The Fragrance of God: Love & Forgiveness

17 Mar The Fragrance of God: Love & Forgiveness

March 16, 2026

The Fragrance of God: Love & Forgiveness

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17NIV

Jesus is in the neighborhood!

Luke 7:36-40

The woman in Luke chapter seven hears that Jesus is in the neighborhood at the house of Simon the Pharisee. Hearing this, she runs home, goes into the back of her closet, and takes out a flask of perfume. Not the everyday stuff, folks; the Amplified Classic (AMPC) version of the Bible describes the perfume as [costly, rare].

This woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears. Can you imagine how she had to be weeping to clean His feet with tears and then uses her hair as a towel? That’s not the end of it; she then takes it to another level, kissing his feet and pouring this costly, rare perfume on them. Now, feet are not one of the places perfume experts recommend applying perfume to, and definitely not an entire flask/bottle. Most experts say less is better, applying a small amount to the suggested pulse points.  So, this was an extravagant display of honor, humility, devotion, and sacrifice.

Where is your hospitality?

Now, the host, Simon, was curious about why Jesus would even let her touch Him.   The AMPC version says, “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him—for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin).”

If we look at people remembering their sins, it is not good for with that same gaze, we might see ourselves too, sometimes unknowingly.

Simon, the host, did not offer Jesus the customary water to wash His feet, nor was there a salute of affection shown to Jesus when He entered his home. Nevertheless, he feels he can judge this woman.

The Parable of Two Debtors

To address Simon’s perspective, Jesus responds with a parable. In Luke 7:41-43, He says, “A certain lender of money [at interest] had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more.” And Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.” This story reminds us that Jesus treats all of us with love and compassion.  

I like the way my Bible Handbook sums this up:

• Repentance leads to forgiveness from God, resulting in affection for Christ, as shown by the woman.
• No repentance leads to no forgiveness, resulting in no affection for Christ, as shown by Simon.

In addition to this, Psalm 138:6 AMPC offers further wisdom: “For though the Lord is high, yet has He respect to the lowly [bringing them into fellowship with Him]; but the proud and haughty He knows and recognizes [only] at a distance.”

What do you smell like?

Hear someone say, “Sister Theresa, where are you taking this, and what is your point of view?”  If you follow our blog, especially over the past year, you will see a thread of evangelism running through each message. The Lord told me, and I looked it up in my journal, but could not find the exact word; the paraphrase is “Get them saved.”  What fragrance are we emitting? Is it the fragrance of God?  Oh, I know we all miss it from time to time, but the beauty and fragrance of God should be on us all the time.  Can you imagine what that house smelled like when that entire bottle of perfume was poured on Jesus’s feet? I believe the scent was probably there for days. Go to an above-average department store, and depending on where the fragrance counter is located, you don’t have to ask; just follow your nose to reach the Fragrance/Beauty department.   I asked a person who worked at a high-end beauty department if they come in every day spraying colognes to achieve that smell. She said no, it comes from people trying scents and wearing them all day, and from brand marketing campaigns where someone is positioned in that department, spraying samples. It’s natural, it just smells that way.

As we close, let us return to our opening passage: “… But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

Our Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help us to be the example of the believer and a safe place for the lost, as you were for the sinful woman who was forgiven in our lesson today.  We commit ourselves to love, (1 John 4: 7-12), remain faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2 AMPC), stay in the Word (2 Timothy 2:15) and trust you to keep us from deception (1 John 4:1-6).

Prayer for Salvation

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

Theresa Woodard