August 5

36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had hidden him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who, and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have some what to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that

he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss; but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

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See here the right character in the right place, seeking the right thing, in the right way.

"'She is a sinner'—it is the only certificate of character that Jesus wanted. The only thing for which He came, the only work for which He had qualified Himself, had to do with sinners. . . . She knew that she was a sinner, and in that she knew more than Simon knew; and knew all that she needed to know. A sinner at His feet. Oh, blessed hiding-place! . . . Having no hope but in Him, feeling that the torrents swept and surged about her, but that Hand held her and was lifting her up, and should set her feet upon the rock. She came unto Him and found the rest that she sought. The hold of the past was loose and broken; its record was blotted out and forgotten. The touch of that gracious hand healed the broken heart. His words fell like the very music of heaven upon her soul. 'Thy sins are forgiven thee.' And there came a new life, fresh, sweet, pure, beautiful, like the life of a little child."—M. G. Pearse.

Closet Promise.—The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.—James v. 11.

Perhaps for aught of good I am unfit, Most worthless and most useless all; Yet make me but the meanest thing that lives Within thy Salem's wall.

I shall be well content, my God, to be, Or do, or suffer aught that pleaseth Thes; O cast me not away. —Beno.