Jesus from house to house (5) in Galilee, at Simon the pharisee

"One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to the table. Luke 7. 36

In the time of Jesus, a rabbi of passage was frequently invited to his table to converse with him. Everyone could freely listen to his teaching. Simon, a Pharisee, invites Jesus to have a meal in his house (verse of the day). Like all Pharisees, he likes to discuss and debate on theological subjects. But Simon is satisfied with the minimum reception, which shows his low esteem for Jesus.

A woman slips into the house. In tears, his tears water the feet of the Lord ; She anointed them with perfume. Inwardly, Simon is shocked that Jesus is being touched by this woman. He said to himself, "This man, if he were a prophet, would know who the woman is who touches him and what she is : a sinner" (v. 39). For him, this woman defiles Jesus and he does not even realize it !

But Jesus discerns the thoughts of Simon. To bring him to think, he tells her a parable. It depicts two debtors facing their creditor, one much more indebted than the other. Since they do not have enough to pay, the creditor cancels their debt. Jesus then asks a direct question : "Who is the one who loves him the most ?" (V. 42). It is an invitation to change our eyes on this woman whom Jesus compares to the debtor the most indebted but acquitted. Simon answers correctly : "I believe he is the one to whom he was given more" (v. 43), but he did not really understand the lesson. Jesus adds this remark : "His many sins are forgiven, for she loved much" (47). To Simon, full of moral rules, he shows the grace with which this woman is the object and which prompts her to express her gratitude. At her feet, she performed the welcome gestures that Jesus did not receive from her host. His acts show that she knows Jesus and her grace ; He confirms his forgiveness and reminds him of the only means of salvation, faith : "Your sins are forgiven ... Your faith has saved you, go in peace" (verses 48, 50).

In this house, two classes of people are in the presence of one another : Simon, in her sufficiency, a woman sinners in her indigence.

Let us love Jesus like her. Let us love our neighbor as Jesus did.

Source (Please the Lord)