The document recounts the story of a sinful woman who anoints Jesus's feet with ointment and her tears, contrasting her actions with the Pharisee who did not show the customary hospitality. Jesus emphasizes that her faith and love have led to her forgiveness, teaching that a personal relationship with God is straightforward and uncomplicated, marked by love rather than rituals. The text critiques how human structures in churches complicate this relationship and emphasizes the importance of direct faith and connection with God.

2. 36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's
house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she
knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And
stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them
with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when
the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a
prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a
sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he
saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hun‐dred
pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.
Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he,
to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the
woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me
no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her
head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my
feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with oint‐ment.
47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but
to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins
also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

3. The passage we have just read, as you already knew, is taken from Luke 7:36‐50.
This story, never fail to bring tears to my eyes every time I re‐read it. It is just so lovely, so
very simple.
Here’s a background, which you can easily find in many Bible commentaries:
For Hebrews, olive oil, alone or mixed with perfumes, was commonly used for toilet pur‐poses,
the very poor naturally reserving it for special occasions only. The fierce protracted
heat and biting lime dust of Palestine made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was
applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face.
For Hebrews, olive oil, alone or mixed with perfumes, was commonly used for toilet pur‐poses,
the very poor naturally reserving it for special occasions only. The fierce protracted
heat and biting lime dust of Palestine made the oil very soothing to the skin, and it was
applied freely to exposed parts of the body, especially to the face.

4. The Pharisee, who invited Jesus to dinner, had neglected the usual civility of anointing
the head of his divine guest. The woman was willing to supply the defect, bringing for
that purpose the alabaster box of ointment; and as she stood near Jesus she was so melt‐ed
with his discourse, that she shed such a flood of tears as wetted his feet; and observing
this, she wiped them with her hair, which she now wore flowing loose about her shoul‐ders,
as mourners commonly did; and then, not thinking herself worthy to anoint his
head, poured out the liquid perfume on his feet, and thereby showed at once, both great
love and great humility.
And Jesus, finally simply said, “ Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

5. Let us now look into the Old Testament in a glance.
If we open the book of Leviticus, starting from chapter 4, we will find the commandments
God gave to the people of Israel—and one of them is about sin offering.
The sin offering, is based on the principle of replacement.
The consequences of sin — death — cannot be negated, so the Old Testament put down
the rules of the complicated way of getting rid of sin.
Note that the woman who washed Jesus feet, was forgiven based on faith, and faith in
Jesus. But that does not mean that she did not make offering, nor she did not make sacri‐fice.
She offered to Jesus her sense of guilt, a contrite sinner. She did it without first asking
whether or not Jesus will forgive her. She just did what she knew is proper, according to
the common practice—but not the common practice of seeking atonement.
She sacrificed her precious oil, she sacrificed her fine hair, and she sacrificed her dignity—
doing it in public. She reserve nothing, her eyes were on the Lord’s feet.
In other words, God had made it simple.

6. And there is no reason why not.
God had declared that we are His sons. The sentence, “Ηλει Ηλει λεμα σαβαχθανει” or
Abba, Abba, lema sabachthani, shows that God spares nothing to be able to save us.
And therein lies the simplicity: how complicated would it be, for a son to relate to
his father?
When a son want to speak to his father, he just need to speak — there is no ap‐pointment
needed, there is no special protocol needed, and certainly there is no
representation needed.
When a son did something wrong, his father won’t condemn
him, because the father knows his son loves him, and not de‐liberately
or intentionally want to hurt his father’s heart.
The relationship is based on love, and affection, and intimacy,
and trust. Especially love.

7. It is then quite amazing, when we, God’s son, choose to believe that we need someone
else to talk to our own Father.
It is also perplexing, when we, God’s son, choose to believe that we need to make any
kind of sacrifice to receive our Father’s forgiveness — when our Father already made the
ultimate sacrifice—through the crucifixion of His most beloved Son.
It is quite odd, when God bears no distance with us, we choose to bring up the
barrier, which God has broken down. We block ourselves from our Father with
rules, rituals, customs, and even formalities.
Many people who assume that they are God’s priests, putting
themselves between man and God, so many people never
have a personal relationship with their Father.
They always have relationship with their Church, but never
with their Heavenly Father.

8. Those who God put as ministers, should do exactly what Jesus did, being a father to those
God put in their care.
The question is, when a church has 1,000 “members,” would the Pastor be able to be a fa‐ther
for everyone?
To justify themselves, men then says that the care would be done through subor‐dinate
Pastors, or co‐Pastors, or whatever name men give.
Could you imagine your own father appoint someone else to care for you, and you
can only meet your father with appointment?
Even worse, unless you are an “activist,” usually your
“father” will not know you, or even your name.
And since the “father” has 1,000 sons, one only got to meet
his father personally maybe once in a lifetime.

9. Let’s use our imagination for a while.
Let’s imagine that you have a “father” who know you, your personality, your preferences,
your problems. You can talk to him without appointment, and he will be really interested
in you. He would be willing to set aside everything when you face a bad crisis.
In other words, it almost like your own father — except the blood that connects
you is not human, but Jesus’.
This father and son relationship, is based on Numbers 27:16‐17 and 1Thessaloni‐ans
2:11.
Simple, isn’t it?
Men then made it complicated with church structures,
church regulations, election process, and almost all organi‐zational
functions and procedures you can find in churches
today.

10. There are a lot of simple things God had established for men, which now became so com‐plicated
so men will doubt if God is real — because He seems to be so far away.
So how does a church — or congregation, should convene?
That would be in another presentation. This one is only to encourage you to contemplate
how simple God is.
Think of everything based on 1Thessalonians 2:11.
You will find that there are so many hilarious things in churches or in
“churches” today. (Of course the apostrophe indicates a “not really” quality).
I pray that you will search God’s Words for this truth, and gain
your freedom from man‐made structures and procedures.
Amen