Simon the Leper is a biblical figure mentioned briefly in the Gospels. He is known for hosting a dinner where Jesus was anointed by a woman shortly before His death and resurrection. Though few details are given about Simon himself, his inclusion in the Gospels provides insight into Jesus’ ministry and interactions.
The main account of Simon the Leper is found in Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, and John 12:1-8. In these passages, Jesus is dining at Simon’s home in Bethany when a woman pours expensive perfume on His feet and wipes them with her hair. Some of those present complain about the wastefulness of this lavish act, but Jesus rebukes them and says the woman has anointed Him for His upcoming burial. He declares that her story will be told wherever the gospel is preached.
Based on the Gospel accounts, a few key facts can be discerned about Simon:
- He lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. This is where Jesus would stay when visiting the city in His later ministry.
- He appears to have been a follower or sympathizer of Jesus, since he hosted Jesus and His disciples for a meal.
- He had likely been healed of leprosy by Jesus, as he is called “Simon the Leper.” In biblical times, leprosy not only affected the body but also made someone ceremonially unclean and excluded from society.
- He was probably well-off financially, given the expensive perfume used by the woman to anoint Jesus.
Beyond this, Simon remains a mystery. There is no other information about his life, family, occupation, or how long he had followed Jesus. Some key questions about Simon the Leper are left unanswered:
- How and when did he meet Jesus? Was he one of the lepers Jesus healed?
- What was his relationship with Jesus and the disciples? Was he part of the wider circle of Jesus’ followers?
- What happened to him after Jesus’ death and resurrection?
- Did he continue to be part of the early Christian community described in Acts?
Though Simon himself is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, his home in Bethany became an important place in Jesus’ ministry. Bethany was where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-44) and also where He ascended into heaven after His resurrection (Luke 24:50-51). The fact that Simon hosted Jesus so close to the culmination of His earthly ministry may suggest a close bond between them.
In terms of why Simon the Leper mattered, a few key reasons emerge:
- His healing reflected Jesus’ compassion and power over illness and exclusion.
- His hospitality gave Jesus a welcoming place near Jerusalem in the difficult final days.
- His home provided the setting for a woman to anoint Jesus in preparation for His burial.
- His inclusion in the Gospels speaks to the diverse group of people impacted by Jesus’ ministry.
So while Simon remains somewhat mysterious, his place in the Gospel narrative is important. As one who was healed, welcomed Jesus into his home, and witnessed a pivotal moment, Simon the Leper gives a human face and context to the final days of Jesus’ life and ministry.
In the study of Simon the Leper, two main theories have emerged about his identity, relationship to the other figures in the accounts, and the implications of his story:
1. Simon was the father of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha
This theory suggests that the figure described as Simon the Leper was the same person who in other accounts is described as the father of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Proponents of this view point to the fact that the dinner with Simon takes place in Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus and his sisters according to John 11:1. They also note that Mary is identified as the woman who anoints Jesus, indicating a connection between the accounts. Under this view, Simon was the father of this devoted family who became followers of Jesus after He resurrected Lazarus.
2. Simon was a separate follower of Jesus in Bethany
Others see Simon the Leper and the father of Lazarus as two separate people. They point out that nowhere do the Gospels explicitly identify Simon as the father of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. In this view, Simon was simply a different follower of Jesus living in the same town. His home provided a welcoming space for Jesus on His final visit, perhaps because of a personal connection established if Jesus had healed his leprosy.
There are merits and difficulties with both perspectives. In the end, the Bible simply does not provide definitive evidence to resolve the debate. Simon’s identity remains ambiguous, even as his actions were significant. However, exploring the different theories about Simon the Leper provides a window into how early Christians may have interpreted and connected the various accounts of Jesus’ ministry as they sought to understand His identity and mission.
Simon’s Life Before Meeting Jesus
Although the Gospels give no details about Simon the Leper’s life before meeting Jesus, it is possible to make some educated guesses based on what we know of the culture and experiences of lepers in first century Judea:
- Simon likely contracted leprosy at a young age, as the disease can have a long incubation period before symptoms appear. This meant he may have been cast out from his family and community as a child.
