Gospel Mission 8/16/2022 Message : Her sins are forgiven because she loved much ( Luke 36-50) by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Gospel Mission 8/16/2022

Message : Her sins are forgiven because she loved much ( Luke 36-50)
Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce  

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

Luke 7:36-50 Her sins are forgiven because she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, he loves little.

 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.” (Luke 7:39) Jesus answered him, “ Simon, I have something to tell you.” Tell me, teacher,” He said. (v.40) 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? (vv.41-42)

 Simon replied, “ I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. (v.43). 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 his woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing 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.” Then Jesus said to her, “ Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace. ” (vv.43- 50)

Implication

The hair is the glory of the woman 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.  The woman’s appreciation of the Savior’s great worth and sweetness. Even the Savior’s feet were precious and sweet to her affection. (v.38). 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. (v.39)

 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 Jesus’ forgiveness. (v.41) 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. Simon should have taken the woman as an example and learned of her. Her loving much was a proof that her many sins had been forgiven; Simon’s loving litter testified that he had been forgiven only a little. Those who were reclining at the table with Jesus did not realize that this Man-Savior was the very God who had authority to forgive man’s sin.

The forgiven woman had not only love toward the savior Jesus but also faith in Him, which operated through love. 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 bring 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 1

Examine of your spiritual inner being today, if you have become bitter, sour, hatred and resentment,  it is because when God gave you a blessing you clutched or hold on it for yourself; where as if you had poured it out into the Lord, you would have been the sweetest person out of heaven.

 If you are always taking blessings to yourself and never learn to pour out anything unto the Lord, like Mary Magdalene poured out perfume to Jesus,(Luke 7:38) other people do not get their horizon enlarged through you.

Application 2  

 We are to be centers through which Jesus can flow as rivers of living water in blessing to everyone. Some of us are like the Dead Sea, always taking in but never giving out, because we are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive from Him, He will pour out through us, and in the measure He is not pouring out, there is a defect in our relationship to Him.

Conclusion

 Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything that hinders you belief in Him? If not, Jesus said,  ” The water I give him will become in him a spring of water, welling up to eternal life.” (John4:14). Which means, out of your will flow rivers of living water. It is not a blessing passed on, not an experience stated, but a river continually flowing. Keep at the source, guard well your belief in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him and there will be a steady flow for other lives, no dryness and no deadness. 

 

Bibliography,

Chambers, Oswald. My utmost for His highest. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company Inc, 1935.  

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

 Lee, Witness. New Testament (RV). Anaheim, CA: Living stream ministry, 1985