Simon’s Error
Luke 7: 36 - 47
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.
37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."
41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged."
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."
48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
Reports of Jesus’s miracles had spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region (Luke 7:17). He had raised the widow’s son, cured infirmities, cleansed lepers, and delivered the afflicted (Luke 7:14-22). Now he was the guest at Simon’s home. Such an invitation revealed Simon’s curiosity and willingness to recognise that God was using this Jesus of Nazareth.
As a Pharisee, Simon was part of the upper class within Jewish society. People would step aside to let them pass, give them seats of honour at feasts, and revered them greatly. Pharisees lived by a strict code of ethics, were meticulous in their customs, and kept themselves distant from anything that could contaminate their lives. This involved excluding all whom they deemed unworthy or unclean.
Simon had invited Jesus, a teacher and a man of God, to come and eat with him. Others had come to listen and observe as he hosted One whom multitudes sought. Simon’s self-satisfaction was threatened however by one who had dared to enter his home. She was a woman of the world. Her presence was disconcerting and her actions an outrage. Such behaviour betrayed a blatant disregard for all that was considered appropriate by men such as himself. Surely, if this Jesus was a man of God, he would instantly know and reject all that was impure. For how could One who is holy, allow Himself to be touched by the unworthy and unclean? (v.39).
Fully aware of Simon’s thoughts regarding the worshipper at His feet, Jesus relates a story regarding two debtors; one who owed little and the other much. Simon rightly judged that when both their debts were cancelled, the one who had been forgiven much, loved much (v.43).
The application was obvious. Simon had done little to welcome his guest, yet this woman had come bearing fragrant oil (v.37). Nothing is spoken of her background or when she first encountered the Lord. All we know is that she was a sinner, who was forgiven much because she loved much (v.47). The order of this statement was as shocking to Simon as it is to us. We are accustomed to the order of loving much because we are forgiven much, yet Jesus did not start there. He stated that her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much (v.47). Verse 50 reveals the truth that our faith saves us, not acts of love, as none can buy or merit what is freely given. However, the depth of our love reveals our understanding of His mercy.
Such was the case with this unnamed woman. Risking scrutiny and rejection, she dared to enter the home of a Pharisee. It was well known that such men did not welcome the likes of her. Harsh words, public shaming, or eviction by servants were likely outcomes for such a brazen act. Yet more importantly, would the One she came for, see her heart or misunderstand her intentions? How could she of all people touch a holy man? Would the expression of her worship be received or disdained? This was no ordinary man; that her heart knew all too well. Would someone like Him receive from the likes of her? Under the scrutiny of the holy, would her act of worship be viewed as the revealing of her heart or the soliciting of her trade?
The depth of brokenness and extent of her longing, was revealed by this unnamed woman in an unwelcoming world. This was no face to face encounter with the One reclined at Simon’s table. She simply stood behind Him and wept at His feet (v.38). The wetting of His feet with her tears suggests a flow of tears that is seldom quiet or dignified. Deep sobs and a dribbly nose; raw emotion and undignified behaviour undoubtably challenged those who were present.
Jesus however, saw a woman who risked rejection to simply be at His feet. He saw love that spilled out in tears and accomplished what His host refrained from doing. Water was not needed, for her tears were many. A towel was not accessible, so her own hair dried the feet of the One she worshipped. She dared not lift her eyes or speak her heart, yet she lavished kisses and fragrant oil, on the feet of the One she adored.
While Mary was criticised for what she did (John 12:3-5), this woman as criticised for who she was (v.39). Classified as a sinner, she was rejected by others, but not by the Lord. He received her worship and did not recoil from her touch. Turning to her, He acknowledged her love, forgave her sins, and released to her both wholeness and peace (v.48, 50).
Though we may not share her past, many can identify with her dilemma. How will Jesus respond to the likes of me? Will I really be welcomed and received by God Almighty? We know our failures and are accustomed to shame, yet our heart longs for the One who is perfect and holy. We want to come close, even when reason demands that we hide. We ache to know His redeeming touch and the purity of untainted love.
Simon’s error was that he saw himself as the host, one that was already set apart for God. It was a condescension to allow this teacher to dine at his table. Such a privilege was afforded to few, so any lapse in common courtesy could surely be overlooked. Kisses belonged to his peers; oil was for the religious elite, and the washing of feet? – no Pharisee would demean himself to wash the feet of another.
Having first reasoned with a story Jesus then challenged with a question, Simon, do you see this woman?(v.44). How could he not! She was the unwelcome guest who had dared to enter his home, interrupt their meal, and touch the One who was holy. Simon noticed her gender, regarded her apparel, and assumed her trade. What he saw, he recoiled from; what he judged, he condemned.
Jesus challenged Simon regarding what he saw, for he looked through eyes of criticism and offence. He had judged her appearance, condemned her lifestyle, and misread her actions. Simon saw but did not fully see. He judged by externals and missed the heart. He overlooked his own lack of action yet quickly judged both the woman and his guest.
What Simon criticised, Jesus defended. He looked beyond her attire and lifestyle; He saw past the intrusion and the mess to see a soul that reached for Him. It was a longing that could not find words and a love that expressed itself in actions He would not belittle or ignore. Dusty feet wet with tears; dribbly nose and deep-seated sobs; uncovered head and unfurled hair were of greater value than uncomfortable guests and an unhappy host.
What is in us determines what we see. Our attitudes become the lens through which we view the world and interpret the actions of others. Both Simon and the woman were in need of a Saviour, as both were sinners who owed what they could not pay. Yet, it was the one who knew she was forgiven much, who loved much.
Jesus sees what we fail to see and frequently overlooks what we are quick to condemn. He equally draws our attention to the things we don’t want to see: the attitudes we hold, the excuses we maintain, the lies we entertain, or simply the truth we choose to ignore. We want problems to disappear and needs to go away. They are messy and demanding. The Lord however uses such challenges to address our heart, reveal our perceptions, and invite us into a deeper revelation of His heart and His kingdom.
Simon’s error was that he failed to see his need. Like Simon, we easily pride ourselves on our lifestyle, our rejection of sin, and the hosting of the things of God. Alternatively, we may feel forgiven little, restricting His forgiveness to the things we have acknowledged and confessed (1 John 1:9). Yet the One who died for all sin of all men (Hebrews 7:27) longs for us to see the abundance of His mercy and the extravagance of His grace. It is not about the extent of our sin, but the perception of our heart. Those who see their need, encounter a Saviour; and it is those who know they have been forgiven much, who love much.
Consider:
What aspects of your life make you question whether Jesus would really want to know you?
What things are you quick to condemn in others?
Prayer Prompts:
Lord, where are my concepts of self, different from the way You see me?
I struggle Lord with the thought that there might be an area of sin that I have not dealt with? What are Your thoughts regarding my struggle?
Simon’s error Lord was that he saw himself as hosting You, and missed the fact that he needed You. Where have I overlooked my need for You?
