THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 7:36-43
“One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.” (Luke 7:41)
A ‘religious man’ and a ‘sinful woman’ together in the same room, with Jesus.
We do what this ‘religious man’ does, we compare ourselves.
The way we reduce or eliminate shame is by looking down on others.
We find someone who is worse than us, ‘scapegoats’ who make us feel better.
But how does God – as demonstrated by Jesus – look at us?
We are all debtors, we all have failed, we all have hurt others.
Despite the different shapes and sizes of sin, the fact of sin remains.
It all contributes to the destruction of shalom in God’s world.
Like a deadly, incurable cancer, whether a small lump or a large mass, it is incurable.
In truth, this ‘religious man’ only appeared more holy than this prostitute.
He was better at masking his sin, not in controlling it.
And it’s highly likely that this woman was more a victim than a reckless, careless sinner.
(And often it is the ‘high or holy’ who are often the ones guilty of victimizing others).
In Jesus’ story, the moneylender forgives both of them, equally free and undeserved.
If we really understood the gravity of sin, we would all “love him more!”
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I am no better or worse than others. Help me to see my sin for what it is, and to love You more for how You have forgiven me.
Observations/Application
A pharisee invited Jesus for dinner? Why? The word pharisee means separate. He was separated from the people and yet wanted recognition. There must have been a crowd outside since Jesus always had a great following and this woman who was not invited came in showing her love for Jesus at all costs – not invited by the host, the cost of the perfume, letting her hair down, weeping.
The pharisee did not associate with her likes
but only
with those who helped him stand out.
Prestige.
Position.
Honour.
The pharisee used people to enhance his position while Christ served people to enhance their position in God’s kingdom. The pharisee loved himself and Christ loved all people.
The upright pharisee felt he did not need the love and mercy of the Saviour. He felt self sufficient. The woman showed her great love for Jesus – all that she had.
I too need a heart of love and gratitude and the freedom and joy to love others, to serve others as Christ has taught.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!