The Two Debtors Read Luke 7:36-50 in This Story, We See Jesus Having

The Two Debtors

Read Luke 7:36-50

In this story, we see Jesus having an encounter with Simon the Pharisee, but there is another person there who has had an encounter with Jesus, also. The unnamed woman who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and dries them with her hair has been transformed by her encounter.

The focus in this story is on Simon, but the woman’s presence is key to the circumstances. We can only guess why Simon has invited Jesus to join him for a meal, but there is no doubt that the offer was significant. In the culture of first century Palestine, the sharing of a meal was a gracious act of hospitality, offered only to those with whom one hoped to kindle a relationship of some kind. There are a couple of clues that suggest what Simon might have been interested in.

The Pharisees took the scriptures very seriously, and they believed that a messiah would come. As a result, they were generally interested in Jesus and his ministry, but they compared him to their expectations, based on their understanding of scripture. Consequently, they occasionally sought him out, not only in public gatherings, but also in private (for example, Nicodemus) and in social circumstances.

It is the presence of the woman, who is not examining Jesus, not questioning who he is, but rather adoring him as an act of love and gratitude, that disrupts Simon’s dinner gathering. She was certainly not an invited guest, but she came as part of Jesus’ entourage, and Simon was clearly offended by the presence of a notorious sinner in his home. And yet Jesus reserves his teaching not for this sinful woman, but rather for Simon.

Jesus uses the metaphor of a debt repaid to compare Simon and the woman. This metaphor was commonly used by rabbis to refer to sin, so there is no doubt that Simon understood Jesus’ point. And yet, he does not seem to understand that he, also, should be grateful for God’s grace and forgiveness, just as the woman is. In Simon’s mind, there is huge contrast between himself and the woman; in Jesus’ mind, they are equivalent. This alone must have shocked Simon.

But Jesus does more than simply compare them as equals before God. He says that the woman has been more gracious to him than Simon has been. The social conventions in those days would have demanded that Simon’s servants washed Jesus’ feet when he came into the house, or at least that Simon would have offered Jesus water to wash his own feet. But he tells Simon, “I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.”

It would have been expected that the host would greet the honored guest with a kiss. But Jesus says, “You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.” Simon might even have offered Jesus oil for his head. But Jesus says, “You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.”

We have a stark contrast in how these two people responded to their encounter with Jesus. Simon is questioning, testing, examining, wondering. But the woman is simply expressing joy to be in the presence of the one who has redeemed her. Simon wonders if it is possible that Jesus is the messiah. The woman has no such reservations. Simon trusts the scriptures - or at least, his understanding of the scriptures - more than he does the teaching and the person of Jesus himself. In short, the woman recognizes Jesus for who he is, and is grateful for the forgiveness and restoration that she has received. Simon does not recognize Jesus because Jesus does not behave as Simon expects he should.

We are no different today. We have attitudes and expectations that can get in the way of knowing and following Jesus. The woman approached him as a child might: full of joy, trust, and gratitude. Simon approached him as an adult might: full of questions, expectations and conditions.

Questions for discussion:*

1. Read Luke 7:36-50. In verses 36-39, how is the woman described? Look carefully at what she does. What different emotions does she express here? How do you think she feels about herself? What would motivate this woman to crash a dinner party, bring this expensive gift and weep before Jesus?

2. What might we learn from her about approaching Jesus?

3. In verse 39, how does Simon, the host, react to this uninvited guest? How do you think he feels about himself? How does he feel about Jesus? (Notice also the deference he gives Jesus in verse 40.)

4. Jesus responds to Simon with a story in verses 40-43. Notice all the facts. What is the point of the story? What is the significance of the creditor’s canceling the debts?

5. In verse 47, what is the response that Jesus wants in those whom he forgives? Do you think this characterizes the lives of those who are believers in Jesus, forgiven by him? Does it characterize your life?

6. What is significant about Jesus’ words in verse 48? Since only God can forgive sins, and Jesus forgave sins, what is he saying about himself? How do the guests respond (verse 49)?

7. How do you think the woman felt in verse 50? How has she shown faith? According to the witness of this woman, what is true faith in Jesus?

8. With which person in this story do you most identify, and why?

9. What would it mean for you to love Jesus the way this woman did? Does this love characterize your life? Your small group’s life? How can you demonstrate love this week?