Dinner With JesusSample

There are a lot of reasons why being self-absorbed or self-righteous is not good for us. But maybe worst of all, is how our preoccupation with ourselves affects others. This is the heart of the story where Jesus was dining with the Pharisee, Simon, and the “sinful woman.” Simon had been so preoccupied with what this woman had gotten wrong—with her disgraceful reputation, with the way he thought she was embarrassing herself—that he had never truly honored her as a fellow human being. That’s what makes Jesus’ question so powerful. He asked, “Simon, do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44, emphasis added).

The truth is, when all we care about is how good we are compared to how bad others are, we never see others with the inherent value they have. This comparison hurts us and it hurts them. Jesus knew what we so often forget. When we truly see one another, we’re able to appreciate a person for who they are and extend far more grace than we might be able to otherwise. Who is someone (or a group of people) you need to do a better job of truly “seeing”?