Jump Start # 3632

Luke 7:47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Our Jump Start yesterday was based upon this section of Scripture, Dinner at Simon’s, as I like to call it. I want to return there. Three times in the narrative, we are told that this woman was a sinner. Luke introduces her that way. He states, “a woman in the city who was a sinner” (37). Then Simon declares, “what sort of person this woman is” (39). And, even Jesus says, from our verse today, “her sins, which are many” (47). We sure get the point—this woman was a sinner!

Now, let’s put some thought to all of this:

First, some sins are clearly seen and known by others. And, then, some sins are known but to the person and God. Almost without exception, everyone thinks that this woman was a prostitute. The disgust of Simon indicates that. He would have never invited her to his home. She crashed the party.

But, we must be careful in thinking and worse, judging, that “known sins” are worse than the “secret sins.” Both cripple our souls. Both insult and shame God. Both indicate a life lived without God. Sometimes those hidden, secret sins can be more destructive than the known sins. Because they are unknown to most, a person can delay or even refuse to stop them. No one knows. But those public sins often bring the voice of the righteous calling for repentance. Public sins may result in being arrested, expelled from school, fired from job, and shame and embarrassment that follows. The consequences may be greater and the pressure to change may be greater. It’s the secret sins that we don’t get serious about that can lead to hypocrisy and a judgmental attitude.

Second, although the Lord didn’t say it, I expect Simon from our story, being old enough to have a home, host a dinner, and be known as one of the Pharisees, had plenty of sins. The Lord easily could have said, “Simon, your sins are many.” This was not a contest about which person sinned the least. It didn’t matter. They both had sinned. “I’m not as bad as you are,” doesn’t put us safely on the shore of salvation.

What would have been a beautiful picture would be if Simon had gotten a towel for the woman to dry the feet of Jesus, instead of using her hair. Or, better still, had Simon himself dried the Lord’s feet. The two sinners working together to honor the Lord would have been a beautiful image. Instead, he stood looking at her, disgusted and embarrassed that she had ruined his dinner party.

And, it makes me think about our times. Someone walks down the isle during the invitation song, tears streaming down their face, and they sit alone on the front pew, while the rest of us sing, and try to guess and wonder what’s going on. There is an awkward moment and silence when the preacher sits by this person and tries to get her story. He stands and says some words, offers a prayer and the tearful person sits alone with all the eyes behind her staring at her. What a wonderful picture if someone walked right up behind her and sat with her.

Her sins were many, Jesus said. So, were Simon’s. She was forgiven. Nothing was said about Simon’s forgiveness.

Third, we must be sure that we do not allow our congregation to look like Simon’s house. The drug addict. The drunk. The ex-con. The divorced. The bankrupt. They don’t need someone to tell them their sins and mistakes. They wear the scars. They know. What they need to know is that they are welcome. They don’t need a Simon saying, “What is she doing here?” If that is asked, couldn’t also ask, “What are YOU doing here?” Or, more accurately, “What are ANY of us doing here?” We don’t belong, but unlike Simon, the Lord has invited us. One doesn’t go to the hospital when they are well, but when they are injured and sick. One doesn’t wash a car when it is clean, but instead, when it is dirty. If we keep people away from Jesus, how will they get clean and healed?

Simon had an incredible opportunity to show the love of God and the grace of Heaven. He blew it. His judgmental eyes could not see that Jesus loves all of us. That includes the best among us and the worst among us.

Dinner at Simon’s. Most went home with food in their belly. One, the woman who anointed Jesus, went home with forgiveness in her soul. Simon stands with the prodigal’s older brother and Jonah. They’ll take all the grace you will give them, but they won’t extend it to anyone different than they are. Judging others more than self, Simon and his kind, would do well to look in the mirror once in a while. Keeping the church pure does not mean keeping people out.

Dinner at Simon’s—sure is something to think about

Roger