When Simon, a Pharisee saw how a woman deemed as sinful in man's eyes poured perfume at Jesus' feet, wept and wiped them with her hair, what the Pharisee saw was someone who was unfit, unworthy of God. Back in the times of the bible, to be associated with "sinners" was deemed as unclean. It was not something a normal Israelite would do. Similarly, Simon the Pharisee in this passage thought the same Luke 7:39.
What Jesus saw was totally different. Here He saw a sinner who was repentant of her sins in front of the Lord. This speaks volume about our God who is merciful. In fact, all man is sinful, and for Simon the Pharisee to think that he is in a better position to judge the sinful woman was not what Jesus had in mind.
Yet, Jesus was patient and kind to point out the fault in Simon's mentality. In doing so, He let Simon judge for himself in the case given in Luke 7:41-42. And rightfully so, only until we see ourselves as sinful, we will not grow to love God more. Because of the fact the woman recognised she was a "greater sinner" in a sense, she knew that she needed forgiveness more.
Whereas for Simon, who would possibly have the self-righteous mindset probably would not see himself as sinful as the woman. Yet God does not look in terms of how man looks. He looks for so much deeper... a heart that seeks His own.
Perhaps here it is shown that even the Pharisees are in disbelief about what Jesus said in Luke 7:48, that your sins are forgiven. Because the Pharisees have always thought God is the only who who has the power to forgive peoples sins. Here they do not realise that Jesus is God Himself in flesh.
As I reflected upon the passage I felt sometimes we might be like Simon the Pharisee of this passage, that we look and compare our "sins" thinking we are better then others, but the truth is, just as much as other people are sinful and need God, we too are sinful as well and need God in our lives.
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