Scripture
“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—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.‘” Luke 7:44-47 NIV
Observation
Jesus was invited to dine in a Pharisee’s house. A woman heard about it and went to the house with an alabaster jar of perfume. The Bible mentions that woman lived a sinful life, so it is very likely that she was a prostitute.
She was able to recognize how sinful her life was and so, humbly express her love for Jesus, the forgiver of our sins.
In contrast, the Pharisee could not see himself as a sinner, or a person in need of a Savior. He saw himself as pure and he despised the woman for who she was.
Jesus teaches us an important lesson: when we understand more deeply how much we were forgiven but God, we will also love more deeply.
Application
- Our expression of love to Jesus is linked to our understanding of how much he forgave us. The more we understand the more expressions of love we can produce in worship to Him.
- If we are unable to forgive others, we are lacking love in our lives. It means we did not truly understand Jesus’ forgiveness in our lives.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for this Friday. The sun came to melt the snow and bring the warmth, the same way you come to melt my cold heart and bring me a warm life. Thank you.
