Much Or Little?
Luke 7:45-50 NKJ
45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
This is the conclusion of the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears and anointed His feet with very expensive oil. Jesus had gone to eat with a Pharisee. I am amazed at how Jesus would figuratively enter the lion's den and eat with the very people who opposed Him. This Pharisee was judging Jesus for allowing a woman who was a sinner to touch Him. And Jesus told the parable of two men who were forgiven different amounts of money. The issue was who would love more? The Pharisee answered the one who was forgiven more. He was spot on there.
Jesus then contrasted how the Pharisee treated Him versus the woman. The Pharisee showed Jesus very little honor and respect. The woman showed a great deal of love and respect for Jesus. The woman showed much love for Jesus and recognized that He forgave her of her sins. She had a great amount of faith in Jesus as a Divine Representative of heaven. So she showed a great amount of love. She knew she was a sinner, and the forgiveness Jesus offered meant the world to her. The alabaster jar of oil was extremely expensive, and she spent it on Jesus.
Contrast the love the woman showed to the lack of respect the Pharisee showed. He did not offer Jesus the common courtesy of washing His feet, a kiss of greeting, or an anointing oil for His head. This is how an honored guest would be treated. But the difference between the Pharisee and the woman was in perception. The woman knew she was a sinner and loved much. The Pharisee thought he was doing Jesus a favor by having Him as a guest. The Pharisee did not perceive that he was a sinner in need of Jesus’ forgiveness, and so He loved little. The woman left with her sins forgiven and a new lease on life. The Pharisee stayed in his condition. Maybe he changed later. I hope so.
This is another great insight and warning from the life of Jesus. People who come to Jesus with the idea that the Kingdom is blessed to have them in it are in trouble. They do not believe they are forgiven for much. Often, people who have lived “good lives” don’t sense the need for forgiveness as compared with some of the “bad people.” The bad people are the ones with the dramatic testimonies of being delivered from some addiction or lifted out of a terribly sinful lifestyle. But here is the situation. All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. None of us did God a favor by receiving His Son as our Lord. None of us could save ourselves on our own. All of us were on a road to hell; some of us were just taking a more scenic route. That leaves all of us being forgiven much. So all of us should love much.
Prayer
Lord, I always want to keep in mind that I have been forgiven a debt that I could never have paid on my own. I am forever grateful for Your grace and salvation in my life.