Who Does Jesus Forgive: The Sinful Woman or the Pharisee?

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

(Mark 2: 17, KJV)

 

In the portion of Scripture before us in Luke 7: 36-50 we learn about two people. Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman. Both approached Jesus with a different attitude of heart. Simon was the host, while the woman was a guest along with Jesus. We see a sequence being played out between these two characters throughout this passage of God's Word. Back and forth we see Simon's attitude in the presence of the Lord Jesus and we see the sinful woman's attitude in the presence of Jesus. What a contrast we see between the two characters and what lessons can be drawn from this Scripture passage for our learning and profit. With that said, let's dive into this devotional study with listening ears and a ready and receptive heart to what the Lord will say. 

1. Simon the Self Righteous Pharisee (see Luke 7: 36, 39, 43). 

Here in this passage we learn a few things about Simon. We see him invite Jesus  to be a guest to eat at his house. This is both interesting and amazing to see, because the Pharisees were bitter enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. No doubt, he heard and perhaps seen some of the miracles and heard the teaching of Jesus, which peeked his intellectual curiosity and spiritual interest in wanting to learn a bit more about Him. Simon being a good moral religious person was quite content and smug in his self righteousness. He fails to see his own sin and need for forgiveness that was readily available to him in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Simon failed to understand that "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment" (Isa. 64: 6, ESV). The Apostle Paul adds, "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one" (Rom. 3: 10-12, ESV). He was seeking to earn favor with God by his good works, while criticizing others, like the sinful woman, who do not measure up to his standard of outward show of righteousness. He was even surprised to see Jesus' acceptance of the sinful woman (see 7: 39).  

2. The Sinful Woman Seeking Forgiveness (see Luke 7: 37-38). 

Next, we see the sinful woman from the city who had learned of Jesus lodging as a guest at Simon's house, who had made a special trip to visit him their. She knew she was looked down upon by the Pharisee and not welcomed there; but that did not deter her from the purpose in coming to Jesus. The only one she knew who could forgive her of her many sins. The portion of Scripture we are looking at does not give us any details of her many sins other than saying "who was a sinner" (7: 37). Perhaps she was a notorious prostitute, or perhaps the town gossip who meddled in the affairs of others, or perhaps she was like the woman of Samaria at the well, who had five husbands (see John 4: 16-18). Who knows. Whatever sins she was guilty of. She recognized Jesus as the one who could forgive her of her many sins.  

She saw Him as the long awaited Messiah who was to come into the world and deliver man from their sin, whereas, Simon the Pharisee, though educated in the Old Testament Scriptures failed to recognize Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. She had a appreciation of what Jesus could do in forgiving her of her sins that Simon did not have. There are four distinct things she did that proved her recognition and appreciation in who Jesus was. 

(1.) First, we see her tears--this revealed her love and devotion to the Lord Jesus. Take note of the intensity of her heartfelt appreciation of His Work (see 7: 38a). 

(2.) Second, we see her hair--this shows her willingness to lay her glory at the feet of the One she was glorifying (see 1 Cor. 11: 15). She appreciated His Wisdom (see 7: 38b). 

(3.) Third, we see her kisses--this teaches us about her great affection she had for Jesus (see Col. 3: 2). Notice it was His feet she was kissing. Her willingness to stoop to kiss His feet shows both humility and appreciation of His Walk (see 7: 38c). 

(4.) Finally, we see her perfume--this unfolds to us her sacrificial cost in worshipping the Lord Jesus (see 2 Sam. 24: 24; Heb. 13: 15-16). She appreciated His Worth (see 7: 38d).

 

3. The Seeking Saviour who came to Forgive (see Luke 7: 40-48, 50). 

The Lord Jesus reclining at Simon's table, observe the scene before Him of the Pharisee and the sinful woman. The Lord Jesus was not fooled by Simon's shallow display of hospitality to Him. He knew the heart of Simon all too well, as He did the sinful woman. The Lord Jesus knowing the condescending thoughts the Pharisee had towards the sinful woman, used this opportunity to share a parable with Simon about forgiveness. The parable Jesus told him was about two debtors. "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" (Luke 7: 41-42, NASB). Simon wisely responded, "The debtor who was forgiven more." Jesus commended Him for his correct answer (v. 43). Then the Lord Jesus rebuked Simon for his lack of hospitality and praised the woman for her attending to His needs. She provided the hospitality that the Pharisee in his home should have given to Jesus. Then He contrasted the actions between Simon and the sinful woman.

