Simon the Pharisee

Simon was a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dine at his home, yet failed to offer him the customary courtesies of water for his feet, a kiss of greeting, or oil for his head. During the meal, a sinful woman from the city came in, wept at Jesus's feet, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with expensive ointment. Simon judged inwardly that if Jesus were truly a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this was and refuse her touch. Jesus, perceiving his thoughts, told the parable of two debtors - one forgiven much, one forgiven little - and asked which would love the creditor more. Simon rightly answered the one forgiven more, and Jesus applied it directly: the woman's extravagant love flowed from the depth of her forgiveness, while Simon's minimal hospitality reflected how little he felt he needed forgiving.

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Biography

Occupation: Pharisee
Era: New Testament
Nationality: Jewish

New Testament Gospels Pharisees

Did You Know?

Simon omitted all three customary courtesies - water for feet, a kiss of greeting, oil for the head - and Jesus itemized each one against the woman's extravagance.

This anointing in Luke 7 is distinct from the one at Bethany in Passion week - two different Simons hosted anointings, a detail readers have merged for centuries.

Jesus's parable trapped Simon into pronouncing his own verdict - 'I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most' - the same device Nathan used on David.

Key Chapters

Luke 7 The Faith of the Centurion 7 min read Simon's silent judgment of both the woman and Jesus reveals a heart confident in...

Key Passages

The Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus

Luke 7:36-39

Simon's silent judgment of both the woman and Jesus reveals a heart confident in its own righteousness.

A³⁶nd one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

³⁷ And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, ³⁸ And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Read full chapter: Luke 7 →

The Parable of Two Debtors

Luke 7:40-47

Jesus ties love directly to the experience of forgiveness - the one who recognizes the greater debt loves the more extravagantly.

A⁴⁰nd Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

⁴¹ There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? ⁴³ Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. ⁴⁴ And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. ⁴⁵ Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.