Forgiven Much, Loving Much

The Danger of Not Seeing Your Need

Perhaps one of the most dangerous things someone can believe is that they are okay with God because they are morally superior to someone else. We can know what the Bible says about sin, know what is unbiblical, and what is going on in the world today. But just because we can point out what is wrong. doesn't mean that we have dealt with the sin in our own life.

Luke 7 is a great example of this. Jesus was invited over to the home of Simon the Pharisee. While Jesus was at Simon's house a woman came to Jesus with nothing to show for herself and walked away forgiven. Simon, in his heart, measures himself against this woman and judges her unrighteousness, but in doing so, fails to see his own spiritual poverty. She comes to Jesus humble and leaves forgiven, while Simon remains condemned.

Luke 7:36–50 ESV

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

1. A Religious Man Invites Jesus Into His Home

We are not told why Simon invited Jesus to dinner and we should not try to give him a reason. What we do need to know is that Jesus accepted the invitation. This should tell us that the same Lord who receives a sinful is also willing to sit at the table of a self-righteous pharisee. God's grace isn't just for those who’s sins are obvious to everyone else. Religious people need the Savior too, and Jesus is about to speak directly to Simon’s need.

There’s also a big difference between hanging out with Jesus and having faith in Jesus. Simon has Jesus at his house, yet that kind of access to Jesus was not the same thing as a faith in him as Lord. We can become familiar with the language of salvation and remain strangers grace. This is the warning Jesus gave near the end of the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Philippians 3:4–9 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

The key is that we must know the truth, and we must obey the Lord. Romans 3:20 explains that the law gives us knowledge of sin but it does not justify us. Simon will look at this woman and think she is the problem. Jesus will teach Simon that there is someone else that needs to repent at that table.

2.  A Sinful Woman Comes to the Feet of Jesus

Verses 37–38 tells us that this woman, a known sinner in the town, learns that Jesus is at Simon’s house. She brings an alabaster flask of ointment, stands behind Him at His feet, and begins to weep, and wipes them with her hair. We don’t know her name or her sin. We also should not confuse her with Mary who anointed Jesus at Bethany in John 12. The details Luke gives us is enough: her life is marked by sin and everyone knows it. Yet she comes to Jesus in an extraordinary expression of humility and love.

Notice where she places herself. Jesus is reclining at the meal, and she stands behind Him at His feet. She’s not hiding or pretending. She’s there for everyone to see her. The important point is that she’s there, her desperate cry to the Lord for help is what will save her and she cares little about the eyes that are watching her and the hearts that are judging her.

Psalm 51:17 ESV

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 32:3–5 ESV

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

John 6:37 ESV

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

3.  Simon Sees Her Sin but Misses His Own

In verse 39 allows us to hear Simon’s thoughts. He says to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” In Simon’s mind, if Jesus knew who she was, he would push her away; rebuke her sinful presence. But Jesus knows exactly who she is and what Simon is thinking.

And in the next verse Jesus reveals aloud what Simon is thinking in his heart. He knows Simon’s thoughts.

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We may be able to cover our sins from others but not from God. We can sin in a respectable way but God will still see it. Just because pride is committed in secret doesn’t make it right. Just because someone looks down on you and quotes the Bible doesn’t make them right. Simon shows us how easy it is to look at others with contempt and believe that we are doing it out of righteousness.

Now, that doesn’t mean we abandon discernment. No where does the Bible tell us to ignore sin, and here Jesus openly tells the crowd that she had many sins. We can  and should show compassion while also sharing the truth about sin in order to point them to Jesus.

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Titus 3:3–5 ESV

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Simon saw the sinner and missed the humanity, and even more importantly, her eternity.

4.  Two Debtors Have Nothing

Jesus says, “Simon, I have something to say to you,” and Simon replies, “Say it, Teacher” (Luke 7:40). The Lord then gives him a brief parable: There were two men that owed money to a certain man. One owed 500 denarii and the other owed 50. So one was 10 times more in debt then the other. A dearii was a day’s wage, so in modern terms, given the average salary of $37.81/hours, one person owed $15,124.00 and the other owed $151,240.00.

