How was Jesus' action unusual?

Question

From Luke 19:1-10 (this is summarized):

A sinful woman forgiven. In this story, one of the Pharisees Asked Jesus to eat with him. A woman who was a sinner had found that Jesus would be at the Pharisees house. She went to the house with an alabaster jar of ointment, and she stood at Jesus’ feet, and she kissed his feet and bathed his feet in her tears and dried them with her hair. Then she anointed his feet with the ointment. Jesus told the Pharisee that he had not been welcomed by him, but the woman who was a sinner had because she had kissed his feet and bathed his feet in her tears and dried them with her hair. So Jesus told the woman her sins and told her that her faith has been saved and she can go in peace.

How was Jesus's action unusual? It's for a religion hmwrk question, but I don't see how his reaction was unusual? It's usual for Jesus to forgive sinners if they mean it, is it not?

I made a mistake. The verse is actually Luke 7: 35 - 50! Thanks JohnC :-)

Answer 1

i believe that normally JEsus would not have sat for her rather outlandish example, but rahter preferred someting alitlte more humble. however.... Jesus knew that the pharisee would underestand one's humility unless it was to the extreme of this woman.

you might want to check your scriptures though and make sure you've got the right parable and wrong passage or vice versa. luke 19 1-10 is about zacchaeus tgr tax collector.

Answer 2

Actually this story is in Luke 7:36-50
Normally a man wouldn't let a woman touch him. Hebrew scripture forbids a man touching a woman during her period, and so to be safe he doesn't touch any woman outside his household, where he knows whether they have their period or not. Orthodox Jews still practice this.
Even more unusual, Jesus said "Your sins are forgiven." The Jews understood that only God can forgive sins, so this disturbed them.

Answer 3

I think you cited the wrong verse...check out: Luke 7:36-50

Well the action of Jesus was unusually because only God can forgive sins. Jesus forgave this woman's sins. This only mean that Jesus Himself was claiming to be God. He said, "Your sins are forgiven." Only God can say that and have it be true. And to top it off it was a "lowly" sinner woman. He forgave her sins in front of the supposedly "religious" Pharisees. It must have been a slap in the face to them.



This is why this is unusual in a nutshell:

Luke 7:47-50

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

**edit** You're very welcome OhioGurl!!! :)

P.s. It's usual for us to believe that Jesus Christ is the only one that can forgive us our sins. Back in the time of Jesus it was highly unusual. In fact it was blasphemous as Jesus was claiming to be God. Christians know that he is/was God.

Answer 4

The action was not unusual for Jesus but was unusual for that time. Most religious figures such as the Pharisees and Saducees would not have allowed this sinful woman to touch them.

Answer 5

It was unusual for the era in which Jesus was living on earth. Usually people ostracized the man because of his failings, but Jesus ate dinner at his house to help him find his way back to the flock. Zachaeus gratitude is an example of the parable of the money lenders and debtors. Jesus' love of him has awakened new possibilities of love AND service.

Answer 6

THE BEAUTY OF THIS STORY ALWAYS TOUCHES MY HEART.
BECAUSE JESUS HAD NEVER ALLOWED ANY ONE TO WORSHIP HIM.
BUT THIS NIGHT HE ALLOWED
#1 A WOMEN TO TOUCH HIM
#2 A PHARISEES
#3 A SINNER
BUT JESUS KNEW THE TIME WAS NEAR.
HOW CAN PEOPLE NOT LOVE HIM?
MY GOD,MY LORD ,MY SAVIOR

Answer 7

Because he let a 'sinful' woman touch him. Most religious figures of that time would not have allowed a woman, let alone a 'sinful' one, touch them.

Answer 8

Rather than buttering up the influential man, J. is paying attention to a practically worthless person. A 'judgement' of quality of heart, as it were, rather than social good.

Answer 9

at a guess ... i think this may have been the only time Jesus took it upon himself to say he was forgiving someone

Answer 10

He was a perfect, sinless human being! Are You?
Jesus Christ is the one and only true and living God!

“6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” I Corinthians 8:6.


The God of The Holy Bible is the only true and living God. In the Old Testament times of The Holy Bible God was known as Jehovah God. According to Clarence Larkin in his book, Dispensational Truth, 1920, page 47, Published by Larkin's estate, God went by seven “Jehovah God” names:

“1. JEHOVAH-JIRESH-”The Lord will provide.” Genesis 22:13-14 That is, provide a sacrifice. 2. JEHOVAH-RAPHA-”The Lord that healeth.” Exodus 15:26. 3. JEHOVAH-NISSI-“The Lord our Banner.” Exodus 17:8-15. 4. JEHOVAH-SHALOM-”The Lord our peace.” Judges 6:23-24. 5. JEHOVAH-RA-AH-”The Lord my Shepherd.” Psalms 23. 6. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU-”The lord our righteousness.” Jeremiah 3:6. 7. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH-“The Lord is present.” Exodus 48:35. It is only as we know the meaning of the different titles of God that we can understand their significance. The word for Christ as “Creator” is “ELOHIM,” for Christ as “revealer and Redeemer” is JEHOVAH (translated Lord).”

In the New Testament Jehovah God is revealed to be a Trinity-God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God The Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing then in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Today Christians worship Jehovah God in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. (Most Jews still worship God as Jehovah God.) Jesus Christ, Jehovah God in the Old Testament, came to the Jews as their Messiah during New Testament times but most of them rejected Him. Christians know that Jesus Christ is the only true and living God. Christians know that the word “Lord” for Jesus Christ means Jehovah God.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”

Jesus Christ Christ is the only way to God the Father and to heaven. There is no other way to get to heaven. There is no other true and living God.
All other so-called gods are false gods. They are not real . They do not exist. They are actually Satan or his demons disguised as gods. From the beginning Satan wanted to be as God. In order to to capture the souls/spirits of the masses he now does the best he can to be God by being a god to as many as he can be by appearing to be a god in different forms to different groups of people. Now the best Satan can do is counterfeit gods, religions, and faith in them. They appear to be the genuine articles but they are false. They are phony. They are bogus. The more false gods he can create the more souls/spirits he can capture for himself and take them to hell to be with him forever in eternity. All false religions who worship false gods were created by Satan. Allah for the Muslims. Confucius for the Chinese. Buddha for the Buddhists. ETC.