Luke 7:39
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
At the feast in the house of Simon the Pharisee of Bethany, whom Jesus had healed of leprosy, Mary the pardoned woman of past sinful life touches Jesus in repentance and devoted service. Seeing it, Simon reasons within himself that if Jesus were a prophet He would know what manner of sinner she is and would refuse her touch and hold no communication with her, and on that ground he doubts His prophetic knowledge and divine character. Jesus reads his secret doubt and answers him with tactful, pitying correction, leading him to admit that the one forgiven most loves most. Simon's thought exposes pride and self-righteousness that exalts himself as far superior to the woman and more righteous than her, while he fails to see that he too is a great sinner whom Jesus had forgiven. He mistakes Christ's compassion, tenderness, and mercy in receiving the penitent woman for want of discernment, when forgiveness awakens love and humble conviction of sin becomes the measure of greater love for God.
Setting and Secret Doubt
The scene is a feast to which Jesus had accepted a Pharisee's invitation, and He entered it willingly to meet wealthy and cultured people, becoming familiar with their interests in order to reach their hearts. He did not refuse friendly contact but used such a gathering to give lessons suited to those present and to reveal imperishable riches. His genial, beneficent willingness to sit at supper with people, teach them and let them know Him stood in contrast to the suspicion and criticism with which the Pharisees viewed His generous mercy.
The host who speaks within himself is Simon the Pharisee of Bethany, whom Jesus had cleansed from loathsome leprosy and from sin and saved from a living death. The woman who touches Jesus is Mary, identified as Mary Magdalene, a woman of past sinful life whom Jesus had pardoned. She now comes in repentance and devotion in anointing service, yet Simon judges her only by that sinful past.
Seeing her touch Him, Simon reasons secretly within himself that if Jesus were a prophet He would have known who and what manner of woman this is, that she is a sinner. He assumes a true prophet, Messiah, and divinely authorized teacher would recognize her character and would refuse her touch, repel her devotion, and hold no communication with her. On that ground he doubts Jesus' prophetic knowledge and divine character and lowers Jesus in his estimation for permitting her.
His unbelief is stirred by the insinuations of Judas, and his heart is filled with unbelief under the influence of the bold disapproval of Judas and the disciples over the costly ointment as wasteful extravagance. Jesus reads Simon's heart and secret doubt and answers him at his house, showing that He reads hearts. He teaches truth with tact and with patient, pitying correction, leading Simon to admit that the one forgiven most loves most, that the one forgiven more will love more.
Pride Exposed by Mercy
Simon's inward judgment lays bare pride and hard-heartedness, a self-sufficient spirit lifted up in its own esteem. He exalts himself as far superior to the woman, imagines he pays Jesus marked respect by entertaining Him, and expects to be esteemed more highly than her. Judging through a self-righteous and condemnatory view of sin, he counts himself more righteous than she is. He fails to see that he too is a great sinner, indeed a greater sinner, whom Jesus had forgiven, and therefore he feels little obligation to his Saviour.
He acknowledges Jesus as teacher but does not receive Him as Saviour, so mere acquaintance with Him leaves his principles unchanged. His neglect and unbelief must be met by exposure of his own debt. Receiving the woman shows no want of discernment and no lack of prophetic knowledge. It is Simon's ignorance of God and of Christ that mistakes compassion, tenderness, mercy, and a genial, beneficent willingness to meet people for lack of knowledge, and on that ground he lowers Jesus in his estimation. Overlooking her penitent service, repentance, and devotion, he counts her sins as making her unworthy of Christ's welcome. Yet Jesus values the poor, sorrowful, repentant woman above him, and her humble conviction of sin becomes the measure of greater love for God.
Forgiveness awakens love, so that the one forgiven more loves more, while self-righteousness leads to unbelief and to lack of the gratitude and love shown by one who prizes mercy. Simon's failure to see his own sinful deformity keeps him from seeing the beauty of Christ's character and appreciating Him. But to be convinced of the great debt he owes leads him to humility and self-sacrifice under Jesus' patient, pitying correction. In this whole dealing Jesus stands revealed as the friend and helper of women.