“Master, say on,” was the somewhat constrained reply.
“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. The one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty; and when they had nothing to pay he freely forgave both. Tell me, then, which of them will love him most?”
The construction of this parable is marvelous for its conciseness, naturalness and simplicity. In its application Jesus makes Simon condemn himself for his uncharitable judgment. He is compelled to admit the whole force of the great scheme of salvation by pardoning grace. It doubtless never entered Simon’s poor, proud, but sinful heart that he, too, was a debtor and needed to be as freely forgiven as the woman whose touch he considered pollution, and yet this is one of the lessons taught by the comparison here drawn between the abandoned woman and the proud Pharisee. It is pitiable to see the bitterness of the world towards a lost woman. And yet why should not her companion in sin suffer as much as she? But he never does. Let us be fair. Cast her out, if you feel called on to be her judge, but at least do the same by him.
The fact remains that this poor woman knew she was an outcast. No one would forgive her. Never could she regain her social standing. But Simon? Ah! Simon was really quite a model man. As the world judges worth, she stood at one extreme and he at the other. Simon was eminently respectable. As a Pharisee he belonged to one of the first families; he was recognized in Church and State; he had social position which introduced him to the refined and educated. If he met a public speaker of eminence, or a man of reputation, he honored him by inviting him to dinner. Let us not too severely pass upon the conduct of Simon. He was undoubtedly a worthy man. Christ’s reference to him in the parable implies that his outward life was not that of a hypocrite or a mere formalist. But this parable makes him a bankrupt debtor. He can no more pay his fifty pence than the woman her five hundred pence. So both were sinners, and both needed to be forgiven. Here there was no difference. Both had broken the law of God, and both were in need of a Saviour.
We see again that penitence breaks down the wall that separated from God. This poor woman saw her dreadful sin and turned from it in an agony of repentance. She sought the Lord. He was the only friend to whom she could turn in her need. She was sure of His sympathy and help. She desired forgiveness and found it. She had been alienated from God, but through her penitence had reached a comprehension of Christ’s character impossible to the self-satisfied Pharisee. She was far more at one with God, as He was revealed in Christ, than was the dignified gentleman, indignant at her presence in his house.
This woman felt a great need. She was sin-burdened, and needed a divine deliverer, and the Saviour proved to be an all-sufficient helper. How was it with Simon? Why, he relied on himself. He felt no need of Christ’s help. He was self-satisfied—a very good man in his own opinion. The woman had expressed her gratitude in many touching ways, but Simon had no sense of gratitude. He had given no kiss of welcome, had provided no water for the feet, had failed to anoint the Saviour’s head.
Beyond a doubt there are a great many excellent people to-day of Simon’s stamp. They are quite courteous, if their social position is not compromised thereby. They will spread a feast, and invite the Lord to dinner. And yet, they feel no need of Christ. The whole show of hospitality is a cold, heartless formality, with no tenderness of emotion towards Him. They feel no longing to make sacrifices for His sake as expressive of their love. And so, while treating Christ respectfully, they do not treat Him lovingly. They think too well of themselves. They need to recognize more fully their position of danger and their dependence upon Christ.
There is also a wonderful picture in this narrative of Christ’s love for us. How considerate His treatment of this penitent and broken-hearted woman! He was not supercilious. He had no feeling of pride that resented her touch. It was not necessary that He avoid her in order to vindicate His own purity.
Hitherto Jesus had said nothing to the woman, though it must have thrilled her soul when she heard what had been said to Simon in the application of the parable. She was first indirectly assured of the grace of God in respect to herself, and of the principle on which her forgiveness was vouchsafed. She knew that He was not ashamed of her, and, finally, she heard Him say in so many words, “Her sins which are many are forgiven her.”
Having said so much to Simon concerning her, Jesus now turned to the woman herself, laid His hand tenderly upon the bowed head, for He would not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, He would not by bitterness drive her from Him, but as her Defence and Deliverer, personally addressed her, and said, “Thy sins are forgiven!” There now remained not a doubt in her mind. She had His word personally addressed to her, and this was the ground of her assurance.