There are two separate, yet similar stories represented in the title.  The stories are in Matthew 26 and Luke 7.  The stories have two separate men with the same name, Simon.  The stories have two women, whom we believe to be named Mary when compared to other verses, but they are different Marys.  So, those four represent the four hearts.  Judas is thrown in for good measure as the Jack of Spades, as he is also represented in the story. As we share in these accounts, your job is to find which of the hearts in these accounts represents the state of your heart.

Story one is from Luke 7 and contains heart #1 – Simon the Pharisee.  Simon was one of those community leaders who had invited Jesus into his home and the menu for dinner was to be Jesus himself.  At this particular time, the Pharisees are trying to get Jesus to mess up with his answers to their grilling questions, that they may find something against him.  I believe Simon to be a hostile host because in our story, he fails to offer Jesus even the most rudimentary trappings of civilized society of the day.  He fails to offer the washing of feet and the anointing oil for His head.  I realize that seems weird to us, but it was common custom of that day, and even Jesus makes mention of it.  Simon is one of those self-righteous Pharisees who held a thinly veiled contempt for Jesus and what many in the community were calling Him – a prophet.  So, Simon’s heart is proud.  He certainly has no need for a Savior, and is quick to point out, that if Jesus is who the masses claim Him to be, he would know what this woman is that is making such a fool of herself and put a stop to it.  So here is hard hearted, judgmental, condescending Simon.

In the same story is heart #2.  There is not room to go into the details of her identity, but many believe it to be Mary Magdelene, and for the purposes of my story, that works because of the similar name coming up later.  This supposed Mary comes from “the other side of the tracks.”  Prositution and demon possession have been rumored to be in her personal story.  Perhaps from her past healing of possession by Jesus, or forgiveness of sins, she has come to offer up tribute to her friend, who is more than a prophet to her, but a forgiver of sins as well.  There is no expense with held in the libation that she pours on Jesus’ feet.  She also sacrifices any dignity she may have had left, as she begins to weep uncontrollably and to wipe the tears away with her hair.  “What a display!” the others thought, especially Simon.  But Mary’s heart is certainly a contrite heart.  A heart with no reservations as to cost nor to her dignity, when sacrificed in honor of Jesus.  The Bible says God is all about contrite hearts.  He resists the proud (Simon the Pharisee) and gives grace to the humble, which He certainly did just that in this story.

Story number two contains heart #3.  This is the heart of Mary the sister of Lazarus.  Johns’ gospel tells us that.  This Mary offers up an honoring tribute to Jesus that goes right along with what we have seen in her interest formerly – the occasion where she is in the living room listening to Jesus while her sibling is in the kitchen preparing the meal.  Jesus credits her with having chosen the better part.  After that occasion, Jesus has raised her brother Lazarus from the grave.  Wow!  Who would resist any opportunity to express heart felt gratitude with no expense spared to honor the man who could do such a thing? Jesus says she has done so in preparation of His burial.  Whether or not she realizes she has offered such a prophecy, her heart is certainly bursting with gratitude for that her friend, her Lord has done for her.  Does such a heart represent you?

In story number two is also heart #4.  The heart of Simon the leper.  Again, we are not going to get in to all of the supposings as to whom this Simon could be.  It is enough that the Bible refers to him as Simon the Leper.  For him to be here in this group means that “leper” is past tense.  What disturbs me most about this Simon is that we hear nor see nothing out of him.  When Mary is being lambasted for her very expensive display, where is Simon?  Why is he not only siding with Mary for the display, but offering his own heart felt gratitude for the apparent healing previously received?  What disturbs me about Simon is that I see Gary Figgins in this Simon, a man who owes much, but honors little.  Simons heart should have been as overflowing in gratitude as Mary’s vial of perfume, but we hear it not.  We see it not.  Is this your heart?

Last of all is Judas, the Jack of Spades.  Most of the gospel accounts credit all of the rest of the attendees at the banquet as to joining in on the disdain felt for “such wasted extravagance” that could have been given to the poor.  Johns’ gospel points out that the leader of this lambasting was Judas.  He points out that he did so, not because Judas kept about the poor, but that he very much cared about the money because he was a thief.  Jesus begins to rebuke the men for their chastisement of Mary and instead praises Mary for what she has done – offered a tribute that He promises will never be forgotten.  I believe that since Judas was the ring leader of the attacks against Mary that he also took the brunt of Jesus’ rebuke.  Instead of repentance, and a softening of the heart, Judas’ hardened.  We know so because the gospel writers tell that he afterwards went to meet with the Jewish leaders to discuss the details of the coming betrayal.

So, my friend, which heart is yours?  I fear that the scariest one to be in is heart #3 – Simon the Leper.  I fear the heart with much to be thankful for and yet so silent.  It kind of reminds me of the ten healed lepers, of whom only one came back to say “Thanks”.  Simon’s heart that is content simply to be in the presence of the master, but nothing at all to offer, nothing to say, just there.  I wonder if this particular heart is not the kind of heart that grieves the Lord Jesus most of all.