Whilst his wealthy host, The stand offish Simon, (a curious Pharisee who had invited Jesus to his house for a meal), stands by aghast, a woman, whom the gospel writer describes as a sinner, literally gate-crashes the party and displays a wholly inappropriate amount of gratitude and affection to the Lord by crying on, kissing, drying and anointing his feet.
This is a beautiful and touching story. One of my favourites. It deserves further exploration, and perhaps I will do that soon.
But here I want to speak about the principle that Jesus teaches us from her actions, and from those of Simon.
Simon, a religious and a well thought of man, of great social standing, has been treating Jesus abominably, culturally speaking.
Yes he has invited Jesus, but as a spectacle and in order to sus him out.
He did not greet him with respect.
He left his feet unwashed.
He did not tend to him.
Jesus may as well still have been on the street!
And I bet that Simon would still have expected Jesus to show deference to his good standing.
Simon holds all the cards and it is Jesus, in Simons eyes, who is under scrutiny.
But this woman, as lowly as she must be seen to be, shows no regard for convention and instead honours Jesus with utter abandonment.
Why?
The Lord Jesus shows us her motive and Luke faithfully records it for us.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. (v48)
Her motive for showing this love was because her many sins had been forgiven.
Simons stony gaze has looked on her and cast judgement.
He would seem to us to be unaware of his own state. Someone who believed his own press. Possibly he was proud and insecure; Judgemental and harsh.
It is speculative to say that he thought so well of himself, but I believe Jesus' words paint him in a couple of deft brush strokes;
But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.
Was it really that Simon was less of a sinner than this woman? He certainly seemed to think so.
Granted , her sins were possibly more obvious, but the whole body of Jesus' teaching on sin tells us that his sin had just as deep roots in his heart. And worst of all, he was blind to it.
This woman knew she was a sinner, and she knew she had been forgiven. She, as Jesus little parable illustrates, knew the size of the debt she had been forgiven, and proportionate gratitude flowed....
Granted , her sins were possibly more obvious, but the whole body of Jesus' teaching on sin tells us that his sin had just as deep roots in his heart. And worst of all, he was blind to it.
This woman knew she was a sinner, and she knew she had been forgiven. She, as Jesus little parable illustrates, knew the size of the debt she had been forgiven, and proportionate gratitude flowed....
and so......
She loved much.
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,cand the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said
It seems to me that when we want to experience greater love for God, this is the place we should go.
Not to whipping up devotion or, asking God to zap us with greater zeal.
No.
The source is right here.
Our love is proportionate with our understanding of the debt that has been cancelled.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus says (in the beatitudes) 'blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'?
This is why.
Because those who know how poor they are, are really rich towards God. They throw themselves upon his mercy and they are the inheritors of an endless love.
To Love-much we must be forgiven much.
And that does not mean we need to commit greater sins in order to be forgiven more. Absolutely not.
It is this.
That we realise just how deep it is that sin goes in our hearts. and how utterly defenceless we are against it. How unable we are to dig it out.
If we need to know how much we are forgiven, we do not need to have a 'greater testimony' of our fall.
Why?
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,cand the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said
It seems to me that when we want to experience greater love for God, this is the place we should go.
Not to whipping up devotion or, asking God to zap us with greater zeal.
No.
The source is right here.
Our love is proportionate with our understanding of the debt that has been cancelled.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus says (in the beatitudes) 'blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven'?
This is why.
Because those who know how poor they are, are really rich towards God. They throw themselves upon his mercy and they are the inheritors of an endless love.
To Love-much we must be forgiven much.
And that does not mean we need to commit greater sins in order to be forgiven more. Absolutely not.
It is this.
That we realise just how deep it is that sin goes in our hearts. and how utterly defenceless we are against it. How unable we are to dig it out.
If we need to know how much we are forgiven, we do not need to have a 'greater testimony' of our fall.
Why?
Because if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ you have been forgiven everything.
And when you realise what everything means,
And when you realise what everything means,
your gratitude will flow,
and you.....
will love much.
