One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. Luke 7:36 WEB
It may seem strange that a Pharisee asks Jesus to eat with him at this house. The Pharisees rejected John the Baptist and often opposed the Lord in his ministry. Interestingly, one of the Pharisees does invite Jesus to eat with him. It is likely that the Pharisee was one of the more prominent members of his sect.
With curiosity, he invited Christ into his home to confer an honor upon him and judge for himself whether or not Jesus was a prophet. What follows is the forgiveness of a sinful woman and the parable of the two debtors. With his words, Christ hints at his purpose in redeeming mankind from sin. Beyond that, the Lord removes the Pharisees’ doubt of his ability to perceive the sinfulness of the woman.
She Is a Sinner
Simon, as one of the Pharisees, has a well placed interest in Jesus as a holy man. He thinks that perhaps Christ is a prophet. However, when Jesus allows the sinful woman to approach him and wash his feet with her tears, Simon begins to doubt Christ. He says in Luke 7:39, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner. WEB”
The Pharisees, though sinners like the rest of us, refused to associate with habitual sinners. They saw themselves as righteous through their own acts and in self-righteousness were unaware of their need for forgiveness being basically good and in their own eyes certainly better than others.
The Two Debtors
Following the woman’s display of washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, the sinful woman began anointing Jesus’ feet with an anointment. After, Jesus says to Simon in Luke 7:41-42, “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? WEB”
In reply, Simon correctly states that the one forgiven the largest debt would love the most. With his own words, Simon describes why he has little more than curiosity for the Lord. As Jesus says to Simon in Luke 7:47, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. WEB”
Simon, just one of the Pharisees, would still wonder, “Who is this man that forgives sins?” But, the forgiven woman understood that Christ is our Savior. We know this from Jesus’ words that close the chapter. Luke 7:50 gives us Jesus’ final words to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the lessons of Jesus Christ. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Help to live in accordance with your word. Help me to live and love like Christ. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Gathered Together
