In Luke 7:36-50 we read about the Lord Jesus Christ being invited to dinner by one of the religious leaders of the Jews named Simon. The invitation seems to have been prompted by Simon’s curiosity about Jesus, rather than because he loved Him. When Jesus arrived at Simon’s house, He was not treated the way most guests would have been treated. It was the usual custom for the host to welcome his guest with a kiss. Then he would order his servants to wash his guest’s feet and anoint his head with oil. But Simon did not welcome Jesus into his home the usual way.
While Jesus was sitting at the table, a woman from the street who heard that Jesus was there came into Simon’s house and knelt down at Jesus’ feet. Tears flowed down her face and fell on Jesus’ feet. She wiped them away with her lovely, long hair and kissed His feet over and over again. Then opening a beautiful alabaster box which she had brought with her, she poured the sweet-smelling, expensive ointment it contained over His feet.
What brought this woman to Simon’s house? She had heard that Jesus was there. She probably had heard about, or maybe even had seen, Jesus healing people and had seen the change in the lives of those to whom He had said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” This woman had lived a sinful life, and her longing now was for Jesus to forgive her sins. She had come to the only One who could give her troubled heart the peace she wanted.
Meanwhile, Simon watched with disgust as she showed her love for the Lord Jesus by her actions. He said to himself, “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.”
Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and said to him, “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.” Then Jesus told him a story as He so often did to teach a lesson.
“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most?”
“I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most,” answered Simon.
“Thou hast rightly judged,” said Jesus, and then He went on to teach Simon a lesson that each of us should learn.
The Lord Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest Me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
Then turning to the woman Jesus said, “Thy sins are forgiven.”
Simon and the other Pharisees with him at the table could only see how bad the woman was. But in God’s sight it does not matter how bad or good you and I may think we are. It only takes one sin to keep us out of heaven. Proud Simon, the sinful woman, and you and I are all the very same — we are all sinners. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
Notice again in the parable in verse 42, “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.” Yes, the wonderful thing about God’s love is that it is great enough to save poor sinners like us. “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace,” He said to the woman in verse 50. But for Simon there was no peace nor forgiveness, because he would not admit he was a sinner and needed the Saviour.
Are you willing to admit you are a sinner and need the Saviour? “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
ML-03/03/1985