The Feast at Simon’s House (part 5)

By curing Simon of leprosy, Christ had saved him from a living death. But now Simon questioned whether the Saviour were a prophet. Because Christ allowed this woman to approach Him, because He did not indignantly spurn her as one whose sins were too great to be forgiven, because He did not show that He realized she had fallen, Simon was tempted to think that He was not a prophet. Jesus knows nothing of this woman who is so free in her demonstrations, he thought, or He would not allow her to touch Him.

But it was Simon’s ignorance of God and of Christ that led him to think as he did. He did not realize that God’s Son must act in God’s way, with compassion, tenderness, and mercy. Simon’s way was to take no notice of Mary’s penitent service. Her act of kissing Christ’s feet and anointing them with ointment was exasperating to his hardheartedness. He thought that if Christ were a prophet, He would recognize sinners and rebuke them.

To this unspoken thought the Saviour answered: “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee…. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell Me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And He said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”

As did Nathan with David, Christ concealed His home thrust under the veil of a parable. He threw upon His host the burden of pronouncing sentence upon himself. Simon had led into sin the woman he now despised. She had been deeply wronged by him. By the two debtors of the parable, Simon and the woman were represented. Jesus did not design to teach that different degrees of obligation should be felt by the two persons, for each owed a debt of gratitude that never could be repaid. But Simon felt himself more righteous than Mary, and Jesus desired him to see how great his guilt really was. He would show him that his sin was greater than hers, as much greater as a debt of five hundred pence exceeds a debt of fifty pence.

Simon now began to see himself in a new light. He saw how Mary was regarded by One who was more than a prophet. He saw that with keen prophetic eye Christ read her heart of love and devotion. Shame seized upon him, and he realized that he was in the presence of One superior to himself.

“I entered into thine house,” Christ continued, “thou gavest Me no water for My feet;” but with tears of repentance, prompted by love, Mary hath washed My feet, and wiped them with the hair of her head. “Thou gavest Me no kiss: but this woman,” whom you despise, “since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet.” Christ recounted the opportunities Simon had had to show his love for his Lord, and his appreciation of what had been done for him. Plainly, yet with delicate politeness, the Saviour assured His disciples that His heart is grieved when His children neglect to show their gratitude to Him by words and deeds of love.

The Heart Searcher read the motive that led to Mary’s action, and He saw also the spirit that prompted Simon’s words. “Seest thou this woman?” He said to him. She is a sinner. “I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

Simon’s coldness and neglect toward the Saviour showed how little he appreciated the mercy he had received. He had thought he honored Jesus by inviting Him to his house. But he now saw himself as he really was. While he thought himself reading his Guest, his Guest had been reading him. He saw how true Christ’s judgment of him was. His religion had been a robe of Pharisaism. He had despised the compassion of Jesus. He had not recognized Him as the representative of God. While Mary was a sinner pardoned, he was a sinner unpardoned. The rigid rule of justice he had desired to enforce against her condemned him. (continues)

