Tag: forgiven much
Love much? or little?
Scripture reading for March 12: Luke 7
“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 wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven–for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”” Luke 7:44-48
Jesus had been invited to the house of a Pharisee and was reclining at table with him. As He was seated, a woman of the city entered the house and knelt down at Jesus’ feet and began to wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipe the dust off with her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them from the alabaster flask of oil. The Pharisee was observing and judging Jesus in his own heart. He reasoned that if Jesus was a prophet, He should know what kind of a sinful woman this was. The real question was how did this religious leader know! Jesus told him a short story about two debtors who had been forgiven a small and a large amount. Jesus asked him which one would love the man who forgave them more? He responded logically, the one being forgiven the most debt.
Jesus then applied the story to this sinful woman and her attitude and actions, comparing them with the Pharisee who had invited Him to dinner. Jesus liked to use stories that helps us see our own sins and sinful attitudes that are hidden by pride. We read or hear the story, and the story reads us. The bottom line here is that all of us are in need of great mercy and forgiveness. Until we can humble ourselves like this sinful woman and appeal to Jesus for mercy, we will not be forgiven. If we are not forgiven, we cannot love God or His Son in return. He who has been forgiven much, loves much! If our world view is centered on judging others, we can not love them or God!
Have you ever judged someone else as not worthy to be around Jesus or God’s people based on their reputation, dress, or attitude? In what ways did the woman show her humility and thankfulness for Jesus? If you have received Christ’s forgiveness for great sin, what could you do to show your love?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for demonstrating Your love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Lord, help me to understand how much I have been forgiven of and increase my love for You and for those You died for. Forgive me for judging others and not showing Your love and mercy. Amen.
Lavishing Love on Jesus!
Scripture reading for March 12th: Luke 7
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 7:44-47 “Then He turned toward the woman and 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.”
Jesus visited the home of a Pharisee for dinner and a woman came and lavished perfume and a foot-washing on Jesus. The Pharisee and his friends were looking with disdain on this development, knowing the past of the lady involved. Jesus told a story and then applied it to the situation. The Pharisees could not miss this teaching and its application.
What would Jesus say about us? All who have been ‘born-again’ have welcomed Him into our ‘house’. Do we lavish praise and worship on Him when we gather with God’s people? Do we humbly ‘wash’ His feet by serving others in need? Are we lavish with our precious treasures, giving generously to His kingdom work? Do we truly understand how much we have been forgiven?
Observations for over-comers: Good works and lavish worship won’t save us, but they are a good indicator of our understanding Christ’s forgiveness of our many sins! “When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2nd Samuel 6:13-15)
Extravagant Love!
Scripture reading for March 27th: Luke 7:36-8:3
“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:37-38) This was a woman with a bad reputation that those present knew about. She had come to seek out Jesus and lavish on Him a display of love. She was moved to the point of weeping a flow of tears so profuse that they literally wet the feet of Jesus so that she could wash them and dry them with her own hair. She then showered those feet with kisses to show her appreciation for the ‘good news’ that those feet brought into her life! (Isaiah 52:7)
Her extravagant display was not appreciated by those religious folks who watched from across the table. Their thoughts went to her sinful life and to wondering that if Jesus were such a ‘man of God’, why was he allowing this sinner to touch Him? (Luke 7:39) Jesus then told them a small parable about two men who owed a moneylender a small and a large amount of money. Because they had no money, this moneylender canceled both debts. Jesus’ question for them, “Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:42) The logical answer was chosen–the one who had the largest debt canceled!
Jesus commended them for their perspicuity, and went on to point out that they had not even given Him the common respect of washing His feet as an honored guest, yet this woman had lavished on Him personal washing from her own tears. They had not greeted Him with a kiss, but this woman kissed His feet! Extravagant love comes from being forgiven much! (Luke 7:47)
If we only realized how much we have been forgiven! (Or our need of forgiveness!) Our sins were piled as high as the heavens and our reputation in heaven was known! But we have a Savior who will abundantly pardon if we will humbly come to Him in faith! Faith works by love! Have you received this pardon? Have you gone humbly and thankfully to Him and receive His extravagant love?
Extravagant love!
Scripture reading for March 27th: Luke 7:36-8:3
“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” (Luke 7:37-38) This was a woman with a bad reputation that those present knew about. She had come to seek out Jesus and lavish on Him a display of love. She was moved to the point of weeping a flow of tears so profuse that they literally wet the feet of Jesus so that she could wash them and dry them with her own hair. She then showered those feet with kisses to show her appreciation for the ‘good news’ that those feet brought into her life! (Isaiah 52:7)
Her extravagant display was not appreciated by those religious folks who watched from across the table. Their thoughts went to her sinful life and to wondering that if Jesus were such a ‘man of God’, why was he allowing this sinner to touch Him? (Luke 7:39) Jesus then told them a small parable about two men who owed a moneylender a small and a large amount of money. Because they had no money, this moneylender canceled both debts. Jesus’ question for them, “Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:42) The logical answer was chosen–the one who had the largest debt canceled!
Jesus commended them for their perspicuity, and went on to point out that they had not even given Him the common respect of washing His feet as an honored guest, yet this woman had lavished on Him personal washing from her own tears. They had not greeted Him with a kiss, but this woman kissed His feet! Extravagant love comes from being forgiven much! (Luke 7:47)
If we only realized how much we have been forgiven! Or our need of forgiveness! Our sins are piled as high as the heavens and our reputation in heaven is known! We have a Savior who will abundantly pardon if we will humbly come to Him in faith! Faith works by love! Have you received this pardon? Have you gone humbly and thankfully to Him? Today is the day to show extravagant love!