“Now which of them will love him more? …Do you see this woman?”
Luke 7:42 & 44 (NIV)
Jesus is invited to dinner at Simon the Pharisee’s house. Jesus and Simon have an interesting interaction over this meal. We don’t know how many people were actually present at this dinner. Simon’s servants – probably. Simon's friends and family – possibly. There for sure was someone else there, someone’s whose life was changed. The whole scene plays out over 14 verses. It includes a story with a question and a question with a rebuke. Let’s get into it.
I wonder what Jesus thought about this invitation, He knew that generally speaking the Pharisees weren’t really fans. Did He think it might be a trap, a confrontational conversation? Maybe this Pharisee like Nicodemus was interested in the truth and knowing Jesus better. Simon and Jesus were reclining at the table, when we meet the third person present. A woman with a bad reputation had heard Jesus was there and turns up with an alabaster jar of perfume. It says she was standing at Jesus’ feet. Standing there she is overwhelmed with emotion and starts to weep so that tears begin to fall on Jesus’ feet. At some point she must have knelt because she dries Jesus’ feet with her hair, she kisses them and pours perfume on them. Simon witnessing all of this begins to think to himself “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39). Jesus had noticed and knows both who is at His feet and what Simon is thinking – so He tells Simon a story with a question.
Here’s the Reader’s Digest contemporary version of the story. Two guys owe the bank money. One owes around $75,000 in modern wages and the other around $7,500 neither can pay it back. The loan manager shows grace to both men by cancelling the debt. Here comes Jesus’ question. Simon, tell me which of the two will love the loan manager more? Simon has the right answer – “…the one who had the bigger debt cancelled” (Luke 7:43). Jesus acknowledges Simon’s good answer but then… Jesus asks another question. “Simon, do you see this woman” (Luke 7:44)? Of course, Simon had seen her, he’s been having unkind thoughts about her. Jesus continues by critiquing Simon’s hospitality. No water for my feet, no welcome kiss, no oil for my head. Yet this woman – the one you were twigged about being here and causing a “fuss” – she washed my feet with her tears, she kissed my feet, she poured perfume on them. She has gone above and beyond; she has shown extravagant care and love – so her sins have been forgiven. Those who are forgiven much love much and those who have been forgiven little love little.
Simon is rebuked, the other guests are amazed, and the woman goes away changed, by her faith and His grace.
What about us? If Jesus showed up at our house or our church as His early first century self, would he be warmly welcomed? What if he turned up as someone from our modern-day fringe, someone who might be considered an outcast? We who have been forgiven much, should love so much more. We should love and worship Him more. We should love those He would love much more.
I know I’m not perfect, that I definitely have days when I don’t feel like loving others. I also have days when I don’t feel particularly lovable. The good news for me and all of us – Jesus loves us more on our worst days, especially when we know we need His love, His grace, His forgiveness. Jesus notices and He knows everything about us, and HE still loves us, still wants us, still forgives us, still transforms us, still calls us friend and even better brother or sister.
Let me know your thoughts. Know someone who might be encouraged by this – please share. I will be praying for you. Until next week – remember He forgives much, so we should love much.
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