Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus told Simon the Pharisee, “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, You have rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, See you this woman? I entered into your house, you gave me no water for my feet: but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. You gave me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in has not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil you did not anoint: but this woman has anointed my feet with ointment”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-seven of his book Luke shared how Jesus said about the woman, “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” where we read:
Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;
for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
The verse reads, “Wherefore I say unto you, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven;” Luke began with the word, “wherefore” or “therefore, consequently and on account of this” “I say unto you” which means “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to Simon the Pharisee”, “Her sins” or “the woman's errors, missing of the mark, mistakes and violations to God's law”, “which are many” which means “that are in great number”, “are forgiven” or “are remitted, not allowed to hinder, sent forth, forsaken and laid aside”. Luke shared how Jesus declared the “errors and wrongs” of the woman to be “remitted” because of her humility and sacrifice.
The verse continues, “for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Luke added the words, “for she loved much” which means “because, since and on account that the woman entertained, was fond of and loved in great measure dearly”: “but to whom little is forgiven” or “however, nonetheless and notwithstanding the person who receives a small amount of remittance, is not allowed to hinder, send forth, forsake and lay aside”, “the same loves little” which means “that selfsame person entertains, is fond of and loves in a small amount”. Luke shared how Jesus said the person who “loves” in great measure is forgiven in great measure, however, the person who “loves” in a small amount, receives a small amount of “forgiveness” for their errors and wrongs.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn there is a difference between a person who has “a great measure of love” for the Lord Jesus, and the person who does not. People who fall in love with Jesus and worship Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” know not only their own humble position of being a sinner, but also know Him for being a loving and forgiving God. Jesus knew this woman “loved” Him because she demonstrated it with her tears which covered His feet which she wiped with her hair. She showed her love to Him by “anointing” His feet with “perfumed oil”, and Jesus acknowledged what she did. The Pharisee Simon, however, demonstrated his lack of love to Jesus by not even providing water so Jesus could wash His own feet, and he gave Jesus no ointment for His head. God loves people who humble themselves and are real before Him. As they pour out their hearts in love toward Him, and ask His forgiveness for their sins, He not only forgives them, but also provides them with everlasting life with Him forever.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says to the woman, “ your sins are forgiven”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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