“Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker cancelled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?” [43-47] Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” “That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman?”
Luke 7:41-44 MSG

“Do you see this woman?”

I wonder what Simon the Pharisee thought when Jesus asked this question. I’m guessing, from verse 39 of the passage, he may have thought, “I think I see her better than you do. I know exactly what sort of woman she is, and clearly your prophetic powers have let you down on this occasion!”

He saw her just the way he wanted to see her, a bad person, a problem, putting on an embarrassing display, spoiling his dinner party and compromising Jesus. But he didn’t really see her, a woman all too aware of who she was and in need of forgiveness and an acknowledgement of her worth.

When Jesus tells the story of the two debtors, Simon’s response is a little guarded and half-hearted; I think he knew just where the story was going. And Jesus ‘the prophet’ knew only too well what was in his heart and how different it was from what was in the heart of the woman. He really saw, both the woman and Simon.

I’m left wondering why Simon invited Jesus in the first place. The invitation seemed to lack many of the common courtesies usually given in that culture…was Simon just after an opportunity to test Jesus, to check out his credentials? Was he secretly pleased when the woman showed up and made such a fuss of Jesus? His whole approach was restrained and cautious.

Jesus saw two hearts…one distant and self-righteous, the other shockingly intimate and full of love. She had no doubts about who Jesus was and even though she must have expected yet another rejection she showered him with loving care. No restraint here, just grateful abandoned care and worship.

How do we love Jesus?

We are all constantly making conscious and unconscious decisions about the way we will behave in our relationship with Jesus. Sometimes we set limits, and allow expectations or fears to moderate our response to Jesus. What causes us to love Jesus joyfully and freely with an abandoned love?

Sometimes I think we forget that sin is not just a list of bad things we do. If we think that then it’s easy to compare ourselves to others who we can say are worse sinners than we are. But sin is about how we all fail to allow God into every part of our lives, how we claim for ourselves the place that is God’s alone…and our attitude to Jesus is a good measure of how grateful we are that our disposition to do the wrong things is forgiven and being transformed by our relationship with him.