Forgiven Much To Love Much

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.”  Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”  “Tell me, teacher,” he said.  “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender.  One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.  Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both.  Now which of them will love him more?”  Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”  “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.  Then he turned to 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 are forgiven – for she loved much.  But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

– Luke 7:39-47

Are you like the woman at Jesus’ feet with the alabaster jar of perfume pouring out your love on Jesus for forgiving you of all your sins or are you like the Pharisee standing in pride and arrogance with nothing to give Jesus for everything he has done for you?  The Lord put it so perfectly when he said those who are forgiven much, love much.  Yet those who are forgiven little, love little.  When our eyes are opened to the reality of just how much Jesus has forgiven us of, we can’t help but pour out all our hearts, all our praise, all our appreciation and all our love on Jesus!  We realize that we are nothing but sinful human beings that have been shown the radical love and mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Those who are like the Pharisee, filled with pride and arrogance, cannot bring themselves to stoop down to such a level as the woman did.  Their eyes are not open to the reality of how much the Lord has forgiven them, because their hearts are not truly humbled and they are blind.  The Pharisees believe there is nothing wrong with them, that they do not have any sin in their life, and they do not need to be forgiven of anything.  Yet to say that you do not have any sin in your life is a bold-faced lie and to deny that you need forgiveness from your sins is denying what Jesus Christ did on the cross for you!  So today if you find yourself like the Pharisee more than you would like to admit, just know that Jesus has forgiven you much so that you can love him much!!