardoned sinner. If you range all the stars around, and if it is so that every star is filled with a race of intelligent beings, yet, I think, among unfallen existences there can be no such marvel as a forgiven sinner. At any rate, he is a wonder to himself, and he will never cease admiring the grace which pardoned and accepted him. What a miracle to herself must this woman have been. For a case like hers she had seen no precedent, and this must have made it all the more surprising to her: when your case also appears to stand out by itself alone as a towering peak of grace, do not refrain from wondering and causing others to wonder. “All glory to God,” may some say, “I whose name could not be mentioned without making the cheek of modesty to crimson, I am washed in the blood of the Lamb! I who was a blasphemer, who sat on the drunkard’s bench, who boasted in being an infidel, and denied the Godhead of Christ, I, even I, am saved from wrath through him. I who played a dishonest part, who did not respect the laws of man any more than those of God, I who went to an excess of riot, even I am made whiter than snow through faith in Christ Jesus.”

   Tell it unto sinners, tell,

   I am, I am saved from hell.

Let everyone know it on earth, and let heaven know it, and let the loud harps ring in those celestial halls, because of matchless grace. Behold, then, this woman’s character, and remember, however fallen you may have been, the grace of God can still save you.

12. II. Now, secondly, let us consider, at some length: — THE DEED OF LOVE WHICH INDICATED HER CONVERSION.

13. Her conduct as a convert was wide as the poles are apart from that of her unregenerate state: she became as evidently a penitent as she had been a sinner. One of the expositors on this passage says that he cannot so much expound it as weep over it; and I think every Christian must feel very much in that frame of mind. Oh that our eyes were as ready with tears of repentance as hers were! Oh that our hearts were as full of love as hers, and our hands as ready to serve the forgiving Lord. If she has exceeded some of us in the publicity of her sin, yet has she not exceeded all of us in the fervency of her affection?

14. Let us notice what she did, and the first of twelve matters to which I shall call your attention is the earnest interest which she took in the Lord Jesus. “Behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was dining.” She had a keen ear for anything about Jesus. When she heard the news it did not go in at one ear and out at the other, but she was interested in the information and immediately went to the Pharisee’s house to find him. There were hundreds in that city who did not care a farthing where Jesus was. If they heard the general gossip about him, it did not concern them in the least, he was nothing to them; but when she knew it, she was in motion at once to come even to his feet. Jesus never again will be an object of indifference to a forgiven sinner. If the Lord has pardoned you, you will from now on feel the deepest interest in your Saviour, and in all things which concern his kingdom and work among men. Now, if you have to move to any place, you will want to know first, “Where can I hear the gospel? Are there any lovers of Jesus there?” If you are informed about a town or country, the information will not be complete until you have enquired, “How is the cause of God prospering there.” As you look at your fellow men, the thought will strike you, “How do they stand towards Christ?” When you attend a place of worship, it will not matter much to you whether the edifice is architecturally beautiful, or the preacher a learned man, and a great orator, you want to know whether you can hear about Jesus in that place, and be likely to meet him in that assembly. Your cry will be, “Tell me, oh you whom my soul loves, where you feed?” If you perceive a sweet savour of Christ in the place, you feel that you have had a good Sabbath day; but if Jesus Christ is lacking, you consider everything to be lacking, and you groan over a lost Sabbath. A soul that has tasted Christ’s love cannot be put off with anything short of him, it hungers and thirsts after him, and any good word about him is sweet to the taste. Is it so with you?

