One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?" "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:36–50 (RSV)
Jesus and Simon the Pharisee were alike in many ways. They were men of faith who trusted in God. Simon was curious about Jesus, wanting to know more of what Jesus taught. The invitation to a meal was an opportunity to ask questions, discussing the deep things of faith.
Simon and Jesus were very different in living the faith. Simon is dedicated to the Law of Moses. He believed the Law was a good and a blessing from God. He believed that the Law was to be kept, never treated lightly. Just as it showed a man how life must be lived, it also revealed sin as an attack on the Law, on God who gave the Law.
Jesus would agree that the Law is good and a blessing. He would agree that the Law was to be kept. Jesus would keep the Law in a way that Simon the Pharisee would not have considered. The woman of the city, a euphemism for a prostitute, became the one in whom the two ways of understanding the Law would be shown.
Simon saw clearly that this woman had no place in his house. She came uninvited and was making a spectacle of herself, weeping all over Jesus' feet, drying His feet with her hair, kissing, and anointing them. The Law told Simon that this woman was outside the bounds of God's grace. He was amazed that Jesus tolerated her touch, tears, and ointment.
Jesus saw clearly that the woman was precisely where she needed to be. He saw that the Law would not let her pretend that she was not a sinner. She did not need Simon to tell her that she already knew. The Law had stripped her of any notion that she deserved to be a Jesus' feet. She could not ask for what she needed, so she wept.
Simon would send her away, unfit to be near himself and his guest. Simon had long forgotten what the woman knew all too well; sin left her hopeless before God. All she could do is sob at Jesus' feet, not imagining that mercy might be hers.
Where Simon measured God's love by the things he refrained from doing as well as the things he did, Jesus measured God's love by the mercy given to a weeping, hopeless woman. The Law cannot bring anyone to the mercy seat of the Father. It can reveal sin. It is very good at revealing sin. It is so good at revealing sin that apart from a merciful God, we can only shed bitter tears.
Mercy is what she received, unmerited mercy, flowing from the Father through the Son to the woman in tears at Jesus' feet. Simon would never have imagined forgiving her for the Law had not been kept. Jesus gave her forgiveness, for He is the fulfillment of the Law.