Scripture – “When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus 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 Jesus 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.” Jesus 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,” Jesus 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 Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
Luke 7:36-50 NIV
Observation – Jesus is having dinner in a religious leader’s home and a sinful woman, who wasn’t invited to the dinner, comes in and pours expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. The religious leader says to himself, if this man were a prophet he would know who is touching him. Jesus goes on to tell an obvious story about sin, forgiveness and gratitude. In response to Jesus’ question, “Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answers, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
Application – Why does Simon insert the word “suppose” in his response? Simon is unwilling to take responsibility for his judgement of the woman and his own sinfulness. This is why God hates pride and arrogance. The appropriate response for Simon would have been to apologize to Jesus and the woman, in front of his guests, to realize he is in deep debt too and ask for forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes so that you can view yourself from a proper perspective and when you can see clearly you will run to Jesus and thank him for dying on the cross for your sins. When your eyes are open you will know you need a savior.
Prayer – Holy Spirit, I pray you open the eyes of those who think they don’t need to be forgiven, I pray you open the eyes of those who compare themselves to others and I pray they humble themselves and ask for forgiveness.
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