JUNE 13, 2023
“Wherefore I say into thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)
A Pharisee by the name of Simon had bidden Jesus to come into his house and eat a meal with him. His motive was apparently mere curiosity. He had invited Jesus to come into his home, but he offered none of the common courtesies that were customary at the time – no kiss of greeting, no washing of his feet, etc. His thoughts about the Savior were only judgmental and critical. He was an unbeliever and it appears that the visit from Christ did nothing to change that. While they sat at meat, a woman that was a great sinner came in and she began to weep and wash Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipe them with her hair, and anoint them with expensive ointment that she brought with her. All that the Pharisee could see was a sinful woman from whom Jesus received all this attention without a single word of rebuke. But Jesus saw something far different. He saw a penitent sinner manifesting her great love for her Savior Who had forgiven her all her sins.
The mainspring and lifeblood of love for Christ is the knowledge of sins forgiven. This, beyond all doubt, was the lesson that our Lord wished Simon the Pharisee to learn. We know this because of the story that He told after perceiving the man’s thoughts as he witnessed this display. Jesus, the thought reader, “heard” loud and clear what this proud Pharisee “spake within himself,” that being, if Jesus was really a prophet, he would have known that the woman He was allowing to touch Him, and from whom He was receiving kind attention, was an unclean woman – a great sinner. His proud heart revolted at the sight of a poor, contrite sinner being allowed to wash the Savior’s feet, Whom she loved. Thus, Jesus related the story of two debtors. Essentially the story is this: two men were in debt to the same creditor. One owed a hundred pence, and the other only half that amount, but neither of them was able to repay. The kind creditor decided to freely forgive them both. Jesus then asked, “Which of the two will love him most?” Simon then correctly answered. “I suppose he to whom he forgave most.”
The point of the story is that this woman had been forgiven much, and she, therefore, loved much and was going to great effort to show her love. The Pharisee was right; she had been a great sinner. She had now received great forgiveness, and therefore her love for Christ is great. Simon, himself, had received no forgiveness, for he, seeing himself as righteous, had sought no forgiveness. Therefore, he had shown the Lord no kindness, not even such common gestures as were shown to all who came as invited guests into one’s home.
May the wonderful principle here laid down by our Lord forever remain in our minds and abide in our hearts. It is one of the great cornerstones of the Gospel – one of the master keys of the Kingdom. The only way to make men holy is to teach and preach full forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The secret of being holy ourselves is to know and feel that Christ has pardoned our sins. Peace with God is the root that bears the fruit of holiness. Forgiveness must go before sanctification. We shall not advance in holiness until we are reconciled to God. The heart that has experienced the pardoning love of Christ is the heart that loves Christ and strives to show forth that love.
Many who profess that their sins are forgiven seem to feel little indebtedness to the One Who has “cleared their debt.” This dear woman felt a great debt of gratitude to the Savior. She loved much because she was forgiven much. If we are forgiven, then let us show our love to the Lord Who has pardoned us and set us free. Let us commune with Him in prayer. Let us delight in His Word. Let us be faithful to His house. Let us give of our time and money to His cause. Let our one motive in all we do be our love for Him Who first loved us.
What amazing love and compassion Jesus has for great sinners. The woman of whom we have been speaking is an encouragement to all sinners, however bad they may be, to come to Him for pardon and forgiveness. That word of His shall never be broken: “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.”
Let us ask ourselves, in conclusion, what kind of lives are we living? What are we doing for Christ’s glory?
What proof are we making of our love to Him Who loved us and gave Himself for us?
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