15. Notice, next, the readiness of her mind to think of something to be done for Jesus. “When she knew that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house she brought an alabaster box of ointment” — she was quick and ready in her thoughts of service. She would not appear before the Lord empty, but the resolve to bring an offering, and the selection of that offering, were quickly made. She would get that alabaster box of aromatic balsam, the daintiest and costliest perfume that she had, and she would anoint his feet to do him honour. Many minds are inventive for the things of the world, but they seem to have no quickness of thought in reference to the service of Christ: they proceed with dull routine, but never flash out with spontaneous deeds of love. This woman showed an original genius in her love, she was no copier of a former example, her plan of service had the dew of freshness on it. Mary of Bethany did something like it, but that was afterwards: this was the woman’s own original idea. Her thoughtful soul struck out this new path for itself. We need more contriving, inventing, and planning for Christ. See how we act towards those we love: we consider what will please them, and plot and plan some pleasant surprise for them. We put our heads together and ask, “What shall it be? Let us think of something new and original.” That thoughtfulness is half the beauty of the act.

16. Notice, thirdly, her promptness of action. She did not merely think that she had an alabaster box to give, but she took it at once, and hurried to pour out its contents. Dear friend, you have been saved by grace, and you have an alabaster box upstairs which you have long meant to bring down, but it is still there. Half-a-dozen times or more, when you have had your heart warmed by the love of Christ, you have felt that now was the time to bring out the box, but it still remains sealed up. You were so pleased with yourself for having such earnest feelings and generous resolutions that you stopped to admire yourself, and forgot to carry out your resolutions. You have done nothing, though you have intended a great deal. Do you not sometimes feel as self-satisfied as if you had done something wonderful when, after all, you have only mapped out what you think you may possibly do at some future time? Indeed, it is a very easy thing to make yourself believe that you have really done what you have only dreamed about. This is wretched child’s play, and the woman before us would have none of it. She saw the occasion and she seized it. Jesus might not be in her city again, and she might not be able to find him for many a day. The thought struck her, and she struck the thought while the iron was still hot, and she formed it into a fact.

17. Observe, in the fourth place, her courage. She knew that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house, and she soon found him reclining, in the oriental fashion, with his feet near the door, for Simon was so uncivil that he was sure to give him a poor place at the table. Seeing the Lord, she ventured in. It needed great bravery for her to enter the house of a Pharisee, who, more than all things, would dread to be touched by such a character. In her bad times she had seen the holy man gather up his garments, and give her a wide berth on the streets, for fear that she should pollute his sacred person. She must have felt, as all penitent sinners do, an inward shrinking from the cold, hard, self-righteous professor of purity. She would have gone anywhere in that city rather than into Simon’s house. It must have cost her a great struggle to face his frowns and severe remarks. Perhaps, however, I am wrong; indeed, I think I am, for she was so full of the desire to show her love and to honour the Lord Jesus that she forgot the Pharisee. Indeed, and if the devil had been there instead of Simon, she would have dared even him in his den, to reach her Lord. Still, there was much courage needed for one so lowly in her penitence to be able to bear the cold, contemptuous look of the master of the house. Conscious that she had been a castaway from society, yet she courageously fulfilled her mission, fearless of cruel remarks and taunting charges. Oh poor, timid seeking soul, the Lord can give to you also the courage of a lion in his cause, though now you are timid as a hare.

18. When, then, the penitent had reached the Master’s feet, note well how one grace balanced another, and observe her humility tempering her courage. Her boldness was not forwardness nor indelicate impertinence; no, she was as bashful as she was brave. She did not advance to our Lord’s head, or thrust herself where he would readily see her, much less did she presume to address him, but she stood at his feet behind him, weeping. She was probably only a little way into the room, she courted no observation; she was near Jesus, but it was near his feet, and weeping there. To weep at his feet was a high enough honour for her; she sought no uppermost seat at the banquet. Ah, dear friends, it is a blessed thing to see young converts bold, but it is equally delightful to see them humble, and they are none the worse for being very retiring if they have been great sinners.

