Faith and Forgiveness

N.T.#533 "Faith and Forgiveness"

April 21, 2025 

Luke 7-Part 8

LET IT GROW

leave evil

The host of the dinner party to which Jesus attended was Simon, a Pharisee. While there, a woman, maybe a prostitute, came and anointed Jesus' feet with precious perfume. Also, she wept on His feet, kissed His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair. (verses 37-38) Doing this, she showed love for Jesus and honored Him for bringing the grace of God into her life. She did not go to the temple, for this sinner would not have been welcome among the priests. She went directly to the Savior.

The host was more disgusted with Jesus than the woman barging in and crashing his party. He thought to himself or muttered under his breath that if Jesus were a prophet, then He would know the truth about that woman. And boy did He!

Jesus knew the thoughts of the host and gave him a scenario: Two debtors owed money to a creditor, one owed 500 denarii and the other owed 50 denarii. The creditor forgave both. Which one will love him more? (verse 42) Of course, the host answered, "He that was forgiven the most." Did Simon see the correlation between forgiveness and gratitude?

To provide a guest with water to wash his feet was common hospitality. Walking dusty roads in sandals resulted in filthy feet back then. Greeting a guest with a kiss and oil for his head were signs of warmth and friendliness. Simon had not shown any of these courtesies to Jesus. An uninvited, sinful woman showed more hospitality to Jesus than the Pharisee. Simon must have been squirming in his seat. (Tony Evans)

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (verse 47)

The greater the forgiveness, the greater the appreciation for the forgiveness. 

LET IT GROW

The woman didn't ask for forgiveness from Jesus, did she? Yet, Jesus forgave her sins.(verse 48) 

The Pharisees wondered who he was that forgives sins, also. (verse 49) They did not acceipt the fact that Jesus is God.

And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee: go in peace. (verse 50)

Jesus knew the love this woman showed Him was from a humble heart. She recognized Jesus to be the Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God. 

Are your sins forgiven by the Savior? Is your faith put in Him today? 

Pride holds us hostage, but humility sets us free. (Swindoll)

To know our sins are forgiven and God remembers them no more. How glorious it is to have this assurance! And the peace that surpasses all understanding floods our soul.

LET IT GO

Let go of pride and humble yourself before King Jesus.

He is the only way to heaven.

We are loved by the King.

May we show Your love to others today.