- As a leper, Simon would have been declared ceremonially unclean and required to live in isolation away from populated areas. Leprosy brought not just physical suffering but also heartbreak and social stigma.
- To survive, Simon may have relied on begging or subsistence farming. Some towns had designated leper colonies where basic needs were provided for those excluded.
- Simon’s illness would have prevented him from participating in religious rituals at the Temple or synagogue. Lepers were barred from entering holy sites or mingling with the general public.
- Loneliness and desperation may have characterized Simon’s life as he wrestled with physical affliction, religious ostracism, and social rejection.
This grim existence makes Jesus’ willingness to touch and heal Simon all the more meaningful. Simon would have found in Jesus someone who saw past his illness and embraced him as a fellow child of God. Simon’s subsequent loyalty to Jesus can be seen as arising from immense personal gratitude.
Simon’s Interactions with Jesus
The Gospels portray Simon the Leper interacting with Jesus in two main episodes:
1. Jesus heals Simon of leprosy
Although not described explicitly, Simon’s designation as “the Leper” strongly implies Jesus healed him of his disease. This likely happened early in Jesus’ ministry during His travels in Galilee, either:
- When Jesus healed a leper who approached him, as described in Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-16.
- When Jesus healed ten lepers near Samaria, as described in Luke 17:11-19.
In either case, Simon’s healing was evidence of Jesus’ divine power and mercy. It also may have forged a bond of gratitude that led Simon to support Jesus’ ministry.
2. Simon hosts Jesus for dinner in Bethany
Simon next appears in the Gospels when he hosts Jesus and the disciples for dinner at his home six days before the Passover (John 12:1). During the meal, Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with perfume, prompting objection from Judas and others. Jesus commends Mary’s act as preparation for His burial.
Key aspects of this encounter include:
- Simon’s willingness to provide hospitality even when Jesus faced growing opposition from authorities.
- Jesus’ affirmation of Mary’s act despite criticism, showing His acceptance.
- This occasion occurring just before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, kicking off the climactic week of His earthly ministry.
This dinner encapsulates Simon’s devotion to Jesus even when the political climate had become tense. It also shows Jesus continuing to teach about His mission even on the doorstep of the cross.
Simon’s Role in Jesus’ Ministry
While brief, Simon the Leper’s inclusion in the Gospels provides some insights into his role in Jesus’ ministry:
- As one healed by Jesus, Simon was evidence of Christ’s power and compassion for outcasts.
- Simon’s hospitality gave Jesus and His disciples lodging and meals during an important time.
- By hosting Jesus in Bethany, Simon facilitated key events like the raising of Lazarus and Mary’s anointing of Christ.
- Simon’s presence showed Jesus engaged people from many different backgrounds – rich and poor, healthy and sick.
So Simon helped advance Jesus’ ministry in some tangible ways. His cooperation also demonstrated that one did not need an exalted position or faultless past to positively impact God’s work. Simon gave his limited resources, and Christ used them meaningfully.
Implications and Lessons
Simon the Leper’s place in the Gospels, though small, provides several helpful implications and lessons:
- Jesus cares for and restores people deemed outcasts by society, like lepers.
- Expressing one’s devotion to Christ may draw criticism but be commended by God.
- Christ-centered hospitality plays an important role in ministry.
- God can use our offerings, however humble, to advance His purposes.
- A transformed life overflowing with gratitude should lead to generosity toward God’s work.
In summary, Simon the Leper models how someone healed and changed by encountering Jesus responded with faithful service. His story encourages those who have experienced God’s grace to then extend hospitality, generosity, and courage as Simon did – not in the limelight, but faithfully supporting God’s work in quiet yet vital ways.
Simon in Literature and Art
Although biblical information about Simon the Leper is limited, he became a subject of elaborated stories and legends in later literature and art. Some key examples include:
- In Eastern Orthodox tradition, Simon is sometimes equated with Lazarus’ father Cleopas.
