MH 31
March 31
Luke 7:36 to end. The penitent weeping at the feet of Jesus.
Two opposite characters are described in this interesting history; Simon the Pharisee and the weeping sinner!
Simon was probably respected by his neighbors, and accounted a religious man, but he was not accepted in the sight of Jesus. The woman had been a gross and open sinner, yet she was accepted by her Savior. Now what was the reason of this difference? Does Jesus love sin? God forbid!
The reason of the difference was, that Simon did not love Jesus, and the poor woman did love Him. The Pharisee showed his lack of love by neglecting to pay him the attention usually shown in that country to guests. He neither gave him water to wash his feet, nor ointment to anoint his person, nor did he bestow the customary salutation. The woman showed her love to Jesus by coming into the house where he was, notwithstanding the scoffs and frowns of the master and his friends; by standing at his feet washing them with her tears, kissing them with respectful affection, and anointing them with precious ointment. The customs of that country rendered it easy for the poor penitent to enter the house. Jesus was reposing, according to the eastern fashion, upon a sofa, and his feet were in such a position that the woman, while she stood behind him, could weep over them and anoint them.
Let us now ask why the woman loved Jesus so much, and the Pharisee loved him so little, or rather not at all? Jesus himself explained the reason in his parable. He had forgiven the woman a mighty debt. She knew that he had forgiven it, and therefore she loved him; for this is the meaning of the 47th verse. Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, (not because she loved much, but) therefore she loved much. Jesus first forgave her, and then she loved Him.
Jesus does not say that the Pharisee's debt was really small. He related this parable to show his host that if he thought his debt small, he could not love him much, even if he forgave him his debt. Do we wish to know whether we love Jesus much? Let us ask ourselves what we think of our debt. Do we think it small or large? Do we think that our sins are many or few?
By nature we all think that our debt is small. Yes, even murderers think that their sins are not so great as they appear, and that they are excusable on account of their many temptations. Thus we all excuse ourselves in our own sight, and think it an easy thing for God to forgive us such little debts. While we remain in this state of mind, we cannot love Jesus much. In fact, we cannot love him at all, and we cannot be accepted in his sight. But if Jesus, by his Spirit, touches our hearts, then we perceive that our sins are very great, and we cry to Him, "Pardon my iniquity, for it is great." It is not the acts of sin that we chiefly lament, but the secret sins of our hearts. These, we feel, are set in the light of God's countenance, and cannot be forgiven without the shedding of the Savior's blood. People often remain a long while in great distress on account of their sins; but when they can believe that there is forgiveness with God, and that he has washed them from their sins, they are filled with gratitude; then they love much, because Jesus has forgiven much.
Never do we lament our sins so much, as when we think of our Savior's infinite love. When is it we regret most our offences against an earthly friend? Is it not when we find that while we have been neglecting him, he has been laboring for our good; that when we have been suspecting him, he has been pleading for us? This is the grief that the true penitent feels. This was the grief that caused the woman to shed such abundant tears upon the feet of Jesus.