But look at what verse 42 “neither could pay so he released them both from their debt.” Don't skip over those words.  Just because one owed less doesn't mean he was better off, this only shows how much they each owed, but they both still needed the mercy of the lender. So, if the lender does show them mercy, Jesus asks who’s going to be more grateful. Simon said the one that had the most released from his debt.

This is where comparison falls apart. We may be able to identify somebody whose sins have been more public, more destructive, or more numerous than ours. However, another person’s debt does not settle my own. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The standard is of measure is the holiness of God. James 2:10 explains that the person who keeps the whole law but fails in one point becomes guilty of all of it. You cannot offer God selective obedience as justification for your eternity.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 4:4–5 ESV

4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

Our only hope is the grace of God. The woman needs it, Simon needs it, and every one of us here needs it. Nobody stands before Christ with enough moral credit to purchase forgiveness.

5.  Forgiveness Produces A Grateful Love

Jesus looks at the woman. Don’t miss this: He’s talking to Simon and he’s looking at her. And says, “Simon, do you See this woman?” (Luke 7: 44). Jesus calls him to consider what her actions reveal about Simon. Jesus came into Simon’s house and he did not offer any water for his feet. She washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Simon did not greet Jesus with a kiss, but she kept kissing his feet. He did not anoint his head, but she anointed his feet with expensive perfume. Don’t miss this: Simon invited him into his home but did not show any of these honors. This woman showed her appreciation and honor to the Lord. Who has better understanding of Messiah: the religious leader or the sinner?

Jesus says, “I tell you that her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7: 47) She loved because she was forgiven.

1 John 4:19 ESV

19 We love because he first loved us.

The point is we need recognize the mercy we received instead of esteeming ourselves as better than others. Simon’s coldness exposes his lack of relationship. You can follow all the rules and still be far from God. When we understand that we are guilty before a Holy and Righteous God, and cannot rescue ourselves, gratitude, praise, and worship becomes the overflow of our life. Our reason to follow God has nothing to do with appearances or pretenses. We are the Lord’s because he gave himself for us and we owe everything to Him alone.

6.  Jesus Forgives Sins

Jesus says to the woman in verse 48, “Your sins are forgiven.” Those sitting at the table say to themselves, “Who is this that he forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). This question is the heart of this story that you cannot leave here today without answering. We can look at this woman or anyone for that matter, and see how sinful she is, but we would be missing the entire point of Luke’s story if we didn’t answer the question ourselves of who is Jesus. But this isn’t an intellectual exercise, this is something that we must resolve in the very fiber of our being.

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

This may come as a shock, but I need to be clear. Our tears cannot pay for our sins. Our repentance will not pay for our sins. Our faith will not save us. Only the one we have faith in will save you from hell.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Colossians 2:13–14 ESV

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

7.  Faith Receives the Salvation Jesus Gives

We end here with Jesus telling her, “Go in peace” (Luke 7:50). Don’t try to add to that or take away from it.

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Romans 5:1 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

If you have never placed your faith in Christ, restoration with God is available to you today, right here and now. Don’t try to convince Him that your sins are not that bad. When we repent we we leave any self-justification behind. It is not a list of things you can do to become worthy of salvation. The Bible tells us to turn to the Lord and believe. Acts 16: 31 tells the lost sinner to believe on the Lord Jesus. He that welcomed this woman will welcome you too.

 Let The Word Examine Your Heart

As we close, notice that Luke tells us what Jesus says to the woman, but we are left not know what happens with Simon. That’s a question mark no person should carry in their own life. The invitation to both the Woman and Simon is the same: come as you are, God’s grace is all you need.

For those of us who belong to Him today, this passage calls us to remember our forgiveness cost God. Nor have we outgrown our dependence upon His grace. The grace of God also teaches us to extend grace to others. The Savior who forgives us is the same Lord wanting to extend His love to all.

So let me ask plainly: what are you trusting to make your life right with God? If your answer depends upon yourself or someone else, you are here in grave eternal danger. If your answer rests upon Jesus Christ alone, then worship him with the same passion and love of this woman