 

SIMON'S LACK OF ACTION	SINFUL WOMAN'S ACTION
"You gave Me no water for My feet"	"But she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair." Luke 7:44
"You gave Me no kiss;"	"But she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet." Luke 7:45
"You did not anoint My head with oil,"	"But she anointed My feet with perfume." Luke 7:46

 

Simon the Pharisee's lack of action as the host in attending to Jesus' needs can be outlined as follows. 

(1.) First, we see he gave no water--this tells us that Simon never provided the civil respect that was expected of the host to the guest. This ancient custom is that a basin of water was to be given to the guest to wash his feet (see 7: 44). "Verse 44.  Thou gavest me no water] In this respect Simon was sadly deficient in civil respect, whether this proceeded from forgetfulness or contempt. The custom of giving water to wash the guest's feet was very ancient. See instances in Ge 18:4; 24:32; Jg 19:21; 1Sa 25:41. In Hindoostan it is the custom, that when a superior enters the house of an inferior, the latter washes his feet, and gives him water to rinse his mouth before he eats. See AYEEN AKBERY, vol. iii. p. 226."[1]  

(2.) Second, we see he gave no kiss--this shows us that Simon never gave the Jewish custom of the host to either kiss their guest's cheeks or lips (see 7: 45). "Verse 45.  Thou gavest me no kiss. The kiss was a token of affection or a common mode of salutation, and Simon had even neglected this mark or welcoming him to his house. It was often used among men as a sign of salutation. Comp. Ge 33:4; Ex 18:7; Mt 26:49."[2] 

(3.) Finally, we see he gave no anointing oil--this reveals to us Simon's failure to practice the custom of anointing the head of the guest as a sign of receiving and entertaining him or her (see 7: 46).  "Verse 46.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint] Anointing the head with oil was as common among the Jews as washing the face with water is among us. See Ru 3:3; 2Sa 12:20; 14:2; 2Ki 4:2; and Ps 23:5, where the author alludes to the Jewish manner of receiving and entertaining a guest. Thou preparest a table for me; anointest my head with oil; givest me an overflowing cup. See Mt 5:17."[3] 

As seen in the three points above, Simon violated the custom that was required of him in treating his guests with respect, such as Jesus who he invited into his home. It is the sinful woman who attended to the customary needs of the Lord Jesus, when it was Simon's responsibilty. The contrast seen between these two characters are summed up simply but nicely by devotional writer John Kuperus: 

"Luke shares a story of two people who want to meet with Jesus. One is Simon the Pharisee, who is spiritually interested and wants to learn more about Jesus. The other is a woman who weeps at Jesus' feet, wipes his feet with her hair, kisses them and pours perfume on them. Simon is a good moral citizen, and the woman is someone who has "lived a sinful life." Simon approaches Jesus in an intellectual way over a meal; the woman expresses the deepest cry of her heart as she seeks freedom from her sin. 

Simon is surprised that Jesus would accept this treatment from a sinner, yet we find that Jesus honors the woman. She receives forgiveness of sins, but we hear of no change in the spiritual condition of Simon."[4] 

This of course is the reason why Jesus made this sobering statement to Simon: "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little" (Luke 7: 47, NASB). Then we see in verses 48 and 50 that the Lord Jesus forgave her sins and told her that faith had saved her, go in peace. She went away experiencing the peace that comes with knowing her sins forgiven; whereas, Simon never embraced and experienced Jesus' forgiveness and peace. 

Friend, if you are burdened and weighed down by the heavy load of your sin. There is hope. Like the wise sinful woman in today's text, in faith turn to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and He will impart to you the peace you so long for. Don't follow in the steps of the foolish Pharisee, Simon who was too self righteous and proud to see his need for Jesus' forgiveness. Be wise and turn to the Lord for forgiveness. For the Lord Jesus Christ says in today's theme text, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2: 17).

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[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary, (Power BibleCD 5.2).

[2] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes' NT Commentary, (Power BibleCD 5.2).

[3] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke's Commentary, (Power BibleCD 5.2).

[4] John Kuperus, Today: Refresh, Refocus, Renew, (ReFrame Media Publishers, Palos Heights, IL, Vol. 63, Num. 3; May/June 2013), Wed., May 22, 2013.