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.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it. Up to this time He seems to have formed no definite opinion of our Lord, and invited him apparently to obtain materials for a judgment.
He spake within himself, saying This man, if he were a prophet - one possessed of supernatural knowledge. The form of expression here employed is to this effect.-`If he were a prophet-but that he cannot be,' х ei (G1487) een (G2258) profeetees (G4396)].
Would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a sinner. 'I have now discovered this man: If he were what he gives himself forth to be, he would not have suffered a wretch like this to come near him; but plainly he knows nothing about her, and therefore he can be no prophet.' Not so fast, Simon; thou hast not seen through thy Guest yet, but He hath seen through thee. Too courteous to expose him nakedly at his own table, He couches His home-thrusts, like Nathan with David, in the first instance under the veil of a parable, and makes him pronounce both the woman's vindication and his own condemnation; and then he lifts the veil.