loved us, and died for our sins ? These are serious ques- tions. If we cannot answer them satisfactorily, we may well doubt whether we axe forgiven. The hope of for- giveness which is not accompanied by love in the life is no hope at all. The man whose sins are really cleansed away will always show by his ways that he loves the Saviour who cleansed them.
Notes. Luke VII. 36—60.
86. — [And one of the Pharisees desired him.] We know nothing? of this Pharisee, except his name, Simon. There is no proof tiiat he was the same as " Simon the leper," mentioned in Mark xiv. 3. He certainly was not Simon Peter, or Simon Zelotes.
We are not told the place at which the circumstances here recorded took place. It is highly prohahle that it was Nain, where the widow's son was raised.
Our Lord had just heen saying, that He was called " the friend of puhlicans and sinners." St. Luke proceeds at once to show, that He was so indeed, and was not ashamed of the name.
[He went into the Pharisee's house.] Our Lord's conduct in eating at the Pharisee's table, is quoted by some Christians in defence of the practice of keeping up intimacy with uncon- yerted people, and going to dinner parties and entertainments at their houses.
Those who use such an argument would do well to remember our Lord's behaviour on this occasion. He carried his " Father's business" with Him to the Pharisee's table. He testified against the Pharisee's besetting sin. He explained to the Pharisee the nature of free forgiveness of sins, and the secret of true love to Himself. He declared the saving nature of faith. If Chris- tians who argue in favour of intimacy with unconverted people, will visit their houses in the spirit of our Lord, and speak and behave as He did, let them by all means continue the practice. But do they speak and behave at the tables of their uncon- verted acquaintances, as Jesus did at Simon's table ? This is a question they would do well to answer.
Bucer's note on this point is worth reading.
[Sat down to meat.] The Greek word so translated, means literally "reclined," according to the custom of the country. It is important to note this, in order to understand the remain- ing part of the passage.
S7. — [And behold a woman in the city.] The questions, who this