36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus was invited to dinner at a Pharisee’s house. We learn that his name is Simon. While Jesus was reclining at the table an unknown woman came in because she had learned that Jesus was there. It was not uncommon for religious leaders to leave their homes open for the poor to come in but they were expected to remain quiet and away from the banquet, just permitted to listen to the discussions. This woman is described as a woman of the city who was a sinner. She was possibly a prostitute but her hair being exposed meant she was unmarried and at least considered promiscuous. The woman began standing behind Jesus (Jesus would have been reclining at the table with His feet out away from the table). She was weeping and her tears wet His feet. She got down and wiped His feet with her hair and then kissed His feet and anointed them with an alabaster flask of ointment, probably perfume which was typically kept in alabaster.
Simon saw this and thought to himself if Jesus were a prophet He would have known that the woman touching Him was a sinner. His thoughts reveal that he had a righteous arrogance that placed him above both Jesus and the woman. Despite his private thoughts, Jesus answered him with something to say. We can almost hear the smugness in Simon’s voice as he answers, “Say it, Teacher”. Jesus tells him a parable of two men who owed money to a moneylender. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. One denarius was a day’s wages so both debts were significant but one was ten times greater than the other. Neither of them could pay and the moneylender cancelled the debt of both. Jesus’ question to Simon was, “Which of these would be more grateful?” Simon rightly answered, “the one who had the larger debt cancelled”.
Jesus turned to the woman and pointed out the difference between her and His host. Simon hadn’t provided the typical hospitality gesture of water to wash a guest’s feet (Gen 18:4) but she had wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Simon had not welcomed Jesus with the respectful greeting of a kiss but she had not stopped kissing His feet from when she arrived. Simon had not thoughtfully provided oil for the dry skin of Jesus’ head but she anointed His feet with perfume. She showed great love because she recognised her many sins needed forgiving. Simon may have been a believer (he did invite Jesus for a fellowship meal) but he clearly did not show love like the woman. Jesus pointed out that the one who is forgiven much loves much but the one who is forgiven little loves little. The other guests and onlookers wondered amongst themselves who Jesus was that He was able to forgive sins (cf. 5:21). Jesus concluded by making it clear that it was because of the woman’s faith that she was forgiven, not because of her acts of love. Her love was a response to her belief that Jesus was the Messiah.
The question for you and me is, “how much do you love?” The answer will depend on how much we feel we have been forgiven. Do you feel, like Simon, that you aren’t a terrible sinner and that there are worse sinners out there? Or do you rightly recognise that any sin is an atrocious affront to a holy God who is absolutely perfect and cannot tolerate any sin? Have you grasped that Jesus needed to die for your smallest, least significant sin (in your eyes), or you rightly deserve eternal separation from Him? How does your life exhibit your gratitude to Jesus for what He has done for you?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba: 1 Kings 10