Luke 8

Ver. 36—50. and Chap. VIII. Ver. 1—3. Jesus, dining with a Pharisee, is anointed by a woman formerly of bad character: also attended by several other females.—Jesus came “eating and drinking;” that is, he mingled himself with various ranks and classes of society, doubtless for the purpose of instructing them in his doctrine. What might be the Pharisee’s motive in thus inviting Jesus, is not for us to say; but it should seem there were other Pharisees present, from the language used in ver. 49. “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” It is evident that though this penitent woman had been a notorious sinner, there was now nothing in her appearance or conduct at all indecorous, or it would not have been supposed to require the inspiration of a prophet to discern her character: besides, her conduct altogether showed that she was deeply humbled for it; and our Lord not only confirms the fact but holds her up as an example of true and great penitence.

his doctrine. We are all debtors to God—all sinners, and have the same natural depravity; but in respect to actual transgression there is infinite variety; some owe 50 pence, and others 500; and according to our sense of obligation will be our affection.

Ver. 37. Which was—Doddridge, “had been”—a sinner—That is, not to the Saviour: and those are his true disciples, (as observes the pious Spanheim,) “not who know most, but who love most.” But affection will produce exertion: ‘Love and action (says Bp. Hall) do necessarily evince each other. True love cannot long lurk unexpressed: it will be looking out at the eyes; creeping out at the mouth; breaking out at the fingers’ ends, in some actions of dearness, especially those wherein there is pain and difficulty to the agent, profit or pleasure to the object beloved.’

“O Lord! in vain we profess to love thee, if we do nothing for thee. Our goodness cannot reach unto thee, who art our glorious head. O let us bestow upon thy feet (thy poor members here below) our tears, our hands, our ointment, and whatever our gifts or endeavours may testify our thankfulness and love to thee in them.”

a: We have attached the first three verses of (Luke 8)to this, Sa a ee eee