In Luke 7, Jesus had just confronted those who were unresponsive, like the Pharisees, with their refusal to listen either John the Baptist or Himself, even though their lifestyles were very different. Then in verse:
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.”
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.”
For whatever reason, this Pharisee invited Jesus to his home for dinner. We don't know if he was trying to impress Jesus with his food, home and friends, or if he was looking for some way to trap Jesus in what he said or did, but it was not because he wanted to hear more from Jesus, because he did not ask Jesus to speak during dinner; Jesus had to ask permission of his host. How about us? Are we asking to hear from Jesus or Does Jesus have to get our attention? One more thing we note for today: This man was into the comparison game; it was all about what kind of woman this was and how ignorant Jesus was compared to how wise he was. It is never a wise thing to start that game - especially to try to play it with Jesus; it will come back to bite you, as we will see tomorrow.
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