Feast at Simon’s House
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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
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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