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Definition : Surrender
• to give (oneself) up into the power of another
• to yield to the power, control, or possession of another
God created us to worship Him. However, we usually find it easier to worship the worldly things
we love rather than Christ. Worshiping God requires us to constantly check our heart and
surrender ourselves to Him. While it can be difficult, surrendering ourselves to Christ is possible.
Worship is linked to surrender and is seen in Jesus’ encounter with a Pharisee and a woman.
What motivated this woman to honor Jesus this way? Why might she have been moved to
tears?
In this passage, Simon, a Pharisee, judges both the woman and Jesus.
The Pharisees were a highly influential group of Jews who emphasized meticulous
observance of God's law (as understood both from the OT laws and from their
accumulated extra-biblical traditions) as the means by which one attains
righteousness before God and retains his favor.
The Pharisees held a pious attitude toward sinners, having nothing to do with them. By Jesus
associating with the sinner, the Simon the Pharisee goes as far to believe Jesus is not a prophet or
He would have known of the woman’s sins. But Jesus had a different view of the woman. Can
you imagine how the woman must have felt, a known sinner, given the stature of the
Pharisees (as a group)? I bet she was uncomfortable entering the house of a Pharisee and
hearing what he would say about her.
Have your opinions or judgments every kept someone from experience God?
The Pharisee was blind, obviously of his own sins. Jesus even points out the woman has done
what the Pharisee failed to do. Do we sometimes find ourselves blind to our own sin? Do you
have a hard time seeing and/or admitting your own faults?
Surrendering our life to God requires acknowledging our personal faults and asking for God’s
forgiveness. How do we do this?
When you experience God’s mercy and forgiveness in your life, how do you feel? How do you
feel when you try to avoid acknowledging your sins and asking God for forgiveness?
Jesus is not saying that the woman's works have saved her. Rather, the love and forgiveness that
have made her feel accepted by God (the parable's point) have produced her acts of love. Jesus
commends the faith that led to her works. How can your faith, love and God’s forgiveness
change you?