The Forgiven
Luke 7:36-50
Scott Howard
God saves both the wayward and the uninterested.
In our text, Jesus is dining at the house of a Pharisee and a "woman of the city" (or a town harlot, as The Message calls her) found out that Jesus was there. She was so overcome by the shame and guilt of her sinful life that she wept at Jesus' feet. When she realized she had drenched his feet with her tears, she dried them with her hair and then bathed his feet in perfume. Probably the most expensive thing she had.
The Pharisee, thinking silently to himself, wondered if Jesus was who he said he was because, surely he would know that this was a sinful woman touching him. Jesus knew what he was thinking and called him out on his self-righteous attitude, adding that the woman was a better host than the Pharisee also.
"Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman but said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven---for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
---Luke 7:40-47
Even though the woman had many sins to be forgiven of, she was not too far into sin that forgiveness couldn't reach her. Isaiah 59:1 says, "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." He hears even the silent cry for help, and reaches as far as we can go in order to save us!
God's just desserts: Jesus leaves a few words for the woman after the meal.
"Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
--Luke 48-50
- Be Forgiven -- Released from guilt
- Be Saved -- by Faith accept His forgiveness
- Go In Peace -- Walk through life with an inner tranquility
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