Bitter people usually have nothing good to say and brew in their own stew.”
–Kenneth Pratt (A Love to Die For)
“Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside.”
Psalm 73:21 (NLT)
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Look at the question posed by Jesus: “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44). Apparently to Jesus’ thinking, he doesn’t. She was right in front of Simon. He sees not a woman but a sinner. Gary Inrig gives some insight, “Jesus sees not a sinner but a worshiper. He sees her present, not her past–her forgiveness, not her failure.” That should help us in our walk with the Lord, He sees our heart, our worship, our love. He then begins to list the things the woman did to show “that love is not just an emotion that is felt, it is also a life-changing event that cannot help but be revealed in deeds.” (Edward Starks)
“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NKJV) I like the way Henry Harbuck translates this, “…she has shown to Me amazing love and tenderness…”. It is important to see that “this woman is not forgiven because she loves. Rather, her love is the evidence that she already has been forgiven” (Inrig). In this scenario we need to ask: If gratitude is a sign of forgiveness, of what is the lack of gratitude a sign? If I don’t have gratitude, am not thankful for the grace of God, of the love He has bestowed, what does it say about my relation to God? Inrig further states, “An unforgiven person can treat Jesus Christ with polite formality; a forgiven sinner cannot.”
What then, we must ask, was Simon’s condition? The great theologian John Owen says, “he who has slight thoughts of sin never has great thoughts of God.” This was Simon. He either thought of himself as not being a sinner, or only a “little sinner.” He really didn’t understand the depth of God’s forgiveness. Both Simon and the woman had a debt, one they could not pay. They were both spiritually bankrupt (see verses 41-42) and in need of a Savior, someone to pay the debt.
Verse 48 is an astounding verse, especially to those in attendance at the feast. Look at the implications. “Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.'” It wasn’t just Jesus’ opinion; it was fact. He declared the woman forgiven, “laid aside–cancelled–remitted” (Harbuck). In that act He was declaring Himself God and those at the feast realized it. Listen, Jesus does not trivialize sin; it was sin that put Him on the cross. Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV).
When we think of little sins versus large sins, or think “that sin wasn’t so bad” we are not seeing what sin did to Jesus. When we trivialize sin we are demeaning the purpose of the cross. Inrig states that, “A society that discounts sin inevitably cheapens forgiveness.” William Barclay shows us the true character of Simon and of so many of us: “Simon was conscious of no need and therefore felt no love, and received no forgiveness. Simon’s impression of himself was that he was a good man in the sight of men and of God.” Foolish and self-centered. He did not hear the words in his heart that Jesus directed to the woman.
Let me close this little study of this parable with some thoughts from Gary Inrig regarding forgiveness:
1) Forgiveness is costly — Jesus was the sin-bearer; it cost Him His life, but through it “sins are finally and completely gone, totally obliterated by the work of Christ.”
2) Forgiveness is final — There is no such thing as partial or temporary forgiveness; when we are forgiven we stand absolutely clean before God.
3) Forgiveness is also free — it is received by faith; the value of Christ’s blood.
4) Forgiveness is public — it is not simply a private transaction between the soul and God; it is shown in our actions, our love.
——————————-
Look at the question posed by Jesus: “Do you see this woman?” (Luke 7:44). Apparently to Jesus’ thinking, he doesn’t. She was right in front of Simon. He sees not a woman but a sinner. Gary Inrig gives some insight, “Jesus sees not a sinner but a worshiper. He sees her present, not her past–her forgiveness, not her failure.” That should help us in our walk with the Lord, He sees our heart, our worship, our love. He then begins to list the things the woman did to show “that love is not just an emotion that is felt, it is also a life-changing event that cannot help but be revealed in deeds.” (Edward Starks)
“Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NKJV) I like the way Henry Harbuck translates this, “…she has shown to Me amazing love and tenderness…”. It is important to see that “this woman is not forgiven because she loves. Rather, her love is the evidence that she already has been forgiven” (Inrig). In this scenario we need to ask: If gratitude is a sign of forgiveness, of what is the lack of gratitude a sign? If I don’t have gratitude, am not thankful for the grace of God, of the love He has bestowed, what does it say about my relation to God? Inrig further states, “An unforgiven person can treat Jesus Christ with polite formality; a forgiven sinner cannot.”
What then, we must ask, was Simon’s condition? The great theologian John Owen says, “he who has slight thoughts of sin never has great thoughts of God.” This was Simon. He either thought of himself as not being a sinner, or only a “little sinner.” He really didn’t understand the depth of God’s forgiveness. Both Simon and the woman had a debt, one they could not pay. They were both spiritually bankrupt (see verses 41-42) and in need of a Savior, someone to pay the debt.
Verse 48 is an astounding verse, especially to those in attendance at the feast. Look at the implications. “Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.'” It wasn’t just Jesus’ opinion; it was fact. He declared the woman forgiven, “laid aside–cancelled–remitted” (Harbuck). In that act He was declaring Himself God and those at the feast realized it. Listen, Jesus does not trivialize sin; it was sin that put Him on the cross. Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV).
When we think of little sins versus large sins, or think “that sin wasn’t so bad” we are not seeing what sin did to Jesus. When we trivialize sin we are demeaning the purpose of the cross. Inrig states that, “A society that discounts sin inevitably cheapens forgiveness.” William Barclay shows us the true character of Simon and of so many of us: “Simon was conscious of no need and therefore felt no love, and received no forgiveness. Simon’s impression of himself was that he was a good man in the sight of men and of God.” Foolish and self-centered. He did not hear the words in his heart that Jesus directed to the woman.
Let me close this little study of this parable with some thoughts from Gary Inrig regarding forgiveness:
1) Forgiveness is costly — Jesus was the sin-bearer; it cost Him His life, but through it “sins are finally and completely gone, totally obliterated by the work of Christ.”
2) Forgiveness is final — There is no such thing as partial or temporary forgiveness; when we are forgiven we stand absolutely clean before God.
3) Forgiveness is also free — it is received by faith; the value of Christ’s blood.
4) Forgiveness is public — it is not simply a private transaction between the soul and God; it is shown in our actions, our love.