What a trio! Christ stands here as a manifestation of the divine love, as it comes among sinners. The love of God is not dependent on our merits; frankly, v. 42, is “freely.” It is not turned away by our sins: she is a@ sinner. It ever manifests itself as the clearing of debts. But it demands recognition and service: thou gayest me no kiss.

The woman represents those who penitently and lovingly recognize the divine love. She was not forgiven because of her love; but her love was the sign that she had been forgiven and recognized it. What will not God’s love do! The tropical sun produces rare fruit. What Jesus did for her he can do for your many sins. Pardon will lead to much love, and love becomes the gate of knowledge and the source of obedience.

Simon, the Pharisee, stands for the unloving and selfrighteous, who are ignorant of the love of God. They

may be respectable in life, rigid in morality, unquestioned in orthodoxy, but what are these without love? See 1 Cor. 13. Note the contrasts between thou and she, thy and her.