Jesus was invited to a religious leader’s home. While eating (they eat reclining on pillows on the floor with their feet behind them), a woman of ill repute heard that Jesus was there, and she started to weep. She poured an expensive perfume on His feet and washed his feet with her tears and her own hair.
The religious leader was taken back and thought that if Jesus were a prophet, He would know who she was.
Jesus asked the man this question:
Luke 7:41-3 41 “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
The one with the bigger debt loved more, because they understood more deeply what they had been forgiven for.
Jesus goes on to compare her care for Him as compared with the religious leader’s care for Him.
Luke 7:44-46 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.
Wow! When seen in contrast it was clear that this woman did all she could to show Jesus how much she cared for Him. Yet, this religious leader, though had invited Jesus to His home and was dining with Him, had shown Him little.
Luke 7:47 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Since he felt he needed little forgiveness, he underestimated what God had truly done for him.
In stark contrast, this woman lavished expensive perfume, tears, and even her hair to wash Jesus’ feet, each act a testament to her profound gratitude for forgiveness, knowing her sins were many.
She understood that her sin was to great for her to overcome and needed Jesus’ forgiveness. She was broken and in full surrender.
As we begin to grasp our deep need for forgiveness from a holy God, we gain a clearer understanding of what Jesus was conveying to the religious leaders of His time. The parable He shared illustrates a profound truth: those who recognize the enormity of their forgiven debt are overwhelmed with love. ‘He who is forgiven much, loves much; he who is forgiven little, loves little.’ Let us then, in acknowledging our own vast need for grace, pour out our love and gratitude to Jesus, who not only forgives but transforms our hearts through His boundless mercy. May this realization inspire us to love more deeply and to live more fully in the light of His forgiveness.”
