Tag: Luke 7
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)
Canceled debts!
Scripture reading for March 12th: Luke 7
“Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so He went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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 7:36-38) This astounding act of love and kindness by this woman aroused questions in Simon, the Pharisee whom Jesus was eating with. He had trouble understanding why Jesus would allow this sinful woman to even touch Him.
Jesus told Simon a story about two men who owed a money-lender some money. One owed a small amount and the other a large sum of money. Neither of them could pay so the banker canceled both the debts. Jesus asked Simon which of these would love the banker more? “Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” (Luke 7:43) Jesus commended Simon for his answer.
Jesus went on to instruct Simon about the woman and Simon’s own lack of love for Him. This woman loved Jesus and showed it by here lavish actions. Simon had not even offered to wash Jesus’ feet! Those who have been forgiven much, love much! Those forgiven little, love little! (Luke 7:47) Jesus then told the woman her sins were forgiven!
Simon’s lack of love stemmed from his lack of understanding of his own indebtedness. Many times we are caught in the same trap. We think that God should be pleased just to have us invite Him to our table. Let’s lavish our love on Him!