For The Seed Shall Be Prosperous; The Vine Shall Giver Her Fruit; And The Ground Shall Give Her Increase; And The Heavens Shall Give Their Dew - Part 2159

And the Lord said, "Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, "We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For John the [baptizer] came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, "he hath a devil." The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, "Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!" But wisdom is justified of all her children." (Luke 7:31-35; Matthew 11:16-19)

Earlier, the Pharisees had asked Jesus' disciples, "Why eat your Master with the publicans and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, He said unto them, "They that be whole need not a physician but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that means, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matthew 9:12-13; Galatians 2:15)

In the former covenant, the Lord God declared through Hosea -- "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6) Thus, the changing of the guard between the old and the New Testament when the days of visitation and the days of recompense would come. (Hosea 9:7)  When the dayspring from on high would visit His people, declaring peace and goodwill to one and all.

"... the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing!" (Hebrews 9:8)

At this appointed time, the ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary was replaced with the body of Christ church, wherein Jesus (as both Lord and Christ) is the Head of His church, having entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-18) 

But as we see here, the scribes and Pharisees did not understand who Jesus was -- the promised Christ, the prophesied Messiah, God manifest in the flesh, the Saviour who had come to redeem His people. The Word made flesh, dwelling among us so that we could behold His glory. The first man Adam -- earthy, but the second -- the Lord from heaven. 

He tore the veil from top to bottom -- from heaven to earth so that God could have a real family, His beloved Bride which we know as the Bride of Christ. Indeed, He paid the ultimate price so that we might have everlasting life in Him. 

"After the mercy and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7) 

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28) 

Sadly, not everyone would believe in Jesus by faith. But there was one woman who was willing to give her all, and when she discovered that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought a alabaster box of ointment, standing at His feet behind Him weeping. As the scriptures state, she began wash His feet with tears, and wipe them with the hairs of her head and kiss His feet. She knew in whom she served, and she was not going to be sidetracked by the actions or commentary of her peers. 

Herein the example. Let those with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.

"And 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. 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, and 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. 

Now 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." And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." And he saith, "Master, say on." 

"There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, h/He frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love h/Him most?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose that [he], to whom h/He forgave most." And He said unto him, "Thou hast rightly judged." 

And [Jesus] turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, "See thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gave Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head; thou gave Me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore 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."

And He said unto her, "Thy sins are forgiven." And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" 

And He said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Luke 7:28-50)