Faith Expressed Leads to Forgiveness Grasped

Intro.: [AGS]: Have you ever been in conversation with someone, and perhaps in a casual, joking manner, the two of you are carrying on a light-hearted, picking-at-one-another style conversation? Maybe at some point, the other person says something that opens the door for a good line to pick on them with. You pick at them and then follow by saying, “You opened the door on that one…or… You walked right into that!” [TS]: This is, to an extent, what is taking place in this parable. Jesus shared the parable, but the Pharisee did not fully realize that Jesus was actually talking about him. Thus, verse 43 provides an open door for Jesus to rebuke Him. The text records, then, that forgiveness granted results in great love expressed. [RS]: Each of us are sinful. No one is more sinful than the other. Perhaps, it is possible that one person’s sin is more obvious or more known than another person’s, but that does not negate the fact that all are equally sinful. When we realize how sinful we are, we will be broken. When we profess faith in Jesus, we will be granted forgiveness. The result of that should be a great love for Jesus.

TS: Let us examine a few differences together now.

Note about title: Her faith in Jesus (because she witnessed His ability to heal, forgive, etc., led to forgiveness; this resulted, then, to a deep love for Him because of what He did for her.)

The lady was a known sinner. [vv. 36-37a]

It is probable that the lady was a prostitute. They were known sinners, shamed by the public community, and often neglected.

He was a Pharisee [Simon, v. 40]. Pharisees, though they were not sinless, avoided public sin at all cost. It was not acceptable for them to be known sinners.

The lady expressed intense love for Jesus. [vv. 37b-39; 44-46]

The Pharisee expressed intense disbelief and disappointment with Jesus.

“He, with all the richness of a splendid preparation, had omitted the common marks of regard and affection. She, in humility, had bowed at his feet, had watered them with tears, and had not ceased to kiss them. The most splendid entertainments do not always express the greatest welcome. There may be in such entertainments much insincerity- much seeking of popularity or some other motive; but no such motive could have operated in inducing a broken-hearted sinner to wash the Saviour’s feet with tears.” [1]

Contrasts of conduct/actions:

The lady:

Brought an alabaster jar of perfume

wept at his feet

washed his feet with her tears

wiped his feet with her hair

kissed his feet

anointed his feet with perfume

Simon:

Invited Jesus for a feast

Expressed disappointment in Jesus’ allowing the woman to touch Him

Did not wash Jesus’ feet, did not kiss Jesus, did not anoint Jesus’ head. [common acts for a special guest entering one’s house]

Notice, though, three things:

The parable, in verse 42, suggests that both debtors were forgiven. If applicable to the conversation, this would suggest that both the Pharisee and the sinner lady were forgiven.

Verse 47 details that she loved much because she had been forgiven much. “Jesus did not mean that the Pharisee had little sin to be forgiven but that he did not think of himself as a sinner while the woman was profoundly aware of her sinfulness.” [2] Additionally, Adam Clarke wrote, “That is [commenting on the words loved much- loveth little], A man’s love to God will be in proportion to the obligations he feels himself under to the bounty of his Maker.” [3]

The wording of verse 47 communicates that the forgiveness received was not a result of her love; rather, her love for Jesus was a result of His forgiveness. Because He had forgiven her, she loved Him. This is also clarified in Jesus’ response in verses 48-50. He made clear that “Your faith has saved you.” “This is important as showing that the love spoken of earlier was the consequence, not the cause, of her salvation.” [4]

APPLICATION: None of us are any less sinful than anyone else. All are sinners. Perhaps some are better at keeping their sins secret from other people, but that does not make them any less sinful. It is important that we not only welcome Jesus in, but that we, in brokenness over sin and what He has done for us, greet Him as a special guest- expressing great love for Him.

CONCLUSION:

[1] Faith expressed leads to forgiveness grasped resulting in intense love shown. The contrasts between the two have been highlighted: she expressed intense love; Simon expressed intense disappointment and disbelief. Perhaps the greatest difference in the two was the brokenness present in the life of the lady. This was seemingly absent from Simon’s life.

[2] Are you broken over your sin? Thankful for His forgiveness?

[3] Do you think that you are better off than you really are? We are all sinful and wicked. Apart from His forgiveness- which is great for us all who profess faith in Him- we are all sinners.

[4] We can fool man, but we will never fool God. What hinders you, today, from professing faith, embracing forgiveness, and expressing great love for Him?

Bibliography:

[1] Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament: Luke & John, ed. Robert Frew (London: Blackie & Son, 1884–1885), 54.

[2] Craig A. Evans, “Messianic Expectations,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1620.

[3] Adam Clarke, The Holy Bible with a Commentary and Critical Notes, New Edition., vol. 5 (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2014), 415.

[4] Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 3, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 168.

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