Bible in one year 1/23/2022 Luke 7-8 A woman’s sin is forgiven, for she loved much (Luke7:36-50) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 1/23/2022 Luke 7-8

A woman’s sin is forgiven for she loved much 7:36-50

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; pastoral ministry & counseling

 

              Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s  house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.(Luke7:36-38)

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is that she is a sinner.”(v.29)

 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 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? Simon replied, “ I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly.” (vv.40-43)

 Jesus said. 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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” (vv.44-47)

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”(vv.48-50)

           This is not the same as a similar incident that occurred in Bethany of Judea during the last week of Christ’s life (Matt.26:6-31); Mark14:3-9; John12:1-8). An alabaster jar of perfume, a long necked flask of fine translucent material, used for storing perfume.

 Verse 38 the hair is the glory of the woman (1Cor.11:15) and is at the top of her body. With her top part she wiped the Savior’s feet, the lowest part of His body, loving Him with her glory. Perfume (Ointment), Indicating the woman’s appreciation of the Savior’s great worth and sweetness. Even the Savior’s feet were precious and sweet to her affection.

 Verse 39 A large crowd in Nain, having witnessed the Savior’s power of resurrection, recognized the Savior as a great prophet (v.16). Yet the Pharisee wondered if He was a prophet. He not only doubted the Savior but also despised the woman as a sinner. 

Verse 41 Simon considered only the woman, not himself, a sinner and doubted that the Savior knew that she was a sinner. But the Savior’s parable indicated that both Simon and the woman were sinners –debtors to Him- and that both needed His forgiveness.

Verse 42 indicating that the sinners have nothing with which to repay their debt to God their Savior. The Savior had already forgiven both of them. Their love for the Savior was the issue, not the cause, of the Savior’s forgiveness.

Verse 44 The Savior’s word in vv.44-46 indicates that Simon should have taken the woman as an example and learned of her.

Verse 47 her loving much was a proof that her many sins had been forgiven; Simon’s loving little testified that he had been forgiven only a little.

Verse 48 this case and the case in Nain of the widow’s only son (vv.11-17) are found only in this Gospel. These cases display the Savior’s tender care for the dead and sinful and convey the principle of morality as the unique characteristic of this Gospel.

 Verse 50 the forgiven woman had not only love toward the Savior but also faith in Him, which operated through love (Gal.5:6) and issued in peace. The faith that saved her brought her to the Savior in love and resulted in her going forward in peace. Faith, love, and peace are three crucial virtues in experiencing and enjoying the Savior’s salvation. Faith is brought forth by knowing the Savior in His saving power and virtue. Love comes out of this faith and brings in peace; then we follow the Savior. In following the Savior in our living, faith and love bring us peace that we may enjoy the Lord’s life and grow in it.

Application/ Implication

          1). Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength, Love cover the multitude sins. Jesus forgave the woman’s sin, because she loved much. Her loving much was a proof that her many sins had been forgiven; Simon’s loving little testified that he had been forgiven only a little. He who has been forgiven little loves little.” Their love for the Savior was the issue, not the cause, of the Savior’s forgiveness.  

2) Pharisees, disciples and woman all need Lord’s forgiveness, Savior’s parable indicated that both Simon and the woman were sinners –debtors to Him- and that both needed His forgiveness.

3) When you face people like Pharisees, who are judge mental, criticize about you as sinner, or inject trashy thoughts in you and misjudge about you, don’t response to them, just walk away from that people. Then pray to God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and drench your mind with the Word of God, keep loving, and serving the Lord. The Lord knows those who love Him, and records every tear in their eyes.    

 

 

Bibliography,

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie Study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.