19. I have been very sorry when I have seen a lack of modesty where it ought to have superabounded. There is more grace in a blush than in a brazen forehead, far more propriety in holy shamefacedness than in pious impudence. Good Bishop Hall says, “How well is the case altered! She had been accustomed to look boldly into the face of her lovers, and now she does not dare behold the awe-inspiring countenance of her Saviour. She had been accustomed to send alluring beams out into the eyes of her paramours, {lovers} but now she casts dejected eyes to the earth, and dares not so much as raise them up to see those eyes from which she desired commiseration.” Lowliness goes well with penitence. One would not wish humility to be corrupted into cowardice, nor courage to be poisoned into pride. This repenting sinner had both excellencies in proper proportion, and the two together put her exactly in the place where a woman who was a sinner ought to be when saved by grace.

20. We see before us our reclaimed sister looking down on the Lord’s blessed feet, and as we notice her flowing tears we pause to speak of her contrition. She gazed on our Lord’s feet, and I wonder whether that sight suggested to her how her feet had wandered, and how travel-worn had become the feet of the Lord, who had sought and found her.

   She knew not of the bitter way

      Those sacred feet had yet to tread,

   Nor how the nails would pierce one day

      Where now her costly balms were shed.

But she saw those feet to be all unwashed, for Jesus had been neglected where he ought to have been honoured; and she saw in it the memory of her own neglects of him who had so freely loved her soul. She wept at the memory of her sins, but she wept over his feet; she grieved most because she had grieved him. She wept because she had sinned so much, and then wept because he had forgiven her so freely. Love and grief in equal measures made up those precious tears. The Divine Spirit was at work within her, dissolving her very soul, even as it is written, “He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow”; and again, “He struck the rock, and the waters gushed out.” Do you marvel that she stood and wept? Thinking of herself, and then thinking of him, the two thoughts together were far too much for her, and what could she do but both relieve her heart and express it in a shower of tears? Wherever there is a real forgiveness of sin, there will be real sorrow on account of it. He who knows that his sin is pardoned is the man who most acceptably exercises repentance. Our hymn puts it on the right footing when it points, not to the horrors of hell, but to the griefs of Emmanuel, by which our pardon is certified to us, as the deep source of sorrow for sin.

   My sins, my sins, my Saviour,

      How sad on thee they fall!

   Seen through thy gentle patience.

      I tenfold feel them all.

   I know they are forgiven,

      But all their pain to me

   Is all the grief and anguish

      They laid, my Lord, on thee.

21. After admiring this woman’s contrition, notice her love. The Holy Spirit took delight in adorning her with all the graces, and she came behind in nothing, but she excelled in love. Our Lord Jesus Christ when he interpreted her act of anointing his feet, expressed it in the one word “love”: he said, “She loved much.” I cannot speak much with you concerning love, for it is rather to be felt than to be described. Words have no power to bear the weight of meaning which lies in love for Christ. Oh, how she loved! Her eyes, her hair, her tears, herself, she counted all as nothing for his dear sake: words failed her, as they fail us, and therefore she betook herself to deeds in order to let her heart have vent. Alabaster box and ointment were all too little for him, the essence of her heart was distilled to bathe his feet, and the glory of her head was unbound to furnish him with a towel. He was her Lord, her all in all: if she could have laid kingdoms at his feet, she would have rejoiced to do so; as it was, she did her best, and he accepted it.

22. This love of hers led her to personal service. Her hand was the servant of her heart, and did its part in the expression of her affection. She did not send the alabaster box to Jesus by her sister, or ask a disciple to pass it to him, but she performed the anointing with her own hand, the washing with her own tears, and the wiping with her own hair. Love cannot be put off with proxy service; she seeks no substitute, but offers her own person I grant, dear brothers and sisters, that we can serve the Lord a great deal by helping others to serve him, and it is right and proper to help those who are able to labour better and more widely than we can; but still, it is not fitting that we should rest content with that, we ought to be ambitious to render tribute to our Lord with our own hands. We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of doing some little thing for our well-beloved Lord. Suppose this loving woman had had a sister who loved the Master even as she did, and suppose, like a loving sister, she had said to her, “I fear it will be too heavy a task for you to face cold-hearted Simon, I will take the box and anoint our blessed Lord, and tell him that I did it for you, and so he shall know your love.” Do you think she would have consented to the proposal? Ah, no, it would not have served the purpose at all. Love refuses sponsors. She must anoint those blessed feet herself. Now, dear friends, you who hope that you have been forgiven, are you doing anything for Jesus? Are you in your own person serving him? If not, let me tell you, you are missing one of the greatest delights that your souls can ever know, and, at the same time, you are omitting one of the chief fruits of the Spirit. “Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me?” is the question, and if you wish to answer it with proof positive, then go and with your own hands feed the Saviour’s sheep. Surely you cannot love him as you should, unless each day has its deed of love, its sacrifice of gratitude.

