He Sat Down to Meat.

Luke 7:36
 
I HAVE in my morning walk been again contemplating templating the words, “He sat down to meat.” This is the statement of a fact which, under our ordinary circumstances, is of no importance; but as the Spirit of God records it concerning Christ, there must be importance in it―so we will contemplate it in its connection. The former part of the chapter records the miracle of raising from the dead the widow’s son; and the rumor that “a great prophet was risen up, and that God had visited His people, went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the regions round about.” Doubtless the Pharisee Simon desired, it would seem simply on the ground of the rumor in favor of Christ, that Christ “would eat with him.” For what “form or comeliness” or “beauty” was there in Him (save to the open eye of faith) that they “should desire Him,” “whose visage was more marred than any man, and His form more than the sons of men.” Accordingly, when the Lord went into the Pharisee’s house—he gave Him no water for His feet, no kiss, no oil, according to custom and courtesy. But he would give Him to eat. So the Lord “sat down to meat” as one who, “seeing many things, observed not.” “Who (inquires the prophet) is blind as He that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant?” (Isaiah 42:19, 2019Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? 20Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. (Isaiah 42:19‑20).)
The woman “that is a sinner” comes behind Him, as He sat at meat, and washes His feet with her tears, kisses His feet, and anoints them with ointment. Nothing disturbs Jesus―the ways and thoughts of the Pharisee who desired Him to eat with him, or of the other guests, or of the woman at His feet behind Him. Nothing disturbs Jesus―He has but one thing to do: please His heavenly Father, by doing good to those about Him. Had the other guests been served as was Jesus, one might have expected that in displeasure they would have left the meal; but Jesus―as if nothing to be noticed had happened―sat down to meat. He made no complaint of failure of courtesy, but He sat down to meat. Our blessed Exemplar never finds fault but with a view to mend fault. It is not always the best time to mend the fault as soon as the fault is committed―it is the time to tell the fault to God, and wait on Him for wisdom to deal aright with it. The Lord waits patiently, and He not only gets better from the sinner than the Pharisee could have bestowed; but by waiting, Simon himself gives the Lord the opportunity of finding, and, doubtless, mending the fault. Thus far the Lord had been silent. He is “as a man in whose mouth are no reproofs” ―who says, “Thou wilt answer, O Lord, my God.” (Psalms 38:14, 1514Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. (Psalm 38:14‑15).) God so orders that the woman comes in to supply Simon’s lack, and Simon SPEAKS within himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth Him; for she is a sinner.” Now Jesus ANSWERING said unto him, “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.” We know what follows: Christ makes it manifest that He is a prophet―He knows Simon’s thoughts―He puts the judgment on Simon’s shoulders—whose sentence is that the woman that is a sinner loves Christ the Prophet and the Son of God more than the Pharisee loves Him. How great the wisdom and the grace. How blessed the example! When we are put to the test, let us have a care for the faulty one, and not for our own name, and wait on God for opportunity to do good to those who are not so ready to do good to us, and to glorify God, who will own and bless us for our every endeavor to these Christ like ends. “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Matthew 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29).) “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not His mouth.” (Acts 8:3232The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: (Acts 8:32).) He who was content at once uncomplainingly to sit down to meat in the Pharisee’s house, ―who went about doing good, not inquiring, “What good will you do me?” or “What evil have you done me?” but “What good can I do you?” He it was who also was led “as a lamb to the slaughter,” who “bare our sins in His own body on the tree:” our Saviour and our Exemplar.
Let us exalt His name by life and lip, whom God hath exalted with His right hand; ourselves walking humbly before God and man, waiting for our Master from heaven, who soon will come to receive us to Himself. The record that Christ “sat down to meat” should be as a rule for us to measure our ways by. The proud natural heart would say under the failure of courtesy, such as Simon’s was, “Away with your meat, if these are your manners.” The selfishness of nature is such that it would not come to mind that there was an opportunity given to return good for evil. Ungodliness will never “overcome evil with good,” and so glorify God. God makes nothing of those who make much of themselves. Of Christ, who was meek and lowly in heart. He says, “Behold my servant whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.” (Isaiah 42) To us He says. “My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice.” (Proverbs 23:15,1615My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. 16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. (Proverbs 23:15‑16).) Our word should be, “Let not them that wait on thee be ashamed. Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalms 25:3-53Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalm 25:3‑5).)
The great point of difference between persons is this: some (believers) “have death and judgment behind them—have passed from death unto life;” others (unbelievers) have death and judgment before them. How vast is this difference!