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.
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