Forgiven much

Luke 7 is packed with details, but I want to focus in on what is happing in Luke 7:40-47.

There is a banquet being held at the home of Simon the Pharisee. There is a woman with an alabaster jar filled with perfume. She finds out that Jesus is at a banquet and she comes into the banquet. She breaks the jar at Jesus fee and proceeds to wipe His feet with her tears and the perfume. Simon, the host, says to himself that if Jesus was who He said He was, He would know what "sort of woman was touching him." Mind you he muttered this under his breath.

Jesus doesn't exactly acknowledge his muttering, but asks him if two people owed debts and one owed 500, the other 50 and both debts are forgiven-who will love the forgiver more?

I love this for so many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons I love it is that Jesus doesn't let Simon off the hook as not being a debtor instead he acknowledges that the woman is perceived to have more "debt" or sin. He also doesn't really acknowledge the muttering. Jesus could have said, I'm sorry Simon what did you say?

Bring that to today-what is our debt or sin? How are we dealing with it? Are we muttering under our breath about someone else's? Are we quick to point out the sin in someone else's life, while we go on sinning? Simon was very focused on this woman and her sin.

Jesus goes on to teach Simon and all at the banquet that one who is forgiven much loves much, and one who is forgiven little, loves little.

We can go away sad from Jesus' statement, but if we are honest, we are not forgiven little. We all sin and fall short (Romans 3:23). We also all have the capacity to be grateful for Jesus' sacrifice and to accept His forgiveness. When we are humble like the woman, we realize that we need help. We need a Savior. And we can and should love those around us.

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