Which One is You? - Luke 7

The contrast between characters in the text of Scripture are very instructive. Many times I hear the Spirit say to me in that still small voice, “Which one of these characters is most like you?” As I read the story of Simon and the Sinful Woman, there is a glaring contrast.

Christ was invited to the home of Simon for dinner and no doubt a large crowd gathered to witness the conversation. Simon welcomed Jesus and they all reclined at the table. Just then, a sinful woman came in and began to wash His feet with her tears, dry them with her hair, and anoint them with the expensive perfume. Pharisees loathed the idea of being touched by sinners and here was this prophet allowing this sinful woman to touch Him; He must not be much of a prophet!

Lovingly, Christ takes the opportunity to instruct Simon and the others about love and forgiveness. He gives the parable of the two debtors who are forgiven their debts. Who then will love more? The one forgiven a lot or the one forgive a little? Simon said, “I suppose it was the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” Christ responds, “You have judged rightly.”

Jesus sends the woman in peace saying, “Your sins are forgiven.” This caused the guest to get upset wondering who does this man think he is forgiving sins. I wonder what Simon was thinking? The text doesn’t tell us; it seems to leave it open to us.

Well, which one of these two characters is most like you? Are you like Simon with a sense of accomplishment in your Christian life? Or you like the woman, someone who senses the depth of your sin in your life? If you’re like me, there are times where I am like Simon where I look down on others thinking I am better than them. “Well, at least I have never done what they have done!” Then, there are times when I look in the mirror and see the kind of person that I really am in all my sinfulness. It is in those times I realize the depth of love I have for Christ all because of His great love for me. I hope for more times in my life where I identify with the grateful and loving sinner rather than the smug self-righteous. So, which one is you?