17 And Simon thought, he did not speak aloud, This man is not a prophet or he would know the kind of woman that approaches him, and would drive her away. 18 But Jesus knew his thoughts, and said to him, My host, I have a word to say to you. 19 And Simon said, Say on. 20 And Jesus said, Sin is a monster of iniquity; it may be small; it may be large; it may be something done; it may be something left undone. 21 Behold, one person leads a life of sin and is at last redeemed; another, in a careless mood, forgets to do the things he ought to do; but he reforms and is forgiven. Now, which of these has merited the higher praise? 22 And Simon said, The one who overcame the errors of a life. 23 And Jesus said, You speak the truth. 24 Behold, this woman who has bathed my feet with tears and dried them with her hair and covered them with balm! 25 For years she led a life of sin, but when she heard the words of life she sought forgiveness and she found. 26 But when I came into your house as guest you gave me not a bowl of water that I might wash my hands and feet, which every loyal Jew must do before he feasts. 27 Now, tell me, Simon, which of these, this woman or yourself, is worthy of most praise? 28 But Simon answered not. 29 Then to the woman Jesus said, Your sins are all forgiven; your faith has saved you; go in peace. 30 And then the guests who sat around the board, began to say within themselves, What manner of a man is this who says, Thy sins are all forgiven? CHAPTER 105. _Under the patronage of a number of wealthy women, the Christines make a grand missionary tour. In his teaching Jesus lauds sincerity and rebukes hypocrisy. He speaks concerning the sin against the Holy Breath._ Now, many women who possessed much wealth, and who abode in other towns of Galilee, implored that Jesus and the twelve, together with the masters from the foreign lands, would thither go and preach and heal. 2 Among these anxious ones were Mary Magdalene, who was obsessed by seven homeless spirits of the air, which had been driven out by the Omnific Word which Jesus spoke; 3 Susanna, who owned vast estates at Cæsarea-Philippi; 4 Johanna, wife of Chuza, one of Herod’s court; 5 And Rachel from the coast of Tyre; 6 And others from beyond the Jordan and the sea of Galilee. 7 And they provided ample means and three times seven men went forth. 8 They preached the gospel of the Christ, and they baptized the multitudes who made confession of their faith; they healed the sick and raised the dead. 9 And Jesus wrought and taught from early morn until the day had gone, and then into the night; he did not stop to eat. 10 His friends became alarmed lest he should fail from loss of strength, and they laid hold of him and would, by force, have taken him away to place of rest. 11 But he rebuked them not; he said, Have you not read that God will give his angels charge concerning me?