23. Observe, next, that her service was rendered to the Lord himself. Read the passage and place an emphasis on the words which refer to the Lord: “She stood at his feet, behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.” It was not for Peter, and James, and John that she acted as a servant. I have no doubt she would have done anything for any of his disciples, but at this time all her thoughts were with her Lord, and all her desire was to honour him. It is a delightful thing for Christian people to lay themselves out distinctly for the Lord Jesus. There should be more ministering to him, more definite aiming at his glory. To give money to the poor is good, but sometimes it is better to spend it on Jesus more distinctly, even though some Judas or other should complain of waste.

   Love is the true economist,

      She breaks the box and gives her all;

   Yet not one precious drop is miss’d,

      Since on his head and feet they fall.

One is glad to serve the church; who would not wait on the bride for the bridegroom’s sake? One is glad to go into the streets and lanes of the city to gather in poor sinners, but our main motive is to honour the Saviour. See, then, how she who was once a prostitute has become a zealous lover of the Lord, and is ready to wash her Lord’s feet, or perform any service which may be permitted her, if by doing so she may work a good work on him.

24. Further, notice, that what she did she did very earnestly. She washed his feet, but it was with tears; she wiped them, but it was with those luxurious tresses which were all unbound and dishevelled, that she might make a towel of them for his blessed feet. She kissed his feet, and she did it again and again, for she did not cease to kiss his feet, or if she made a moment’s pause, it was only so that she might pour on more of the balsam. She was altogether taken up with her Lord and his work; her entire nature concurred in what she did, and aroused itself to do it well. True love is intense, its coals burn with vehement heat, it makes all things around it living. Dead services cannot be endured by living hearts.

25. Furthermore, notice the woman’s absorption in her work. There she stood, anointing his feet with ointment and kissing them again and again. Simon shook his head, but what of that? He frowned and cast disgusted looks at her, but she did not cease to wash his feet with her tears. She was too much occupied with her Lord to care for scowling Pharisees. Whether anyone observed her or not, or whether observers approved or censured, was a very little matter to her, she went quietly on, accomplishing the suggestion of her loving heart.

26. And what she did was so real, so practical, so free from the mere froth of profession and pretence. She never said a word: and why not? Because it was all act and all heart with her. Words! Some abound in them, but what wretched things words are with which to express a heart. As in a mirror dimly can we see the reflection of a soul’s love in its most passionate utterances. Actions are far more loud-voiced and have a sweeter tone than words. This woman has finished with speech, for the time being, at any rate, and tears and dishevelled hair, and poured-out balsam must speak for her. She was too much in earnest to call anyone’s attention to what she was doing, or to care for anyone’s opinion, much less to court commendation, or to answer the ugly looks of the proud professor who scorned her. This thorough oblivion of all except her Lord constituted in a measure the charm of her deed of love; it was whole-hearted and entire loyalty which her homage revealed. Now, dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ, I do pray that you and I, as pardoned sinners, may be so taken up with the service of our Lord Jesus Christ that it may not matter to us who smiles or who frowns; and may we never take the trouble to defend ourselves if people find fault, or even wish for anyone to commend us, but be so taken up with him and the work he has given us to do, and with the love we feel for him, that we know nothing else. If all others run away from the work, if all discourage us, or if they all praise us, may we take very little notice of them, but keep steadily to our loving service of Jesus. If grace enables us to do this, it will be greatly magnified.

