Looking But Not Seeing
Pastor Tan Thai · Sep 20, 2014
This sermon analyzes the story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet at the Pharisee Simon's house (Luke 7:36-50), contrasting three perspectives: Simon's legalistic view, the woman's repentant and humble gaze, and Jesus' all-seeing understanding of the heart. The message calls the congregation to examine themselves, to forgive fellow believers, and to receive the forgiveness and peace offered by the Savior.
The sermon opens with the story of blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby, who composed over 8,000 hymns despite losing her sight in childhood. This introduction establishes the central theme: human beings do not see only with physical eyes, but also with the soul, the mind, and life experience. Everyday illustrations—parents looking at children, grandchildren looking at grandparents, and a pastor holding his sick wife's hand in the hospital—demonstrate that true sight comes from love rather than from the eyes alone.
The second section focuses on the Pharisee Simon's perspective in Luke 7:36-50. Simon viewed the sinful woman through the lens of the Law's 613 commandments, seeing only defilement and violation, blind to her genuine repentance. He also viewed Jesus merely as an Old Testament-style prophet, unable to recognize Him as the Savior who came to forgive and redeem. The sermon warns that when we look at others through a legalistic lens, we condemn and judge without room for compassion or restoration.
The third section analyzes the sinful woman's perspective. She spoke no words but communicated everything through action: tears of repentance, wiping Jesus' feet with her hair, kissing His feet, and pouring fragrant oil on them. She saw in Jesus a source of hope, a compassionate Savior, and the One who forgives sins. Her humility and contrition stand in sharp contrast to the Pharisee's self-righteousness, illustrated further through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector at the temple (Luke 18:9-14).
The final section emphasizes that Jesus sees and understands everything—not just outward appearances but the depths of the heart. Through the question 'Do you see this woman?' (7:44), Jesus challenges Simon and the entire congregation to reconsider how they perceive others. The sermon also uses the story of Cao Cao from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to illustrate the danger of misreading situations based on appearances alone. The message concludes with a call for the church to be a place where sinners are welcomed with forgiveness and love, reflecting Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:12-15 on mutual forgiveness.