When Jesus said he didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners, we might think he was writing off the Pharisees and other religious leaders of his day. But he wasn’t. He knew that they, too, were sinners, and he accepted invitations to eat with them. In this story, Jesus’ “righteous” host was shocked that Jesus didn’t condemn the woman who intruded in his supper. Jesus was more dismayed by his host’s self-righteous arrogance than by her checkered past.

• We never hear about Simon the Pharisee again in Jesus’ story. He probably was never able to get past his distaste for a man willing to accept a “sinful” woman (verse 39). Was it a waste of time for Jesus to accept Simon’s invitation to dine at his house? How willing are you to “go the extra mile” to share Jesus’ love with someone who may or may not choose to respond to that love?
• Reflect prayerfully on the story Jesus told Simon. Do you more often see yourself as having been forgiven much, or just for a few little missteps here and there? Does that affect the ways you relate to others when they need forgiveness? How does your sense of how much or little you’ve been forgiven affect your love and gratitude to God?