- An apocryphal Coptic text from the 5th century dubbed the “Acts of Simon and the Legend of Veronica” expands Simon’s story.
- Medieval Golden Legend connects Veronica, who wiped Jesus’ face on the way to Calvary, to being Simon’s daughter.
- Dante’s Divine Comedy depicts Simon as an inhabitant of the Third Terrace of Purgatory where the prideful are purged of their sin.
- Petrarch wrote a 14th century allegorical poem entitled “The House of Simon the Leper.”
- Simon appears in various paintings of the anointing of Christ, often depicted as elderly with leprosy.
This widespread interest speaks to something intriguing in Simon’s story that inspires theological and artistic imagination, even if going beyond what Scripture records. It also indicates Simon became a recognizable figure symbolizing Christ’s compassion and the hope of redemption.
Historical Background
To better understand Simon the Leper and his interactions with Jesus, it is helpful to explore the history and context of leprosy in 1st century Judea:
- Leprosy referred to several chronic skin diseases like Hansen’s disease, causing disfiguration and disability.
- Lepers were declared “unclean” and isolated from society per Levitical law in the Old Testament.
- Separation was enforced both to prevent spread of disease and for ritual purity of the community.
- Lepers lived in colonies outside of cities and had to cry “unclean” if they ventured near others.
- Illness carried social stigma as a curse or judgment from God.
- Strict purification rites were required if leprosy cleared up. Isolation often continued even after healing.
- Only priests could formally declare lepers “clean” to allow re-entry into religious life.
This background helps underscore how remarkable and countercultural it was for Jesus to readily touch and heal lepers like Simon. It constituted both a health miracle and restoration of religious and social standing. Jesus rejected the notion that leprosy reflected God’s condemnation. His healing of Simon thus carried deeper meaning and significance.
Archeological Insights
Archaeology provides limited but helpful insights into Simon the Leper and aspects of his world, including:
- A 1st century house excavated in Bethany matches the setting described for Simon’s home and the dinner with Jesus.
- Archaeological evidence confirms the existence of leper colonies near Jerusalem matching the separation laws.
- The Mount of Olives area where Bethany was located contained elaborate tombs of wealthy families of the time.
- Ossuary burial boxes and iconic tombs bear some of the same names as Simon and figures in the Gospels.
- Excavations show stone vessels like the alabaster jar of perfume poured on Jesus’ feet.
While not directly confirming Simon’s existence, archaeology corroborates key details about the world Jesus and Simon inhabited. This lends historical credibility regarding leper communities, family tombs, and the village of Bethany as a real place of significance in Jesus’ final days.
Simon the Leper’s Enduring Legacy
While the Bible does not record what became of Simon the Leper, the general arc of his life offers both a legacy and some lessons that continue to resonate:
- Simon as an outcast who found compassion and healing in Jesus.
- A leper restored to health and religious life by Christ’s touch.
- A recipient of grace who poured out his gratitude in service and sacrifice.
- One who provided hospitality to Jesus even under threat of persecution.
- An example of finding purpose when one’s gifts, however humble, are used to advance God’s work.
Simon’s healing foreshadowed the inclusive heart of Christ who came to redeem all people. His hospitality afforded comfort to Jesus in difficult times. His presence at the anointing pointed to Christ’s death that would bring salvation. Though just a minor character, Simon helps convey Christ’s compassion across all stations in life. This quiet, faithful service rings as loud to the discerning ear as the widow’s mite rings to the discerning eye.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Simon the Leper remains shrouded in mystery, his inclusion in the Gospel narratives provides insight into Christ’s compassion and the diverse community of people touched by His ministry. As one healed by Jesus, Simon responded with devoted hospitality and generosity, playing a small but not insignificant role in the culminating events of Christ’s earthly mission. His life illustrates that one does not need wealth, status, or perfection to positively contribute to God’s purposes. Though brief, Simon’s story has resonated through literature and art as a testament to the redemptive power of Christ to restore the outcast and use transformed lives in quiet yet meaningful service.
