PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday: Luke 7:36-8:3 The sinful woman

Time to Reflect: [A couple of technical notes: Mary Magdalene in chapter 8 is often confused with the sinful woman of chapter 7. There is no justification for this. Also Mary was sick (demons) not “sinful.” The sin of the sinful woman is not stated, and cannot be implied and is beside the point.] Those who do not consider themselves very sinful may undervalue Jesus and thereby miss salvation.

Moving through the day: Prayer a prayer of confession and assess how much you need the grace offered by Jesus. Accept that grace.

Scripture:

36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

 40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
      "Tell me, teacher," he said.

 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
      "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Luke 8

The Parable of the Sower

 1After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.