Daily Bible Reading 30th June 2026 // Luke 7:36-50
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain money-lender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning towards the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Another lesson that we learn from this incident is that Jesus is sensitive to these two different attitudes to Him. It is not all the same to Him how His people treat Him! For He is not a Concept or a Philosophy, but the Lover of our souls. And therefore He knows, with a deep, unerring knowledge, when our hearts are going out to Him in love, and when they are not. Simon was, no doubt, an accomplished host; yet it was the common civilities that had been missed out. True, he had invited the Lord to dine with him, but how formal and aloof he had been with it all! Now, the point is this: those who act like this may not be conscious of how much they are withholding from Christ. There is often a blind spot. It may be they feel they are giving all they can, all that could be asked of them, all that anyone could be expected to give. And they would be nonplussed and mystified at the suggestion that they were lacking in any way. Look at it this way: let us suppose that someone loves, and loves deeply, another. And that other, in the response made to that love, simply offers friendship, companionship, interest. None of these things rise to the real response that matters. And every fresh expression of friendship is simply another turn of the knife in the heart of the one who loves. And - what is more - such an attitude prevents the one who loves from expressing the love burning there, wanting expression.