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| Mapping Luke 7:36-39 photo by Heather |
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I studied these verses a few weeks ago. I am finally getting around to sharing what the Lord showed me as I studied them.
Luke 7:36-39 NIV
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 When 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, 38 and 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. 39 When the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who this is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.”
Luke 7:37-38 ESV
37 And behold a woman of the city who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with ointment.
The highlighted phrases stood out to me. Now, you may have others to stand out to you as you read the verses. I want to encourage you to look up the meaning to phrases or words that stood out to you.
Ointment - (Hebrew) paste, cream, salve, embrocation, liniment, mixture, blend, enema, unguents
(Greek) aloifi - myrrh, perfumed oil ointment (SPIKENARD)
Alabaster Flask (box) - very costly perfume; very costly ointment; the box represents purity. The bride breaks it for her husband.
Perfume - (Hebrew) scent, fragrance, odour, aroma, odor, balsam
(Greek) ároma- perfume, aroma, fragrancy, refolence, flavoring, spice, savor, spiciness
What type of perfume/ointment was in the alabaster jar?
It was expensive perfume, made from pure nard. (Spikenard)
What is Spikenard?
In ancient times, spikenard was considered one of the most precious oils. It’s been used as a perfume, a medicine and in religious affairs.
I am not sure if it was considered the same thing as an essential oil in Bible times, but you can purchase this as an essential oil.
I was very curious as to why this perfume was placed in this alabaster box.
I did a little research on this type of essential oil. This is what I found on Plant Therapy’s website as I did the study. Unfortunately, I just found out you can no longer get this as a single essential oil from Plant Therapy. However, you can get it in Grounded Foundation essential oil blend.
"Grounded Foundation ingredients
Spikenard, Frankincense Carteri CO2, Palo Santo, and Vetiver."From Plant Therapy's website, Grounded Foundation is... "used to help, soothe, calm and relax when you are feeling disconnected and distressed. Helps to create a sense of security, protection, and hope. Supports feelings of trust and belonging. Firmly grounding and centering, while allowing a sense of expansiveness and higher connection."
Spikenard - invoking a sense of peace and encouraging calm feelings; promotes a sense of wholeness, hope, courage, resolution, and clear communication. It calms feelings of anger, lifts feelings of sadness, eases grief, and encourages an overall sense of well being and much more; this oil has been used to anoint people and honor them.
Other benefits I found online are: Please research spikenard yourself before using this oil to make sure it will be a good choice for you. I am not an aromatherapist or herbalist, I am just sharing a small amount of information I found on the internet.
Fights Bacteria and Fungus
Relieves Inflammation
Relaxes the Mind and Body
Stimulates the Immune System
Promotes Hair Growth
Relieves Insomnia
May Relieve Constipation
Protects Uterus and Ovaries
I believe I had an understanding or at least an aha! moment of why this particular oil/perfume was used to wash the feet of Jesus. With everything he was about to go through as he laid down his life for the world, it was fitting as it could invoke a sense of peace and encourage calm feelings.
Something else that really stood out to me was the woman wiped his feet with her hair.
…she wiped them with her hair… Luke 7:38 NIV
This made me curious as to what was so important about her hair.
I turned to the index in my study Bible to find verses about a woman’s hair. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything in the index. So, I just search Bible verses about women’s hair online.
In my search I came across 1 Corinthians 11:15.
I looked this verse up in many different Bible translations.
NKJV- But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
AMP- but if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her long hair is given to her as a covering.
Douay-Rheims Bible- But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.
God’s Word Translation- Doesn’t it teach you that it is a woman’s pride to wear her hair long? Her hair is given to her in place of a covering.
After reading this verse in several versions and commentaries, I realized the importance of a woman’s hair.
Other than checking the humidity for the day to see if I would have a good or bad hair day, I haven’t really put much thought into to my hair before I did this study.
Now I realize my hair is a gift from God. It isn’t just hair on my head. It is meant for a covering and to be a glory to me.
A summary of the actions that took place that day in my words…..
Jesus was invited to the Pharisees house to eat.
Mary of Bethany heard he was there.
• She entered the house without an invitation.
• She apparently was a sinner, maybe a harlot. (We are all sinners.)
• She had her alabaster (jar, flask, box) meant for her husband. The box showed purity.
• She broke it so it could never be used again, and poured the perfume/ointment on Jesus’s feet after she had wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, which is her glory; her covering.
• It was no coincidence that she used her hair, tears, alabaster jar, and spikenard.
She showed Jesus honor.
He gave her the gift of forgiveness and love.
She showed faith by her actions.
What I felt God say to me as I did this study…
1. My hair is a gift from God. I need to take care of it, but not just my hair. I need to nourish my entire self.
2. Essential oils have been around for a really long time. They mean something and I need to learn more about them.
3. I need to give Jesus honor and glory for what he has done for me and teach my kids to do the same.
4. I need to honor and respect my husband even when he makes mistakes. After all, God give me grace when I mess up, so I need to do the same.
5. Everything in this study represents forgiveness, love, and purity. We are forgiven, loved, and made pure through our Lord Jesus Christ.
6. Jesus made her pure through the forgiveness of her sins.
7. To me the alabaster box is a symbol of the purity of Jesus.
I hope you heard the Lord speak to you through these verses today. I would love to hear what stood out to you as you read them.
Have a very blessed day!
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