The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-30

IA ~ nation OF her
This very simon
who dimes him refers to him. WIN
half.velled contempt. as "this MAN,
and answers a question " Jesus VIVID
IN Indifferent. 81 suppose" But y
W. Robertson has well said: tie
'llghted Pharisaism with irony ana
errible invectlve. Hut to the actun'
living Pharisee. how tenderly did ne
express himself simon. ! have some
what to say unto itee.' So TAR as
he is man. he Is an object OF IN
finite pity aud tenderness"
How unlikely TO find woman
(which was sinner In Phnrisees
house The secret Is found IN 'he
statement: when she knew thn'
Jesus sat nj meat In the Phar'sees
house. she brought an alnbaster ooA
Of ointment" While Simon wou'h
have scorned such creature lest ~he
contaminate him. the sinless son OF
Man welcomed her. The law mas
only condemnation for sinners. hu'
the grace Of God bringeth salvation
II II evident this was not the won
ans first meeting with the Savior
When speaking " her. Jesus says
"Iier sins. which are many. are Tor
given" literally. "have been forgiven
". Az. Perhaps she had heard MN
say: Come unto me all ye that iab"'
and are heavy laden" or s'mlla'
words and through faith her SIM
we're washed away.
Hence. she now seeks him out, e'ei
IN Slmon's house. and takes her pace
nj his feet rs he reclines nj meat
Standing there. her tears of penitenc'
and gratitude begin TO flow. fallins
upon his feet Then, ms u hei very
tears might defile him. she lets down
her hair. although II was shame t"l
woman 10 he seen with disheSeied
hair. and wipes his feet Not oni'
so she covered them with kisses. as
the word Implies. and anointed Them
from cruise Of precious Ointment
which hung about her neck.
How moving TO recall that this very
ointment may have been purchased
with the Price OF her shame The
law forhad strange woman TO bring
her hire into the house Of the Lore
FOR any vow (Deut 3;is), hut the
lord of the house allows the penlten'
10 pour Il upon his very person.
simon is sure now that Christ Is NJ
nrophet. for he does not know the
woman IL a sinner. Jesus stnrties him
nv showing he knows his yer,
thoughts and answering" them gives
him the illustration Of the two debt
ors. Simon confesses that the one
forgiven most will love the mnsi
Jesus applies the illustration directly
simon had no water for Christ's feet
nm, the woman washed them with her
tears and wiped them with her hair
simon had no kiss for his guest. but
the woman kissed his feet. Simon
had no oil. which was cheap. for
ChrIst's feet. hut the woman anointed
them with precious ointment. Where
fore I say unto thee. her sins, which
are many. are forgiven for she loved
much: hut to whom little Is forgiven.
the same Ioveth little And he said
INTO her. Thy sins are forgiven"
After nil. the woman was no longer
, skinner" hut n lover Of the Savior.
And simon. II he had only known II
was stlll In his sins. He did not love
Christ because he had never been
forgiven. for he had never repented.
Mercy for Prodigals.
Mark Twain wrote a story In which
no satIrIzed the affection lavished up
n, n nrodignl son. while n self-respecf.
inc hoy was allowed 10 struggle ON I'M
aided We know that sympathy Is
sometimes sentimental ana maudlin
Ru, &c are glad. too. that the divine
ness Of mercy Is not therefore oh
scured "Joy shall be I'm heaven ove'
one sinner that repenteih more than
over ninety and nine Just persons
which need no repentance. And II
mon complain Of this. Jesus says. ms
recorded lust before this story duke
.35) "Wisdom is justified Of all her
children
We need not he 'prodigals" 10 he
como great lovers Of Christ. Each
heart knows it, own depths ~ sin nd
unhellef. aud the saints contend
amonp themselves as TO which has
heen most forgiven and as 10 which
therefore should love most.
Note. the woman was not forgiven
because she loved hut laved because
she was forgiven. Jesus said: THY
faith hath saved thee" not her love.
lie bids her "Go In Cor, lnto) peace, "
as into new region of life and
hlessedness.
Men said of Christ. complalnlngly
.srhis man receiyeth sinners" How
blessed for only So can he receive us