Who is This that Forgives Sins? - Luke 7:49

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. 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. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven”, and in chapter seven and verse forty-nine of his book Luke shared how the people eating with Jesus asked, “who is this that forgives sins also?” where we read:

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgives sins also?

The verse reads, “And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, ...” Luke began with the word, “and they that sat at meat with him” or “and the guests who were reclining, feasting, eating, consuming and devouring food with Simon the Pharisee” “began to say” which means “made a beginning, initiated and started to utter, declare and proclaim” “within themselves” or “inside their own selves or under their breath”. Luke shared how there were other people who were “feasting” with Simon the Pharisee and Jesus, and they started to utter the following words under their breath.

The verse continues, “... Who is this that forgives sins also?” Luke added the words, “who is this” which means “what person is the man (Jesus)” “that forgives sins also” or “who remits, does not allow to hinder, sends forth, forsakes and lays aside errors, missing of the mark, wrongs and violations of God's law even so and indeed”? Luke shared how the people who were eating with Simon the Pharisee began to question as to who Jesus thought He was to “remit and lay aside” the sins of the woman.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn of the indignant words of the people who were “feasting” with Simon the Pharisee while Jesus was there. When Jesus told the woman who washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair that her “sins were forgiven”, these people became enraged and umbrageous toward Him. God loves all people, and regardless of how sinful they are, He is willing to forgive them when they believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Though other people be be incensed that Jesus could forgive “such horribly wicked person”, Jesus forgives them anyway and offers them everlasting life with His Father God. This woman had “many sins”, and yet, because she came to Jesus in a humble, repenting and sacrificial manner, Jesus forgave them all. He is still doing the same today regardless of what others may mumble under their breath.

Next time Luke shares what how Jesus says to the woman, “your faith has saved you”, 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".