This interaction between Jesus, a Pharisee, and a prostitute contain a great deal of irony. The Pharisee objects to the woman's presence in his own house, first irony, and her interaction with Jesus. In the mind of the Pharisee her sinfulness is greater than any other, and he cannot believe that someone allegedly a prophet would interact with her and even allow her to touch him by washing his feet. No man could be a legitimate prophet and allow such a thing.
Jesus asks the Pharisee who is more grateful for their debt forgiven - the one with a greater or lesser sin - and the obvious answer is the one with a greater sin. Now comes the second irony. Jesus implies that it is the Pharisee who is guilty of the greater sin. One so zealous for the law neglected the laws of hospitality. He did not provide Jesus with the required ablutions before a meal at table. It is the self-righteous hypocrite who is the greater offender than the prostitute.
The one who is self-righteous and hypocritical is so by choice. The prostitute is coerced into the profession either through the machinations of men who exploit her or through poverty that forces her to make a living somehow. Jesus has compassion on her situation, extending mercy to her, and so should we. He has little room for hypocrisy and self-righteousness, and neither should we. Yet Jesus eats at the table of the self-righteous and hypocrite, keeping the relationship open to possible transformation. And so should we.
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