Two Personalities,Same View,Two Attitudes.
"Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat.And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”Luke 7:36-39
Two personalities here and what a contrast.Both had just witnessed miracles that Jesus had just performed.
"And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them."Luke 7:22-22
He had just raised the widow of Nain's son and many other miracles and had been invited into this pharisee's home,Simon by name.Then we have this woman who was probably a harlot enter and was standing at his feet,weeping and begin to wash his feet with her tears,which had to be many and wiped them with her hair and then kissed them and anointed them with the fragrant oil.
She knew what she was and her condition in the sight of God and she knew who He was and that He was her way to God.This was her Messiah.
On the other hand here was a man that was probably well versed in the Word,a prominent leader and had just witnessed the same miracles performed by Jesus and he makes the statement.
"he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
"If he were a prophet?"So self-righteous,that he had no need for Jesus.He saw no need in looking for the Messiah as a Savior.He could not see his own condition,thus no need for a Savior.
After Jesus exposes Simon for what he is,He turns to the woman and say's "Your sins are forgiven."Your faith has saved you.Go in peace."
You see before Calvary and before the permanent sacrifice had been made for sin,this is how people were saved.They were justified by faith just as us.The Law was given to reveal to them their condition and that they needed a Savior and they looked for God to provide that Savior.All the lamb and other sacrifices pointed to this and their need for the permanent sacrifice that God would provide.Even before the Law was given,they still offered sacrifices with anticipation of this event all the way back to Adam.They were saved on credit you could say,until the permanent sacrifice was made.The woman knew this was her Savior and she needed Him.Simon on the other hand had no need for a Savior or Jesus.
Note that Jesus told her "your faith has saved you"not her works.Her faith drew out the works.She new who He was,her need for Him and believed before she ever came in that house and did anything.Note what is said about her.
" And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,and stood at His feet behind Him weeping;"
She came prepared because she had already accepted Him for who He was.As far as we know the woman didn't utter one word.