27. See, dear friends, what grace made of “the woman who was a sinner.” Perhaps you thought her worse than yourselves in her carnal state; what do you think when you see her as a penitent? What do you think of yourselves if you stand side by side with her? Do you not blush for very shame, and ask for forgiveness from your Lord for the slenderness of your affection?

28. III. Lastly, let us see: — THE SAVIOUR’S BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS HER.

29. What did he do? First, he silently accepted her service. He did not move his feet away, did not rebuke her, or tell her to go. He knew that reflections were being cast on his character by his allowing her to touch him, yet he did not forbid her, but, on the contrary, continued quietly enjoying the feast of repentance, gratitude, and love, which she spread for him. He was refreshed by seeing such grace in one who had previously been so far from God. The perfumed balsam was not so grateful to his feet, as her love was to his soul, for Jesus delights in love, especially in penitent love. Her tears did not fall in vain, they refreshed the heart of Jesus, who delights in the tears of repentance. The applause of a nation would not have solaced him one half so much as this woman’s pure, grateful, contrite, humble love. His silence gave consent, yes, even approbation, and she was happy enough to be allowed to indulge herself in expressions of adoring affection.

30. Then the Lord went a little further. He turned around and looked at her, and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?” That glance of his must have encouraged her, and made her heart dance for joy. As soon as ever that eye of his lighted on her, she could see that it was all right; she knew that, whoever frowned, there were no frowns on that brow, and she was filled with supreme contentment.

31. Next, the Lord spoke, and defended her triumphantly, and praised her for her deed; yes, and he went beyond that, and personally spoke to her, and said, “Your sins are forgiven you,” setting a seal to the pardon which she had received, and making her assurance doubly sure. This was a joy worth worlds.

   Oh, might I hear thy heavenly tongue

      But whisper, “Thou art mine”;

   The heavenly word should raise my song

      To notes almost divine.

She had a choice blessing in hearing from his own lips that her faith was firmly based, and that she was indeed forgiven. Then she received a direction from him concerning what to do — “Go in peace.” A forgiven sinner is anxious to know what he may do to please his Lord. “Show me what you would have me to do,” was Paul’s prayer. So our Lord Jesus seemed to say, “Beloved, do not stay here battling with these Pharisees. Do not tarry in this crowd of critics. Go home in perfect peace; and since you have made home unhappy by your sin, make it holy by your example.” That is just, I think, what the Lord Jesus would have me say to my dear friends who have followed me in this discourse. You see what grace can do, go home and let your family see it. If any of you are conscious of great sin, and have received great forgiveness, and therefore wish to show your love for Jesus, do what is on your heart, but at the same time remember that he would have you go in peace. Let a holy calm reside in your hearts. Do not enter into the vain janglings and endless controversies of the hour. Do not worry yourself with the battles of the newspapers and magazines that are everlastingly troubling poor souls with modern notions. Go in peace. You know what you do know; stay with that. You know your sin, and you know Christ your Saviour; stay with him, and live for him. Go home into the family circle, and do there everything you can to make home happy, and to bring your brothers and sisters to Christ, and to encourage your father and mother, if they have not yet found the Saviour.

32. Home is especially a woman’s sphere. There she reigns as a queen: let her reign well. Around the hearth and at the table, in the sweets of domestic relationships and quiet friendships, a woman will do more for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ than by getting up to preach. In the cases of men also, many who long to flash in public had better by far shine at home. Go home in peace, and by a happy, holy life, show to others what saints God can make out of sinners. You have seen what sin and the devil can do to degrade, go and prove what grace and the Holy Spirit can do to elevate, and may many, cheered by your example, come and trust your Lord.