The Life of Christ

• As she felt more comfortable in His presence, she proceeded to kiss His feet.

• She then anointed them with the perfume from her flask.

• Neither she nor Jesus spoke a word to each other; they didn’t need to; she was at worship, while He comfortably received her adoration.

Lk. 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Simon also sat silent, while his thoughts now raced with the answer to his own contemptuous question.

• “If this man with his novel ways and words, whom in politeness I, Simon, must call ‘Teacher,’ if this man were indeed a prophet, he would have known who this woman was.”

• “And, if He had known who she was, He would never have joined Himself to such behavior.”

Lk. 7:40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he 1 replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

Yet, because Jesus was a prophet, He had easily read Simon’s unspoken thoughts.

• Rather than present an open rebuke that would have embarrassed Simon before his guests, Jesus paints an illustration.

• This illustration would naturally fit Simon’s own model of reasoning.

Lk. 7:41-42 “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?”

Clearly the lender represents God, and the two debtors represent Simon and the woman.

• Simon represented the debtor who owed only fifty denarii, while the woman owed five hundred — tenfold.

Lk. 7:43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged c orrectly.”

Though each of their debts may have been equally paid off, yet a Rabbi would still naturally answer, “he would love more to whom more had been forgiven.”

• Jesus would now apply Simon’s admission to the present moment.

• With much forgiveness comes much love.

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With little forgiveness comes less love.

• Jesus will now compare this woman’s conduct with that of Simon’ s.

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