Who is Worthy to Worship?

Luke 7:36-50 (NIV)

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 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.

When 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.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then 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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”  

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

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

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


Reflection

Let me just be the first to admit, I can relate to Simon’s immediate thoughts regarding the woman. He's busy judging her, looking only at the surface of who she is as a person.

I’m personally guilty of this when meeting someone for the first time. Listening to only the first few sentences they speak, my mind begins creating a life story for them. I begin to label them: what kind of person they must be, how they react to situations, what must have happened to cause their current situation. It's like missing the forest for the trees, you know?

Society today is all about comparison, and it’s easy to make our worth seem greater by judging others, especially the culturally rejected. Individuals facing economic hardship, struggling with addiction, or those disregarded due to their social status, ethnicity, or lifestyle choices can all be easily overlooked or ignored.

Thank goodness the Holy Spirit has taught me a few things, primarily that the story I make up in my head is not who that person is! Regardless of what’s on the surface, recognizing others’ worth and need for love is what’s important because that’s what Jesus did. And He loved us ALL enough to die for our sins.

One of the things that’s so beautiful in today’s scripture is witnessing the woman’s heart through her worship. True worthiness in worship is not about our societal standing or past mistakes. It's about the sincerity of our hearts as we approach the One who is truly worthy.  True worship, as demonstrated by the woman in today’s scripture, emerges from a heart surrendered at the feet of Jesus.

Let's all make room in our hearts for the culturally rejected, just as Christ did, and let’s remember that true worship, at its core, is a surrender of the heart at the feet of Jesus. May we be vessels of love and understanding, recognize the worthiness of every soul, and understand that our worthiness to worship is based on God's unconditional love.


Action Steps

1. Do you find yourself often adopting a Simon-like demeanor? Take a moment and examine if your heart is quick to judge or if you’re open to extending love and acceptance to those who may need it most.

2. Do you ever think about what makes us worthy to worship God? Consider the grace and love that God extends to you despite your imperfections. Take a few moments and think about the ways His unconditional love has covered you with grace and allows you to enter His presence to worship.


Prayer
 
Lord, as we reflect on today’s scripture, let us acknowledge our tendency to judge others based on superficial criteria. Forgive us for the times we've overlooked the true worth of those around us. May we approach each person with open hearts, seeking to understand their unique stories. Help us recognize and challenge any biases that hinder us from seeing the worthiness of every individual. As we approach You in worship, may our hearts be filled with gratitude for Your love that deems us worthy. Help us embrace the truth that our worship is a precious offering to You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.