Saturday, December 28, 2013

Those Who Have Been Forgiven Much, Love Much

Luke 7:36-50 Tells of a visit that Jesus made to a very religious man's house (Simon, a Pharisee).  A sinful woman from that town entered the home (obviously uninvited) because she had heard that Jesus was there.
She brought with her a jar of perfume which was very costly & precious.  She lavished Jesus with this perfume and worshiped Him.  Simon scolded Jesus for having anything to do with such a woman & quickly pointed out her sins.  Jesus confronted Simon's judgment with this...

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."

The woman humbled herself at the feet of Jesus, recognizing Him as The Lord & herself as a sinner.  She was so busy lifting up Jesus that she didn't have eyes to see nor mind to care what others thought or said.

Simon, on the other hand, was so busy looking for other's sins and flaunting his own righteousness that he couldn't see nor worship Jesus for Who He really was!

I believe that this is a lesson that we Christians need to keep fresh in our hearts.  'Tis better to be humble at Jesus' feet than full of religiosity!  Repentance = Humbleness

When I am repentant of my wrongs I am not so focused on the wrongs of others, thus, I am able to love others more!