NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS.

THE PHARISEE AND THE PROSTITUTE. (Mainly about good manners.)
Pharisees were noted for their religious piety but not always for their manners. People who believe themselves to be better than others, have a tendency to show less than due respect to those others.

Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to a meal but was not a very good host. For a start it seems that he did not invite the disciples (well perhaps there were rather a lot of them) so that this incident never imprinted itself on the memory of John or Matthew or Peter who would have told Mark. Only Luke reports it. Luke was the one who had to go out and get his information by asking questions.

Luke tells the story at the end of chapter seven and then, at the beginning of chapter eight, he mentions the women who travelled with Jesus. There is no suggestion that the woman of this story became one of those followers, but she may well have told them her story - and if they told Jesus’ mother who told Luke, then the trail of information is complete.

Jesus arrived at Simon’s house and was not anointed as an honoured guest or even offered water to wash His feet. He reclined at table, lying on His left side, eating with His right hand, unwashed feet stretched out behind Him away from the table.

Then she came in.

Simon knew who she was. Probably several of the guests knew who she was. Some men present may have known rather too well. Luke’s bland term, “A woman of the city who was a sinner” had only one meaning in this context. Yet she was able to walk right in, doors were not locked or even shut during a meal - ventilation was vital - but no servant seems to have barred her way. Perhaps the servants did not know her.

She came in weeping.

Why, we are not told, though there was reason enough. Prostitutes are often (like Jesus) despised and rejected by men. Experienced at keeping up an outward show of enjoyment, their inner hurts stay deep inside. Something about Jesus had pierced the facade and let out the pain. Had she heard Him preach? Did she know that here was one who would accept her as a person, wanting not her body but her soul.

Whatever the reason, she came in weeping and stood behind Jesus’ feet, tears falling on them. She had brought some anointing oil with her but not the fabulously expensive perfume such as Mary of Bethany would use a year or two later. Nor could she, like Mary, come near enough to anoint both head and feet. This oil was probably the same kind she had often used to perfume herself or massage her customers.

There was just one skill brought out of her old profession which she could now offer innocently - she did know how to give a relaxing foot massage - ease the tired feet which the host had not even bothered to wash.

Simon looked on with disapproval. A prophet of God does not allow such a woman to give him a foot massage. Then Jesus spoke to him.

“Simon I have something to say to you.” He was looking at Simon and deflecting attention away from the woman, for which she was no doubt thankful.

“A moneylender had two debtors, one owed five hundred, one fifty. Neither could pay so he frankly forgave them both. Which will love him most?”

It is a trick of parables to keep the hearer guessing what it is all about until the point is well and truly made. After that they may reject its message but cannot fail to understand or remember it. Simon fell neatly into the trap.

“I suppose the one forgiven most.”

“How right you are.”

Now Simon was for it. Bad manners Jesus could ignore but not arrogant self-righteousness. Jesus was now going to embarrass Simon; so he turned to face the woman, drawing attention to her, leaving Simon to take the message for himself while attention was on another.

“I came into your house as a guest and you gave me no water for my feet. This woman used tears. You did not greet me with a kiss. She is kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head, she has anointed my feet.” The parable is coming clearer.

“Her sins are forgiven. She loves much. Those with little to forgive, love little.”

Simon was well and truly shamed but all attention is focussed on the woman now. At least he is free to meditate on the moneylender who frankly forgave both. Part of that message was for him. And Jesus is not merely giving forgiveness to the woman. He is acknowledging her love - so much better than Simon’s - and sending her out with personal worth and dignity restored.

Luke 7:36-50