Luke 7:36-50

Luke 7:36-50

36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 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 she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Love is the distinguishing mark of true believers.  We love God and others because He loved us enough to send His Son to die in our place and save us from our sin.  Unfortunately, not all people respond to the love of God in the way they should.  In today’s text, we can observe three different people who demonstrate love in different ways.  The woman, Simon and Jesus all perform acts of what appear to be love.  However, Jesus reveals that Simon’s love was not genuine.  It is important that we evaluate the kind of love we have for the Lord and recognize the kind of love He has for us.   

A WOMAN SHOWS FAITHFUL LOVE: As Jesus is eating at Simon’s house, a woman comes into the house and washes the feet of Jesus with her tears, anoints His feet with perfume and kisses His feet.  This woman was known in the town as a sinner.  Prostitution was, most likely, her besetting sin.  This kind of demonstration of love would have made most of us very uncomfortable; especially from a prostitute.  Jesus knows that her love is motivated by her recognition of sin and faith in His ability to forgive.  Her tears are the tears of repentance and her kisses spring from gratitude and genuine love for Jesus.  She recognizes Him as Messiah and has faith that He will forgive her.  Love for God must always spring from the recognition of who we are and who Jesus is.  When we see our own sin and believe that Jesus can forgive sin; we will love Him with all of our heart.  This is the kind of love that each of us must demonstrate to God.   

THE PHARISEES SHOW FAKE LOVE: Simon also shows an act of love by inviting Jesus to come into his home to eat.  Most of the Pharisees would not even consider talking to Jesus, much less having a meal with Him.  However, what looks like love on the surface is not really love at all.  Instead, it seems like Simon is trying to test Jesus.  He does not believe Jesus is Messiah and is appalled that He would allow this sinful woman to carry on in such a way.  Simon is proud and has a great deal of love for himself.  His invitation for Jesus to eat in his home was more of an inquisition than a genuine act of love.  When he sees the sinful woman at the feet of Jesus, he does not go to Him with his concerns about how this might look.  Instead, he keeps his thoughts to himself, or so he thinks.  His thoughts are doubting that Jesus could be any kind of a prophet and allow this sinful woman to do what she was doing.  When Jesus forgives the woman the other Pharisees question His ability to forgive sin.  On the surface, they may have looked like they loved Jesus because they attended a dinner party with Him.  In reality, they reveal that their love was fake. 

JESUS SHOWS FORGIVING LOVE: The love of Jesus is genuine and results in the forgiveness of sin.  He shows His love for the woman by defending her against Simon’s accusations and pointing out her faith and genuine love.  More importantly, He shows His love by forgiving her of her sin.  He shows Simon and the others that her love came for the recognition of her own sin and her recognition that Jesus could forgive sin.  When Jesus tells the story of the man who forgave his two slaves; one of much the other of little, He is striving to help Simon understand his own heart.  He then confronts Simon by contrasting his lack of care for his guest with the act of love the woman had shown.  Jesus confronts Simon in hopes that Simon will repent and believe like the woman did.  Jesus forgives the woman, wants to forgive Simon and the other Pharisees, just like He wants to forgive all of us.

APPLICATION: True love for God always starts with a genuine recognition of our own sin.  Don’t be satisfied with exterior acts of love, truly evaluate the condition of our hearts to see is we truly love God.  Love others by doing all we can to bring them to a place of forgiveness.