Skip to main content

112. At a Pharisee's House

Luke 7:36-50
Key Verse: Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Luke 7:50

We can't help but admire this brave, desperate woman. Her reputation obviously preceded her. Everyone in the room knew who she was and how she lived and what she did, perhaps for a living. Perhaps Jesus had had a previous conversation with her and had shown her love and tenderness in a way she had never known. Thus, she was now responding to that love. Jesus did not recoil for the sake of His own reputation but continued to show her mercy; mercy that her fellow human beings had refused to give. God the creator, God the Holy one, allowed Himself to be touched by sin, to forgive it and make her whole.

We don’t know why the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, but it wasn’t out of any kind of gratitude, and Jesus will go to great lengths to point that out and embarrass his host! In that culture it was really rude for a guest to let the host know how he had failed to entertain properly. It was scandalous! But probably in Jesus’ mind the greater scandal was how uncaring, unmerciful and hostile the Pharisee’s attitude was toward the woman.

So, Jesus asks a question. "Two men owed money to a certain money lender. One owed him 500 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 answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." (Luke 7:41-43)

Both Simon and the woman had been unclean. Both were in the presence of holiness, though they didn't deserve it. Both stood condemned by the Law, but only one was truly aware of her need. The other may have thought he deserved the blessings of the good life, much like the obedient but angry older brother in the story of the prodigal.

Be careful not to take too seriously what the world thinks of you. The world's opinions are fickle at best. One day you are liked and popular and the next you may be tossed aside for a newer model. God's opinion of you, however never changes. You are always a sinner in need of His grace which He longs to give you. He loves you and wants to claim you as His own. He died for you and He will never regret doing so. Focus on Him, your forgiver, and respond as one who has truly been forgiven.

Prayer: Oh, thank you Lord, for how much I have been forgiven! May I ever be grateful and mindful of the enormity of my sinful debt, and the great escape from death itself that you have provided. I want to love you very much and never forget! Then, Lord, may I welcome every other sinner with your love and grace, and celebrate life with them when they repent, and be there to see it because I did not push them away. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Hymn: "Freely, Freely" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 24 You’ll See, He Remembers

The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up to shame. ~Proverbs 3:35 “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.” ~Isaiah 3:10 “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” ~Hebrews 6:10-12 “The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them. The sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” ~1 Timothy 5:24-25 “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” ~Matthew 12:36-3...
Post a Comment
Read more