Simon the Pharisee

A woman comes to Simon the Pharisee’s luncheon and weeps over Jesus’ feet. As her crying got louder and her sobs increased, so many tears fell that she let down her hair and used it to dry His feet.

[She] wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”

• Luke 7:38b ESV

Her hair would’ve gotten dirty doing this. At least a little, perhaps a lot. But she was willing to get physically dirty to love and worship Jesus. And she was willing to abase herself in the eyes of others to love and worship Jesus. By using her hair, which by Simon’s standards should’ve been kept covered and tucked away, she further lowered herself in his eyes.

To Simon, her actions were additional proof of her unworthiness, her uncleanness, confirming for him, her tainted body and soul. Simon certainly wouldn’t let her touch him, why that would make him unclean!

At this point, Simon’s sensibilities were pushed past his comfort zone and his agitation increased. His respect for Jesus dropped a few notches.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.””

Luke 7:39 ESV 

It’s easy to feel judgey, like Simon. It’s all too common for us to question Jesus’ methods and think His ways are insufficient to the circumstances.

But no one is being defiled here. Instead, Jesus’ feet are made clean by this woman’s touch and the woman’s heart and soul are made clean by Jesus. Simon fails to see either one happening.

We can communicate much without saying a word. A roll of the eyes, a shake of the head, a sigh, pursed lips, a pointed stare, raised eyebrows—any of these could reveal Simon’s opinions about this woman and Jesus.

And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him,

“You have judged rightly.”

Was Simon an arrogant, overbearing religious poser? Was he an anxious, insecure people-pleaser? Was he worried about his reputation more than his redemption? What did he think about Jesus? Was he open to the idea of Jesus being the Messiah? Was he opposed to Jesus already?

Simon, whatever his failures, agrees to listen to what Jesus has to say. Simon does judge rightly when Jesus tells him the parable of the two debtors. This makes me think there is hope for Simon. Having a conversation with Jesus is always a good idea. Even more so if we are willing to truly listen and learn from Him.

Consider:

Are there times when you feel like Simon, judgey and skeptical?

Jesus has something to say to us. Will we listen, like Simon did?

Will we correctly judge as Simon did?

Remember:

When you are invited to a meal this holiday season, let it be an occasion to listen to what Jesus has to say to you.

 Share:

What has Jesus said to you that changed your perspective on someone, on a situation, or on yourself?