Luke 7:36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he
would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to
meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the
city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the
Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him
weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with
the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the
ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which
had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he
were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is
that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto
thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly
forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he,
to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said
unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me
no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the
hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no
kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not
anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which
are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the
same loveth little. 48 And he said
unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And
they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that
forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to
the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
The fact that this
woman was called a sinner shows that she was probably one of the class of
people that the Pharisee’s viewed with contempt. For instance, they hated
publicans, tax collectors, Gentiles, and prostitutes. This woman is adoring
Christ, worshipping Him in humility and submission. Jesus then gives a parable
about debt expressing that the person who has the most sin that is forgiven
will be the most grateful. This plays into the Pharisee’s view of himself as above
the woman and, if you think about it, is sort of a backhand accusation. It is
actually the self-righteous Pharisee who has much to be forgiven of but doesn’t
realize it. The religious person who depends on his own righteousness and not
Christ’s for salvation is committing a greater sin than the carnal man or woman
who humbly comes to God for mercy. What Jesus does next by stating that the
woman’s sins are forgiven shows that He is expressing His right and power to
forgive sins, something only God can do. Again and again Jesus declares His
deity in this manner, doing things that the Jews acknowledge only God can do.
He forgave others their
sins as in chapter 5 with the man with palsy lowered on his bed through the
roof. Jesus is asserting authority over forgiveness of sins, which is very
disturbing to the Pharisees as it carries implications of His deity.
5:21 And the scribes and
the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?
Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
The woman has been
saved from eternal condemnation and the torments of Hell, some of which Luke
will describe later. The truly repentant person will worship and adore the Lord
who bought them from their bondage. This is why it is so important to make the
new believer understand that what they are entering into is not a business deal
with God. Salvation and forgiveness are free gifts of God that must be received
and God owes them nothing while they owe Him all their worship and adoration,
coming to Him in humility and submission.
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