“Many Sins Have Been Forgiven”
There was a woman in
that town who had lived a sinful life. She learned
that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she came with a special
sealed jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus and cried at his feet. She began to
wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair. She kissed them
and poured perfume on them.
The Pharisee
who had invited Jesus saw this. He said to himself, "If this man were a
prophet, he would know who is touching him. He would know what kind of woman
she is. She is a sinner!"
Jesus answered him,
"Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher,"
he said.
"Two people owed
money to a certain lender. One owed him 500 silver coins. The other owed him 50
silver coins. Neither of them had the money to pay him back. So he let them go
without paying. Which of them will love him more?"
Simon replied,
"I suppose the one who owed the most money." "You are
right," Jesus said.
Then he turned toward
the woman. He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your
house. You did not give me any water to wash 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 has not stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You did not put any
olive oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. So I tell you
this. Her many sins have been forgiven. She has loved a lot. But the one who
has been forgiven little loves only a little."
Then Jesus said to
her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The other guests
began to talk about this among themselves. They said, "Who is this who
even forgives sins?"
Luke
7:37-49
Jesus challenged the
Pharisees because of their long-held beliefs in doing good works. He let them
know that good works alone would not get them into heaven.
Our challenge is
clear. Lulled into thinking how good we are, our love
for Jesus wanes because we have forgotten that we also have been forgiven, so
many times in the past.
When God
starts changing things, He usually begins with changing us.
Our Daily Bread –