June 13, 2001
Reading
“For she loved much”
(47)
In this statement of Jesus He is expressing something from the human point of view. When we look at these words within their context this becomes apparent: “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.”
As far as God is concerned
forgiveness is forgiveness, no matter how many or how bad the sins are.
Everyone is a sinner and needs forgiveness, “For all have sinned and fall short
of the glory of God” (Rom:
From the human point of view we consider the flagrance of our sins and the number of them. Most of us can never be rightly accused of murder, adultery, robbery or any of the so-called “major” sins, yet we are guilty of envy, lust, anger, irritability, etc. The blood of Christ is sufficient to redeem us from the vilest sin as well as the most insignificant ones. Some, who are so deeply caught in the depths of sin have said, “God cannot save me for I am too far gone”! But we know that the “blood of Christ avails for all”.
It seems that the actions of the woman, extreme as they may have appeared to the Pharisee, was an indication to Jesus just how much she had sinned. Does it not appear that the worse our sins are when we come to Christ, the more we weep with remorse and regret? To such there is no holding back the floodgates when seeking the forgiveness of Jesus.
Does history not also record that those who have had much forgiven, so often love Him the most? They love Him to greater depths immediately when compared to those who needed little (in comparison) forgiven. To those of us in this category, it seems that we learn to love Him more as we live and walk with Him. Yes, we learn to love Him! The better we get to know Him and learn of His splendor and sovereignty, the more we become aware of how wretched we really are. To some it takes a long time with Christ before we come to the point when we can honestly cry with the Apostle, “O, wretched man that I am” (Rom: 7:24).
It was not until Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord that he cried out, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips” (Is: 6:5). He became aware of his personal rottenness because “my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts”.
When those who sat at the table with Jesus mumbled to each other, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”, Jesus ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace”. Do not be concerned about the murmuring criticism of these Pharisees, but go in peace knowing that your sins are forgiven. Salvation is a personal thing between God and the sinner. The heart of the woman cried out to God for forgiveness and she came to Him only as she knew how. Her attitude and intent was known by Jesus and He responded by granting her salvation.
This same salvation could have been granted to Simon, the Pharisee in whose home they were eating, or to the other invitees, but their heart and attitude was one of criticism and condemnation. The forgiveness of God is granted only to those who come to Him in sorrow for their sins with a sincere desire to turn from their wicked ways and love Him with all of their heart.