Eastern hospitality demanded the courtesy of making guests feel welcome and comfortable.  After a hot and dusty walk, cool water would have refreshed the feet and, after washing face and hands, a little oil would have refreshed the visitor's head.  However, although Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to his home (Luke 7:36-43), he was not even polite; he did not offer the traditional courtesies nor did he welcome the Saviour.  Good manners vanished as the religious expert tried to expose some defect in Jesus’ character.  Instead, Jesus found Simon’s religion defective: the Pharisee had no understanding of God’s forgiving nature (Numbers 14:18).

By contrast, the weeping woman loved Jesus because she believed that He could turn her life around, and deal with her sinful past (Luke 5:31).  The difference between her behaviour and Simon's demonstrated that the religious man had no desire to honour Jesus, but the immoral woman did.  Her loving actions were a spontaneous expression of her faith in Jesus, and the Saviour responded by forgiving her sins.  On the other hand, Simon was not aware that he needed any forgiveness: his self-righteousness not only blinded him to the reality of his sin, but also to the true identity of his guest (John 9:40-41).

The same reactions occur today.  Those who refuse to recognise and confess their sin have no time for Jesus.  But those who know the burden of guilt and want to be released from its grip will find hope in Him (Isaiah 55:1-2).  Paradoxically it is the really weak people who can more easily honour Jesus once they realise that He has the power to forgive. On the other hand, religious self-righteousness resents the Saviour; because to welcome Him is to admit that one's religion has not made them perfect.

Although it may be tempting to think that good people will make the best disciples, experience shows that the failure, cheat and wilful sinner may give Jesus a real welcome (Luke 23:40-43).  So, if you know people who are not trying to be good, do not dismiss them - Jesus could be preparing a special future for them after He pours His forgiveness over their guilty past.  Take courage and tell them that Jesus lives within you because you have admitted your sin and received His forgiveness - and encourage them to take their guilty conscience to Him too (Hebrews 10:22).