"Your Faith
Has Saved You"
One of
the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's
house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a
sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an
alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began
to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she
continued kissing his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then
she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when
the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what
kind of woman this is who is touching him - that she is a sinner." Jesus
spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Teacher," he replied, "speak."
"A certain creditor had two debtors; one who owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he
canceled the debts for both of then. Now which of them will love him
more?" Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the
greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I
entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my
feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from
the time I cam in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my
head with oil, but she has anointed my fee with ointment. Therefore, I tell
you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great
love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." Then he said
to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But those who were at the table with
him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives
sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in
peace."
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus
loved and accepted people on their level, and he also confronted them on their
level. He never shrank from confronting them, but He did it with love.
It is
possible that Simon had invited Jesus to his home to trap Him. Jesus reminded
him of his failure to extend the courtesies normally bestowed on a guest. Then
He acknowledged the evil of the woman's past and the genuineness of her
repentance.
Jesus never glossed over sin,
and neither should
you.
True love dares to confront and correct.
Our Daily Bread -