Luke 7:36-50 “And 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. 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, 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. 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. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 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. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 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. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

Text Luke 7:39 “If he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.”

Desire quickly turned to disgust as Simon thought within himself; “If he only knew what kind of woman she was, he would not permit her to touch him.” “If he were truly a prophet like the people said he was; he would know her secret, he would know her sin!” The truth is; Jesus not only knew all about this woman, He knew Simon’s secret, as well as Simon’s sin; “he spake within himself, saying . . . And Jesus answering said unto him” (vs. 39-40). Jesus knew the very thoughts and intents of Simon’s heart. He knew that Simon would welcome Him as a guest, but he would never worship Him as God. Jesus knew the festering sin of self-righteousness that was enshrined within the heart of Simon; “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness” (Matt. 23:27). Sometimes we develop a self-righteous attitude as we look at the activities and appearance of others. We think within ourselves, “If He only knew.” The truth is He does know all about them, He knows all about us; our secrets and our sin. While we do not like to admit it, while we want Jesus to know about others, we wish He didn’t know about us! Solomon said, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14). We like Simon may often think, “If He only knew”; don’t worry, He does! He knows all!