Redeemed Into Society

The identification of people on the fringes of society, the marginalized, have sometimes changed throughout time. People who were considered as having questionable occupations and lifestyles were ostracized, and at other times accepted, for times and perceptions change. But what is defined as 'contrary' to God's Way hasn't changed despite people's opinions trending with their times.

We see Yeshua as first loving those who needed love, despite their current state, their status in society or their acceptance / rejection by others. How did Yeshua Christ approach those who were considered 'fringe' persons and were called 'unacceptable?' What did Yeshua teach and explain regarding the secrets of the heart?

When one of the Pharisees invited Yeshua to have dinner with him, He went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Yeshua was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Yeshua answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Yeshua said.

Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Yeshua said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Yeshua said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

- Luke 7: 36-50