Ricci, Christ in the House of Simon

Ricci, Christ in the House of Simon

The story of Jesus ‘s visit to the house of Simon the Pharisee is told in St Luke’s Gospel (vii, 36 – 50). A woman from the city followed Christ there,’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.’ Simon condemned the attitude of his guest, 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.’ Christ answered with a parable and the words:’Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.’

[ text: 36 A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee ‘s house and reclined at table.

37Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,

38she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.

39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.

40Jesus said to him in reply, Simon, I have something to say to you. Tell me, teacher, he said.

41Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages 12 and the other owed fifty. 42 Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?

43Simon said in reply, The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven. He said to him, You have judged rightly.

44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, ” Do you see this woman ? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.

46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.

47So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. 13 But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. 48 He said to her, Your sins are forgiven. 49 The others at table said to themselves, Who is this who even forgives sins ? 50 But he said to the woman, ]Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.