Now it is the property of faith to " look on him whom we have pierced, and mourn c." Yea, the more lively faith any have possessed, the more abundant has been their self-lothing and self-abhorrence d. We cannot doubt therefore but that faith was the principle from whence her humiliation flowed.]
4. Her love —
[While she wept over the Saviour's feet, she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed them, and anointed them with odoriferous ointment. It was not possible for her to manifest stronger tokens of her affection.
And was not this also an evidence of her faith ? Had she been an unbeliever, she would have seen " no beauty or come- liness in Jesus" that deserved her admiration e: but believing in him, she accounted him " fairer than ten thousand, and altogether lovely f," according to that declaration of the Apo- stle, To them that believe, he is precious g.]
5. Her confidence —
[She would not have ventured to approach the Pharisee in this manner, because she knew that he would despise her in his heart, and dismiss her with scorn. But she felt no appre- hension of such treatment from the Saviour. She well knew his condescension and compassion ; and therefore without reserve, and without fear, she cast herself upon his mercy.
In this too she shewed the strength of her faith. Unbelief would have suggested many doubts ; Will he receive me ? Will he deign to look upon such an abandoned wretch ? But faith enabled her to approach him under a full persuasion, that " whosoever came to him should in no wise be cast out."]
It was not in vain that she thus approached the Saviour ; as we shall see, while we consider,
b Luke vii. 6, 7. Mark v. 25 — '28. c Zech. xii. 10.
d Job xlii. 6. Isai. vi. 5. 1 Tim. i. 15. e Isai. liii. 2.
'" Cant. v. 10, 16. si Pet. ii. 7.