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Daughters of God
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 has 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. This way of presenting the matter made Simon
feel very uncomfortable. He himself 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 are represented. Simon’s
sin is shown to be tenfold greater than that of the woman, as much
greater as the debt of five hundred pence is greater than 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 indeed a prophet in every sense of the
word. He saw that with keen prophetic eye Christ read her heart of
love and devotion. Simon was ashamed. He felt that he was in the
presence of a being superior to himself
.
Simon had doubted that Christ was a prophet, but in His very
knowledge of this woman, Christ gave evidence of His prophetic
character. His mighty works bore witness of Him. His miracles,
His wonderful instruction, His long patience, His humility, all were
evidences of His divinity. Simon need not have doubted
.
“I entered into thine house,” Christ continued, “thou gavest me no
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water for my feet: but [with tears of repentance, prompted by love]
she hath washed my feet ... and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman [whom you despise] since
the time she entered in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.” The washing
of the feet and the kiss of welcome were attentions that were not
invariably shown to guests. It was customary to bestow them on those
to whom it was desired to show special regard. These ministrations
Christ should have received from His host, but He did not
.
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, Christ assured His disciples that
His heart is grieved when His children neglect to express their gratitude
to Him by words and deeds of love. Some may think that this scripture
is no longer of force, but it is. Writing of those women who were to be