August 2, 2010
Central Truth
Those who follow Christ are forgiven and in Him have become the righteousness of God. When we truly grasp the significance of the Lord’s gift to us, which is eternal life in His Son, our response should be to love others with the love that He has extended to us.
"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Luke 7:47)
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 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. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among 1 7:49 Or to themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
What if Jesus is speaking more about the way we view the gravity of our sin and the need for forgiveness than the amount of forgiveness He is willing to give? Is Jesus saying the person with a seedier past is forgiven more than the person who lived in relationship with Christ since age 12—surely not?
The difference comes when the ones who owe the debt realize that, no matter what their past looks like, the debt is so great that they can never pay it. The issue in this passage is not that Jesus is planning to forgive some people more than others. It is that the Pharisees saw their own debt as far too small. They had failed to love much because they did not think they needed to be forgiven.
Although my past lines up more with the woman in the story than the Pharisee, I still need to be reminded of all God has done for me. After I started living in a relationship with the Lord, and years passed from my blatant rebellion, it was easy for me to become complacent and forget the magnitude of God’s forgiveness. I started to think that I was a pretty good person. I wasn’t listening or slowing down long enough to hear God’s voice.
God convicted me that I was finding worth in my performance (specifically in what I weighed and the amount of calories I had eaten), as opposed to the fact that, through Christ, I have become the righteousness of God. Because I know that He sent His Son so that I may be free, I want to fight my flesh to live in that freedom.
The last two years have been a fight for that freedom. I have to connect with the Lord on a consistent basis through His Word, prayer, and people to renew my mind. While I do not like the thorn in my flesh, I am reminded consistently that I have been forgiven much. For that, I am grateful.
1. Do you acknowledge the gravity of your sin daily, or do you tend to rationalize the sin in your life?
2. How does recognizing the magnitude of your sin daily impact the way you love others?
3. Do you currently have a struggle in your life you are fighting to glorify God with that can be used to remind you of the Lord’s forgiveness on a consistent basis? What is it?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What story did Jesus use in verse 41 & 42 to teach the Pharisee about forgiveness?
2. Take some time to think about all the different times you have sinned (gone against what God wants you to do) and talk about how much God has forgiven you. Then think about how you treat others.
3. Are you quick to forgive others when they have wronged you? Is there anyone you need to ask for forgiveness from or someone you need to give forgiveness to?