The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 180

probl\bly Oapernaum, the naual residence of for peace. Perl1aps whRt be.d decided her to our Lord. te.ke this step of boldly &€eking out the Master were worcls apparently spoken ab,,ut Ver. 86.-And one of the Pharlleea tlellired this time (in St. Matthew's Gospel they him that he would eat with him. And he follow directly after the diacoul'l!o rc"Pect- went into the Pharllee'• houae, Up to this ing the Baptist just related), "Come unto porlocl the relCLtionR hetween our Lord and me, e.ll ye thnt labour and are hP,avy laden, the d"minant partios in the ea.pit.al had not and I will give you rest," etc. (Matt. xl. 28-- renohed a state of positive hostility. The 30). It was a bold step for one like her to press Pharisees, ll.B the chief among these parties uninvited, in broad daylight, into the bonse in tho stCLte, had taken the initiative, and of a rigid purist like Simon; but the know- were sharply watching One whose influence ledge that Jesus (tbongh per~nnally, as she among the people they more than suspected thought, she we.s unknown to him) was there, Wll.B hostile to them. But they ho.<l not gave her courage; she felt no one would ll.B yet declared him a publio enemy and dare to thrust her out of the presence of the ble.sphemer. This wealthy Pharisee, Simon, strange loving Master, who so earnestly was evidently, like others of his sect at tbis had bid,len the sin-weary come to him, and time, wavering in his estim&te of Jesus. On he would give them rest! Brought an the one hand, he we,s ne,turally influenced by &la.bester box of ointment. Pliny mentions the hostile views entertained at head-quarters alabe,ster as the best material for puta or concerning the Ge,lilwnn Teacher; on the vessels intended for these precious oint- other, pereone,l intercourse with the }faster, ment.a. It was softer than marble, an<l "the acts he had witnessed, and the words he easily scooped into pots or bottles. The,e had beard, disposed him to a reverential costly unguents and cosmetics were much admiration. Simon evidently (ver. 3[)) had used by the wealthy Roma.n la.dies. The not made up his mind whether or not Jesus precious ointment poured over the Re- we.s a Prophet. Hie soul, too-thjs we gather deemer's feet had probably been originally from ver. 42-had reoeived some great procured for a very different purpose. The spiritual good from his intercourse with the word µ.6pav, transla.ted "ointment," was used Master. But though he invited l,im to be a for any kind of sweet-smelling vegetable guest at his house, and evidently loved him essence, especially that of the myrtle. (ver. 47) a little, still he received hie Divine Ver. 38.-And stood at his feet behind Guest with but a chilling and coldly cour- him weeping, and began to we.ah his foct teous reception. Not unlikely Simon the with tears, and did wipe them with the Pharisee knew he was watched tliat day, hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and and that among hie guests were men who anointed them with the ointment. It had would report every action of hie on that been, no doubt, with her a settled purpose occasion to the leaders of his party in for days, this presen ling herself to the Jeruea.lem. His cold courtesy, almost lack pitiful Master. She had Leen one of his of courtesy, towards the Master was thus listeners, without doubt, for some time pre- probably the result of his fear of man and viously, and tha.t morning proLably she of man's judgment. And eat down to meat; made up her mind to appro11cb him. He literally, reclined. The Jews at that time was a great publio Teo.cher, and hl.i! move- followed in their repasts the Greek (or meuts would be well known in the -:iity. Bomnn) custom of reolining on couches; the She heard he was to be pre,ent at a. feast in guest lay with bis elbows on the table, and the house of the rich Ph1Uisee Simou. It hie feet, unsaudalled, etretched out on the wouhl be easier, she thouglit, to get close to conch. him there than in the crsiwd in the market- Ver. 87.-And, behold, a woman in the oity, place or in the synagogue; so t.iking with whioh was a sinner, when she knew that her a flask of perfumed ointment, she Jesus sat at meat in the Phe.risee's house. passed into the courtyard with others, and The text in the older authorities is more so made her way unnoticed into the guest- forcible: "a woman which was a sinner in chamber. As she stood behind him, and the that city." Her miserable way of life would sweet words of forgiveness and reconcilia- thus be well known to Simon and oth~r of tion, the pleading iuvitation to all beavy- the guests. This sad detail would serve to luden, sin-burtknecl ou,·s to come to him for \,iring out the contrast in more vivid colours. pe.;cc, which she in the pt\st days had In these Oriental feasts the houses were listened to so eagerly, cu.1110 iuto hor wine!, often lE>ft open, CLnd uninvited strangers unbidden tears rose iuto Ler eyes a.nd fell frequonlly pa~sed in through the open oourt- on the Master's fed aa he !:J.v on bis couch: yard into the guest-chamber, anti looked and, CLftor tl1e mannor of sluvcs with ti,ci.r on. Sh8 had heard Jesus already, perhaps masters, she wiped the tear-wot feet with h,~r often, and had drunk in his pleading words, low> hair, wbioh she evi,leutly loose<l for tuts begging einncrs to turn aud to oome to him loving purpose, 1U1d then quietly poured th• LUK.& • 178 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [en, vu. 1-60,