In Luke 7:36-50, we read a fascinating account of Jesus forgiving a woman identified as a "sinner." She came to the place where Jesus was eating and went to great lengths to demonstrate her devotion to him (vv. 36-38). She worshiped him in a most extravagant way, washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and rubbing them with perfume.
The host, Simon, who was a Pharisee (definitely not a sinner), was indignant that Jesus would allow this to go on (v. 39). Of course, he did not voice these thoughts, but Jesus "answered" them anyway (v. 40).
Jesus answered Simon's thoughts with a story (vv. 40-43). Two men, both owe large sums of money: one owed fifty denarii, and the other five hundred. Neither could pay. He forgave both of their debts. Then came Jesus' question to Simon: "Who would be most grateful?" Simon's reply was quick, "The one who had owed the most." Jesus assured him that this was correct.
Then Jesus, in his wonderfully insightful yet poignant way, turns and applies this story directly to Simon and the sinful woman at His feet (vv. 40-46). Simon had not given any special attention to Jesus, treating him as just another guest. On the other hand, this sinful woman had shown more attention to Jesus' feet than Simon had to Jesus' head.
Jesus' summary in verse 47 is telling: "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." He then proceded to forgive the woman's sins based on her faith (vv. 48-50).
Jesus' final phrase struck me like a ton of bricks: "He who is forgiven little, loves little." If you were to trip and fall and I gave you a hand to help you up, you might be a little grateful. However, if I pulled out of the ocean when you were drowning in the waves, you would be much more grateful. Our gratitude to God for his forgiveness is directly proportional to our understanding of our need for forgiveness.
Thinking of my own testimony and also that of the young people in our church, I wonder how many of them "love little" because they feel they haven't been saved from "too much." Most professed Christ at a young age and were graciously spared from the scarring effects of sin by God's providential placing of them in Christian families. However, I would like to point out that neither of the debtors could pay: they had nothing with which to alleviate their indebtedness. It wouldn't have mattered if the debt was fifty cents!
It does not matter if you were saved at age four and the "worst" sin you had committed was disobeying your parents and pinching your sister or if you were saved after a life of hard vile sin. None of us had anything with which to pay our debts, but God has completely forgiven us based in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, understanding our bankruptcy before God makes us grateful for his gracious forgiveness. May it never be said of us that we love little because we have been forgiven little.
The host, Simon, who was a Pharisee (definitely not a sinner), was indignant that Jesus would allow this to go on (v. 39). Of course, he did not voice these thoughts, but Jesus "answered" them anyway (v. 40).
Jesus answered Simon's thoughts with a story (vv. 40-43). Two men, both owe large sums of money: one owed fifty denarii, and the other five hundred. Neither could pay. He forgave both of their debts. Then came Jesus' question to Simon: "Who would be most grateful?" Simon's reply was quick, "The one who had owed the most." Jesus assured him that this was correct.
Then Jesus, in his wonderfully insightful yet poignant way, turns and applies this story directly to Simon and the sinful woman at His feet (vv. 40-46). Simon had not given any special attention to Jesus, treating him as just another guest. On the other hand, this sinful woman had shown more attention to Jesus' feet than Simon had to Jesus' head.
Jesus' summary in verse 47 is telling: "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." He then proceded to forgive the woman's sins based on her faith (vv. 48-50).
Jesus' final phrase struck me like a ton of bricks: "He who is forgiven little, loves little." If you were to trip and fall and I gave you a hand to help you up, you might be a little grateful. However, if I pulled out of the ocean when you were drowning in the waves, you would be much more grateful. Our gratitude to God for his forgiveness is directly proportional to our understanding of our need for forgiveness.
Thinking of my own testimony and also that of the young people in our church, I wonder how many of them "love little" because they feel they haven't been saved from "too much." Most professed Christ at a young age and were graciously spared from the scarring effects of sin by God's providential placing of them in Christian families. However, I would like to point out that neither of the debtors could pay: they had nothing with which to alleviate their indebtedness. It wouldn't have mattered if the debt was fifty cents!
It does not matter if you were saved at age four and the "worst" sin you had committed was disobeying your parents and pinching your sister or if you were saved after a life of hard vile sin. None of us had anything with which to pay our debts, but God has completely forgiven us based in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, understanding our bankruptcy before God makes us grateful for his gracious forgiveness. May it never be said of us that we love little because we have been forgiven little.
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