Calvary (part 5)
Calvary (part 4)
Calvary (part 3)
Calvary (part 2)
Calvary (part 1)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 9)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 8)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 7)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 6)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 5)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 4)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 3)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 2)
In Pilate's Judgment Hall (part 1)
Judas (part 4)
Judas (part 3)
Judas (part 2)
Judas (part 1)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 8)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 7)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 6)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 5)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 4)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 3)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 2)
Before Annas and the Court of Caiaphas (part 1)
Gethsemane (part 5)
Gethsemane (part 4)
Gethsemane (part 3)
Gethsemane (part 2)
Gethsemane (part 1)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 9)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 8)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 7)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 6)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 5)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 4)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 3)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 2)
“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” (part 1)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 4)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 3)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 2)
“In Remembrance of Me” (part 1)
A Servant of Servants (part 5)
A Servant of Servants (part 4)
A Servant of Servants (part 3)
A Servant of Servants (part 2)
A Servant of Servants (part 1)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 3)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 2)
“The Least of These My Brethren” (part 1)
On the Mount of Olives (part 5)
On the Mount of Olives (part 4)
On the Mount of Olives (part 3)
On the Mount of Olives (part 2)
On the Mount of Olives (part 1)
In the Outer Court (part 3)
In the Outer Court (part 2)
In the Outer Court (part 1)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 6)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 5)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 4)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 3)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 2)
Woes on the Pharisees (part 1)
Controversy (part 4)
Controversy (part 3)
Controversy (part 2)
Controversy (part 1)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 6)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 5)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 4)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 3)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 2)
A Doomed People (part 3)
The Temple Cleansed Again (part 1)
A Doomed People (part 2)
A Doomed People (part 1)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 5)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 4)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 3)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 2)
“Thy King Cometh” (part 1)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 6)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 5)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 4)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 3)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 2)
The Feast at Simon's House (part 1)
Zacchaeus (part 2)
Zacchaeus (part 1)
The Law of the New Kingdom (part 2)
The Law of the New Kingdom (part 1)
Priestly Plottings (part 3)
Priestly Plottings (part 2)
Priestly Plottings (part 1)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 6)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 5)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 4)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 3)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 2)
“Lazarus, Come Forth” (part 1)
“One Thing Thou Lackest” (part 2)
“One Thing Thou Lackest” (part 1)
Blessing the Children (part 3)
Blessing the Children (part 2)
Blessing the Children (part 1)
Not With Outward Show (part 2)
Not With Outward Show (part 1)
The Good Samaritan (part 3)
The Good Samaritan (part 2)
The Good Samaritan (part 1)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 5)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 4)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 3)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 2)
The Last Journey From Galilee (part 1)
The Divine Shepherd (part 3)
The Divine Shepherd (part 2)
The Divine Shepherd (part 1)
“The Light of Life” (part 6)
“The Light of Life” (part 5)
“The Light of Life” (part 4)
“The Light of Life” (part 3)
“The Light of Life” (part 2)
“The Light of Life” (part 1)
Among Snares (part 4)
Among Snares (part 3)
Among Snares (part 2)
Among Snares (part 1)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 4)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 3)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 2)
At the Feast of Tabernacles (part 1)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 7)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 6)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 5)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 4)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 3)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 2)
Who Is the Greatest? (part 1)
Ministry (part 2)
Ministry (part 1)
He Was Transfigured (part 2)
He Was Transfigured (part 1)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 5)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 4)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 3)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 2)
The Foreshadowing of the Cross (part 1)
The True Sign (part 3)
The True Sign (part 2)
The True Sign (part 1)
Barriers Broken Down (part 3)
Barriers Broken Down (part 2)
Barriers Broken Down (part 1)
Tradition (part 2)
Tradition (part 1)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 6)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 5)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 4)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 3)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 2)
The Crisis in Galilee (part 1)
A Night on the Lake (part 3)
A Night on the Lake (part 2)
A Night on the Lake (part 1)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 4)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 3)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 2)
“Give Ye Them to Eat” (part 1)
Come Rest Awhile (part 3)
Come Rest Awhile (part 2)
Come Rest Awhile (part 1)
The First Evangelists (part 5)
The First Evangelists (part 4)
The First Evangelists (part 3)
The First Evangelists (part 2)
The First Evangelists (part 1)
The Touch of Faith (part 2)
The Touch of Faith (part 1)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 4)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 3)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 2)
“Peace, Be Still” (part 1)
The Invitation (part 2)
The Invitation (part 1)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 4)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 3)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 2)
Who Are My Brethren? (part 1)
The Centurion (part 3)
The Centurion (part 2)
The Centurion (part 1)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 8)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 7)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 6)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 5)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 4)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 3)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 2)
The Sermon on the Mount (part 1)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 4)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 3)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 2)
“He Ordained Twelve” (part 1)
The Sabbath (part 4)
The Sabbath (part 3)
The Sabbath (part 2)
The Sabbath (part 1)
Levi-Matthew (part 5)
Levi-Matthew (part 4)
Levi-Matthew (part 3)
Levi-Matthew (part 2)
Levi-Matthew (part 1)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 5)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 4)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 3)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 2)
“Thou Canst Make Me Clean” (part 1)
At Capernaum (part 5)
At Capernaum (part 4)
At Capernaum (part 3)
At Capernaum (part 2)
At Capernaum (part 1)
The Call by the Sea (part 3)
The Call by the Sea (part 2)
The Call by the Sea (part 1)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 4)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 3)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 2)
“Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?” (part 1)
“The Kingdom of God Is at Hand” (part 2)
“The Kingdom of God Is at Hand” (part 1)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 6)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 5)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 4)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 3)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 2)
Imprisonment and Death of John (part 1)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 7)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 6)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 5)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 4)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 3)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 2)
Bethesda and the Sanhedrin (part 1)
“Except Ye See Signs and Wonders” (part 2)
“Except Ye See Signs and Wonders” (part 1)
At Jacob's Well (part 7)
At Jacob's Well (part 6)
At Jacob's Well (part 5)
At Jacob's Well (part 4)
At Jacob's Well (part 3)
At Jacob's Well (part 2)
At Jacob's Well (part 1)
“He Must Increase” (part 2)
“He Must Increase” (part 1)
Nicodemus (part 5)
Nicodemus (part 4)
Nicodemus (part 3)
Nicodemus (part 2)
Nicodemus (part 1)
In His Temple (part 5)
In His Temple (part 4)
In His Temple (part 3)
In His Temple (part 2)
In His Temple (part 1)
At the Marriage Feast (part 6)
At the Marriage Feast (part 5)
At the Marriage Feast (part 4)
At the Marriage Feast (part 3)
At the Marriage Feast (part 2)
At the Marriage Feast (part 1)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 5)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 4)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 3)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 2)
“We Have Found the Messias” (part 1)
The Victory (part 3)
The Victory (part 2)
The Victory (part 1)
The Temptation (part 5)
The Temptation (part 4)
The Temptation (part 3)
The Temptation (part 2)
The Temptation (part 1)
"The Baptism" (part 2)
"The Baptism" (part 1)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 6)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 5)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 4)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 3)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 2)
"The Voice in the Wilderness" (part 1)
"Days of Conflict" (part 4)
"Days of Conflict" (part 3)
"Days of Conflict" (part 2)
"Days of Conflict" (part 1)
"The Passover Visit" (part 4)
"The Passover Visit" (part 3)
"The Passover Visit" (part 2)
"The Passover Visit" (part 1)
"As a Child" (part 3)
"As a Child" (part 2)
"As a Child" (part 1)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 3)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 2)
"We Have Seen His Star" (part 1)
"The Dedication" (part 3)
"The Dedication" (part 2)
"The Dedication" (part 1)
"Unto You a Saviour" (part 2)
"Unto You a Saviour" (part 1)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 3)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 2)
"The Fullness of the Time" (part 1)
"The Chosen People" (part 2)
"The Chosen People" (part 1)
"God With Us" (part 4)
"God With Us" (part 3)
"God With Us" (part 2)
"God With Us" (part 1)

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