Called To Forgive Part 2

 Luke 7:36-50

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 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.”

We’ve all sinned. (Romans 3:23)  It’s a harsh reality of this life.  For those of us who are believers in Christ, we experience great pain and guilt when sin is in our life.  It’s a foreign thing.  An out of place thing.  Creation itself speaks that sin should not be a part of this world (Romans 8:22).  When we sin, sometimes we try to “measure” our sin.  We use terms like, “little white lie” and other terms to try to pacify the gravity of our sins.  We try to smooth them over in the eyes of others and ourselves so that we may seem to be “a better person.”  

The sad reality is that even what we may deem as a “little” sin is very big in the eyes of a holy and just God.  Our sins and uncleanness are such a big thing that God even says this in Isaiah 64:6,

6.But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

We are an unclean thing and our iniquities control our life like the wind blows around a leaf.

The only way we can be forgiven of our sins is to trust in Jesus Christ and place our faith in Him.  It doesn’t matter how much or how big of a sin you have committed.  Look at today’s focus verse.  The woman had committed so many great sins that the public knew about them.  Have  you ever had that happen?  She was ashamed of them so much that she couldn’t even face the Savior.  Look at verse 38.  It says she stood behind Him weeping.  When we are face to face with the Savior and can feel the gravity of our sins, we become ashamed and it becomes hard to face our God.  Look at what the woman did though.  She kissed His feet and gave the best oil that she had to the Savior.  That should be our response when we feel the gravity of our sin.  We should bow to His feet, worship Him, and give Him all of us, just like she poured out herself to Him.

What will be Jesus’ response?

Look at the response that we see from Jesus in verse 48 and 50.  Not only did Jesus forgive her of her sins, but He gave her peace.

Do you strive for peace in your life?  Do you feel like you have gone too far and there is no way God can forgive you?

Let me tell you this much.

He’s God.  He is the ultimate forgiver.  Part of His awesomeness is how He can forgive.  

He wants to forgive you.  He wants you to come to Him.  He sent His Son to take your penalty so He can forgive you.  

Forgiveness is an awesome thing.  Pray to Him now as I pray for forgiveness as well.