Template:Simonleper

Simon the Leper

In Matthew 26 we see Simon the leper.

Was this Simon the Leper also the Simon of Luke 7?

Some read the passage of Luke 7 where a Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dine, say the invitation was said to be "patronising", "ungracious", and even "hostile".

"The invitation was clearly due to a patronizing curiosity, if not to a worse and hostile motive. The whole manner of the Pharisee to Jesus was like his invitation, ungracious."

When other Pharisees were "patronising and ungracious" with a "hostile motive" Jesus would tell them nothing. Jesus knew what this man "spake within himself" and took time to explain the importance of forgiveness.

If we read the text we see a woman with an alabaster jar filled with expensive oil Anointing Christ with a Pharisee named Simon present.

"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 bidden him saw [it], he spake 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 somewhat 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? Luke 7: 36-42

We do not know the woman's name in Luke 7: 36-42 or her relation to the man Simon except that she is considered by him to be a "sinner"".

Some suggest that she was a prostitute but a woman would be considered a sinner for many reasons. The fact that she is called a woman in the city or polis does not suggest she was a prostitute or even an adulterer. There is some evidence that this woman is Mary Magdalene but there is also evidence that this Mary is the sister of Martha and Lazarus and the daughter of Simon the Leper who was also Simon the Pharisee. Unless we want to believe there was more than one event when a woman anointed Jesus we should accept this was one event with some details omitted and some included.

Why by this woman?
Who was she?

In John 12, the woman is identified as Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

“‭1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. ‭2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s [son], which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" John 12:1-5.

A stone jar

It appears to be the stone jar containing "precious" or poluteles (πολυτελης) oil that was broken or syntrivo (συντριβω) by this woman and completely used up by her exclusively on Jesus. She was also to save the rest for his burial. If she did we would expect her to be at the cross or at least at the tomb. That would be most significant since we have a detailed account of the women at his tomb.

The value of the spikenard, a Roman pound of 12 ounces or around 340 grams, was so expensive as an ointment that it could have been sold for what would amount to a year's wages, which Mark enumerates as 300 denarii. Why and how would she have such a large sealed container of such an expensive oil?

According to Mark 14 and John 12 verse 3 the oil was spikenard or nardos (ναρδος)

That and the true identity of Simon and his relationship with this woman who is in his house may be significant.

Some question may be answered if this Simon is also Simon the leper?

Simons

"There were two Simons among the Twelve, and there are nine Simons mentioned in the New Testament alone, and twenty in Josephus."

A leper would not be allowed around people nor live inside the cities if his or her skin was infected as the Torah law commanded. They could not be on the Sanhedrin and meet with others.

But also had healed many lepers but there seems to be no evidence that Simon needed healing or was healed including the healing reported in Matthew 8.

“‭2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” Matthew 8:2,

Who was this Simon? "There were two Simons among the Twelve, and there are nine Simons mentioned in the New Testament alone, and twenty in Josephus."

Son of Simon

This verse 4 about Judas being the son of Simon is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions. Simon was the father of Mary, Mariam, and Lazarus. If he was the father of Judas Iscariot that would mean Judas was their brother.

Jar maker

Both Hebrew and Aramaic are written without the use of vowels. The Aramaic words for leper is GimelReishBeitAlef (גרבא) or GaRaBA. A jar maker or jar merchant is also GimelReishBeitAlef (גרבא) or GaRaBA.

The Hebrew word tsara (ערַצָ) is translated leper.

A woman pours oil from an alabaster jar after breaking it open.

So the Peshitta text reads Simon the jar maker or potter and this makes sense as he was anointed with a costly jar of perfume in the same verse. Seems as though the translator got it wrong.

The Peshitta text reads "Simon the jar maker" or "potter" 

Simon the Leper"/Simon the Jar-maker