A devotion to Jesus: the parable of two people

The visit that Jesus made to the home of Simon the Pharisee is illustrative of what real devotion to Christ looks like. The incident focuses on a parable Jesus told about two debtors in Luke 7:36-50

It is a parable about two persons, a self-righteous Pharisee and a woman who was a known sinner. From their meeting with Jesus, one was rebuked and reprimanded, the other went away praised and blessed, and with the peace of God in her heart.

What an illustrative contrast. Here are two people seeking the presence of Jesus, both with great desire to see Him. Yet, one is condemned and the other pardoned and forgiven. What had happened? There is in the house of Simon two people, but with entirely different circumstances, leading to an entirely different result from their meeting with Jesus. And is this not a perfect picture of the way in which all mankind can be divided? Though Jesus is not now with us in the flesh, the fact remains that His Spirit is accomplishing the same work today that Jesus did then.

There are those whom, like this sinful woman in the parable, find favor with Jesus and there are those whom, like Simon the Pharisee, are left with nothing but condemnation from the Lord. They are left with their self-righteousness and the attendant unhappiness and misery that always accompanies such a state; finding themselves still slaves of their sin, and passions. Tragically, even after having met Jesus, they still come away with nothing, and their soul is left in the sad state that it was before meeting the only One who could make them a new person, so that they could understand what real joy, happiness and freedom could be.

What is the primary difference between these two people? Is one interested in Christ and the other not? Understanding the difference, in fact, is what the parable is all about. Consider the two positions represented by Simon and the woman. Though there are several principles involved let us look briefly at their attitudes.

It seems obvious that Simon's interest in the Lord was purely intellectual. He was intrigued by Jesus, both His personality and teaching. To this pharisee, there was much that was novel, even extraordinary. Simon had sufficient intelligence to appreciate that. He didn't think that Jesus should be dismissed as a mere zealot. Simon was a student of life and religion, and in Jesus he was meeting something he had never met before. Indeed, he had heard some astonishing claims by this new teacher that was on the scene. Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah and put Himself above the Mosaic Law. He even called for and demanded utter obedience. Simon naturally wanted to investigate this, and so invited Jesus to dine with him. Christ and His teachings were an intellectual problem worthy of Simon's examination, but not really for any serious consideration. Such was Simon's attitude; Jesus was of great interest, but only as an intellectual curiosity.

But how different is the case of the sinful woman! Her interest is by no means purely intellectual. She comes rather on the basis of her felt need; indeed, on the basis of her obvious moral failure in life; on the basis of her shame. She does not come because her intellectual faculties are intrigued or because of a new philosophy or view of life. Indeed, she does not come at all to examine or test. She comes rather to listen and to receive.

She, no doubt, had heard Jesus before and believed in Him. She saw her great need for the mercy and forgiveness that Jesus offered to someone like her. For someone with a repentant attitude, He was longing to forgive and cleanse and to make a new creation of her. His desire was to pardon and to give her power over sin and temptation, to give her a new life of joy and happiness, as well as removal of fear of death and the grave, and to give certain hope of heaven and eternal bliss.

We must all decide which place we are in, that of the purely intellectual like Simon the self-righteous Pharisee, or that of the truly repentant sinful woman. Both very much wanted to meet Jesus, but one received rebuke and condemnation and the other, praise, blessing and forgiveness.

So then, in views of all that Jesus is willing to do for you, has He earned your love and devotion?

Rick McLeod is pastor emeritus at Southside Community Church in Cocolalla.