Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-04-18

went into the Pharisees house, and sat down
to meat" The incident of this Lesson, like
that of the last one, is recorded only by Luke,
and seems to have occurred at the same place,
thc city of Main The principal intervening
events were the sending of messengers to
Jesus by John the Baptist, who was in prison;
the miracles wrought by Jesus in their pres
ence, and the testimony of Jesus concerning
John after the messengers had departed He
also rebuked the people because of their
treatment OF John ard Of Himself, saying
that John had devil and that Jesus was a
glutton and wine bibber and friend of publ.
cans and sinners.
81. And, behold a woman in the city,
which was a sinner" We do not know her
name. This is the only place where the rec
ord is found and her name is not given. The
only name given to her is sinner and that
fits us all Rom. iii, IS; v, l2. She may
have been more openly a sinner than others,
and have wandered farther from the paths of
virtue, but she was one Of those whom Jesus
came to save; and in some way she had been
convicted of her sinfulness and filed with n
spirit Of true penitence.
3S And, stood at His feet behind Him
weeping etc. Reclining as they did at
table, as she came behind Him, she could
easily stand at His feet, and, bending over
tnem wash lnem WIN ner tears.
50. "Now when the Pharisee which had
hidden Him it, he spake within himself"
lie might as well have said it out for Jesus
knew his thoughts. He knows ours, too (Ps
cxxxix, .; Eek. xi, 81, and we need constantly
to pray that He would cleanse the thoughts
of our hearts,
40. And Jesus, answering, said unto him,
Simon, have somewhat TO say unto thee
Our very thoughts need answering. and the
Word of God is equal to it. Vain thoughts
lodge within us, and was to our time and hin
der our service but there is u remedy, THE
Word of God der. ", Il; xxx, II: Luke
xiv, 49, There are seven or eight different
Sinons in the New Testament history besides
Simon Peter, but this is the only mention Of
this one.
II, IL. "When they had nothing to pay, he
frankly forgave them both. Tell me, there
fore, which of them will love him most,' In
this story OF the creditor and two debtors
Jesus would teach Simon somewhat of the
relations in which he aud the woman stood
to God Not that the Indebtedness of Simon
and the woman was fifty compared with
five hundred but that was about the way
Simon looked at it. He might bo willing TO
acknowledge that he was not as good as he
ought to be, but here was n woman whom
everybody knew to be great sinner.
As. "SIimon answered and said | suppose
that he to whom he forgave most. And He
said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged"
Any one could see that the one who was con-
scious of owing five hundred, being freely
forgiven would feel under much greater OBJ
legation 10 the creditor than the one owing
only fifty; and thus Simon answered rightly
a deep sense Of sin, consciousness of our
great Indebtedness to God, is an Invaluable
1nr Nov fha Loo f,f l,a tl,O
cause of so little manifest love to God on the
part of those who profess TO be His:
44-46. and he turned TO the woman. and
said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman"
Simon was no doubt surprised to have the
thoughts of his heart revealed. The poor
woman is no doubt surprised to have Jesus
turn in compassion to her. To he allowed to
cares and anoint His feet a great JOY,
but to have Him turn His face to her. and
NOTICE her, and commend her. mentioning
every loving act before all the people, and
placing her in His estimation above Simon
himself, surely now her heart was full. What
condemnation for Simon what glory for her.
How great tine contrast The host who in
vited Him did not treat Him with common
courtesy, much less with any degree of honor
no water, no kiss, no Oil; no refreshing, no
welcome no gladness from Simon. But this
sins ministers to Him with penitential tears
and the true oil of gladness from a loving
heart Here is n foreshadowing of n future
day when many self righteous one shall
be confounded and many pour contrite
one gloriously rewarded.
A. "Wherefore | say unto thee, Her sins
which are many, are forgiven" Good for
the poor woman, but what about Simon and
his sinsl In his own estimation he had none
worth mentioning, none that needed special
pardon. and Jesus came not to call the right
eOus but sinners TO repentance. II Simon
could have had glimpse of his own heart rs
Jesus saw it, lie too would have had a broken
heart and have meekly sought forgiveness
But he was blind, and with salvation within
his reach, even in his own house, he sees not
his need and goes without, little thinking that
the man who now sat at his table, ready and
able to save him, was indeed Israe's Messiah.
4S And lio said unto her Thy sins are
forgiven" She hoard Him say it TO Simon,
and If her heart was full before it was surely
overlooking now; but could it be true, did
she hear Alright He turns again to her, looks
into her face, and says directly to herself,
'Thy sins are forgiven Now she is sure
He has looked upon her; He has spoken to
her; she believes that He is lsraes Messiah,
and now He has become her Saviour and her
soul can say, Thine anger mot with her, but
with her SIM is turn,i away, and thou com
forrest Inc, for Thou art become my saliva
ton" lisa. XII, /, p Has II. spoken 10
you in such words as these II write unto
you because your sins are forgiven you, for
His Names sakel" Il John ii, l2) And has
your heart overlooked with love to Him be-
cause Of His great salvation so freely be-
stowedl IL not, come closer to him: hear
His Come unto Me-" and hearing and COM
ing rejoice in His Not cast outn Matt. XII
IS; John vi, 80.
40. And they that sat at meat with Him
began to say within themselves, VINO is thi,
that forgiveth sins alsof They knew Him
not; they, too, were blind like Simon; there
was no forgiveness for them either, although
It was within their reach. A reasoning
Questioning spirit draws no blessing from
Him, but only broken and contrite and be
lieving spirit, and this they had not. They
were well satisfied with themselves What
mystery this isl God manifest in the flesh
healing the sick, raising the dead, fulfilling
tho prophecies concerning the Messiah suct