Gospel

Heart in the Wrong Place

by Roland Crim
02/17/17
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When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Luke 7:36-43 NIV

Uh oh! This Pharisee had managed to get Jesus to dine at his house. This was special as Jesus usually dined with those who were considered to be lowly, as sinners and tax collectors. The problem here is that the Pharisee’s heart is in the wrong place.

This Pharisee is like the individual who only owed the banker fifty denarii. Since he owed less, he did not truly see the significance of the forgiven debt. Simon could not see the forgiveness which Jesus brought to him, as he was focused on the wrongdoings of the woman who was forgiven the larger debt. Christ was attempting to let Simon know his heart needed to be changed in order for him to truly understand and be forgiven.

This portion of Christ’s time with this Pharisee has vailed speech from our Lord to him. We shall see later that the Lord further explains to Simon where he has erred. We do not know if Simon changes his heart or not. He sure was given the opportunity as Jesus did dine at his house.

We must use any and all opportunities the Lord provides through His “dining” with us to truly learn from Him and to have a humble heart, truly dedicated to loving and serving Him.