Words of Hope: Forgiven and Forgiving
Look at this beautiful interaction Jesus has with both a Pharisee and a woman in the Book of Luke.
36 A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, and Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. 37 In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee’s house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38 and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, “If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!”
40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes, Teacher,” he said, “tell me.”
41 “There were two men who owed money to a moneylender,” Jesus began. “One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Neither of them could pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43 “I suppose,” answered Simon, “that it would be the one who was forgiven more.”
“You are right,” said Jesus. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. 46 You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume. 47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.”
48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The others sitting at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
50 But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
What stands out to you in this reading?
This reading would have been a lengthy conversation with Dad.
What I notice in the reading is that the Pharisee assumes Jesus is not a prophet because he believes Jesus doesn’t realize the lifestyle of this woman.
Jesus interrupts his mental criticism not only to show he knows all about the woman but even Simon’s inner thoughts. Jesus showing He is not only a prophet but God.
Those around the table do not seem to be struck by the lack of courtesy shown to Jesus but instead offended yet again by what Jesus says. They are offended Jesus forgives sins and that great love is tied to willingness to be forgiven.
I believe many Christians miss this important point. Often most of forgiveness discussions focus on the magnanimity of Christians forgiving others but true love emerges from gratitude for being forgiven.
Dad and I talked about this often, moving the dialogue away from who do I need to forgive and instead of whom do I need to seek forgiveness of. If my focus is on your sins and how loving I am for forgiving you, my love will be minor compared to my focus on seeking forgiveness from God and others so that my love will be deep and truly overflowing. It is a matter of piety or gratitude. Being forgiven makes us gracious, generous, and lavish with our love.
Love seeks to repair, include, invite, welcome, honor, love, and hold close.
“But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love.” Luke 7:47
