Dinner with Simon

Why do we eat with Jesus?

Simon saw the meal as an opportunity for prestige and score-keeping.

He threw a banquet, but not out of love for Jesus.

Luke 7:44–46 NIV

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

Luke 7:39 NIV

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

He judged the woman for her sin, and Jesus for not judging her sin.

The woman saw the meal as an opportunity for intimacy and gratitude.

She risked ridicule and rejection to come to Jesus and show him gratitude.

Luke 7:37 NIV

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.

When she was in his presence she was completely overcome with emotion.

Luke 7:38 NIV

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Jesus honored the woman as the true host of the meal—the one who got it right.

Luke 7:44–47 NIV

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Jesus did not come to keep score, but to erase debt.

Luke 7:41–42 NIV

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Jesus eats with people so they can know and love him—and be forgiven.

Luke 7:48–50 NIV

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Eating with Jesus Today

The Lord’s table is a place of forgiveness and reconciliation.

No one is entitled to a place at the Lord’s table—we all get there by grace.

Eating with Jesus means abandoning score-keeping and seeking reconciliation.

Jesus eats with Pharisees—and forgives them too.