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?” (Luke 7)
People had heard Jesus speak, and heard about the things He had done, and were impressed and inquisitive about the who, why, and how of His person. This leader was impressed enough to request a personal audience with Jesus in His home. He watches as this "siful" woman comes and lavishes her adoration and affection on Jesus. He wonders in his heart why Jesus allows this. I wonder in my heart why this woman felt liberty to come into the man's house in the first place; had she been there before on other "business"? Jesus' seeminly passive response to the woman stirs visible questioning in the man's mind, which brings Jesus' response without being asked. What is thought-provoking is not only what Jesus says and does, in accepting her worship and forgiving her sin; it is also in what He does not say or do. Going along with His message is that He does not offer Simon forgiveness, reinforcing the message of grace He had been preaching and demonstrating. What He does not do speaks as loudly as what He says. He is worthy of worship. He forgives the repentant. He is not impressed by our self-righteousness.
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