Luke vii. 50. And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved
thee ; go in peace.
TO associate with the ungodly world is by no means expedient for those who have been redeemed out of the world. Yet there is a certain degree of intercourse with them which is both proper and desirable. There is a medium between an affecting of their society for our own gratification, and a con- temptuous separation from them. Our blessed Lord has exhibited, as in every thing else, so in this also, a perfect pattern. When invited by a Pharisee to dinner, he accepted the invitation with a view to instruct him and do him good : and when a woman who had been a notorious sinner came to him at the
Pharisee's house, he did not refuse her admission to his presence, but received with kindness the expres- sions of her regard, and, commending her faith, im- parted to her both the blessings and the comforts of his salvation.
The particular notice which our Lord took of the woman's "faith" and the reward he gave her on account of it, leads us naturally to consider,
I. The marks and evidences of her faith —
The first thing that calls for our attention is,
1. Her zeal —
[She had doubtless seen many of our Lord's miracles, and heard many of his discourses ; and though she was not yet one of his avowed followers, yet, having received good to her soul, she was desirous of honouring him to the utmost of her power. For this purpose she sought him out in the Pharisee's house, and went to him with a full determination to shew him some signal mark of her regard.
Now this argued no little zeal. As being of the weaker sex, she was the more liable to be condemned as officious, impertinent, and obtrusive. And being of a notoriously vile character, she was particularly obnoxious to insult and contempt. But unmind- ful of these things, she went uninvited, to the house of a proud Pharisee (where she was least of all likely to meet with any favour) and (indifferent to the construction that might be put upon her conduct by any censorious spectators, or even to the treatment she might receive from any of them) in the presence of the whole company expressed to him all that was in her heart.
And what was it that enabled her thus to " despise all shame," and to triumph over the fear of man ? Doubtless it was her faith : for the Apostle says, " This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."]
2. Her humility —
[Though she was bent on executing her pious purpose, she was solicitous to do it in as private and modest a manner as she could. She therefore went behind him as he lay upon the couch a, and, having easy access to his feet, placed herself there, without attracting the notice of the company, or inter- fering with the conversation that might be passing at table.
This also was a strong mark and evidence of her faith. She knew his august character, and felt herself unworthy to enter into his presence ; yea, she accounted it the very summit of her ambition to be permitted to kiss his feet. It was in this
a They did not sit at table as we do, but lay on couches.
1503.] the sinner's faith. 369
way that the faith of the centurion and others shewed itself3 ; and though, through the remaining pride and ignorance of their hearts, young converts often, like Jehu, seek the notice and applause of men, humility will always be found to exist in the soul in exact proportion to our faith.]
3. Her contrition —
[No sooner had she placed herself near the Saviour, than all her sins presented themselves to her mind, and filled her with deep compunction. Instantly she burst into a flood of tears, with which she bathed, as it were, the feet of her Lord, while she embraced them, in hopes of finding mercy from the friend of sinners.