Love & Forgiveness

Sometimes in the Bible we find connections or relationships, not

between people, but between behaviors, feelings and emotions. The

relationship between love and forgiveness in the story of Jesus being

invited to eat at a Pharisee’s home is a wonderful example of one of these connections.

“One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his

feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii ($25,000), and the other fifty ($2,500). When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both.

Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)

This is an incredible story of love and forgiveness. While Simon the Pharisee was mentally judging Jesus for allowing a sinful woman to minister to him, Jesus would use the event to teach us how love and forgiveness are intricately connected.

First, Jesus provides an example of “debt” forgiveness, and allows Simon to conclude on his own that forgiveness of a greater debt results in a greater love towards a creditor, than does forgiveness of a lessor debt. Then Jesus forgives the woman’s sins (we’re told she was a sinner needing great forgiveness), and relates her act of ministering to Himself as a demonstration of great love.

Here’s His statement: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven – for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Our sin nature (and our subsequent choices to do wrong) isn’t some

small, insignificant issue. From God’s vantage point, it’s a big problem, separating us from Him both now and eternally. To solve this, we need complete forgiveness. Fortunately, God’s love for us is great enough that He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our great sin (past, present and future). However, if we erroneously conclude that we only need a “little forgiveness,” because “I’m just not that much of a sinner,” our love (as well as our need) for God will also be minimized.

This kind of thinking will likely keep a person from turning to Christ for salvation. It also introduces serious challenges in living a secular life, and an eternity separated from God.

However, on the other end of the spectrum is God’s great love, offering all of mankind great forgiveness. When we accept this great forgiveness, we in turn will love God (Christ) greatly.

In this story, the woman saw herself as needing great forgiveness, no doubt due to her realization of her great sinful condition. Her behavior was a demonstration of great love (washing and wiping Jesus’s feet with her tears and hair, and anointing his feet with oil).

Simon, on the other hand, saw himself as not needing forgiveness, or at least not great forgiveness. This story was easy for Simon to follow, because Pharisees certainly don’t see themselves as great sinners, or for that matter, sinners at all.

How we perceive our own condition will determine whether or not we feel like we need to be forgiven. Are you a sinner? No? Then in your mind there’s no need for a savior or forgiveness, and the result will be little or no love for God. And if you are a sinner? How much of a sinner; a great sinner? Then you need great forgiveness, and the result will be great love for God.

Another way to think about this is,

salvation is for the lost. Jesus didn’t come to seek and to save that which was already found, did He?

Our acceptance of God’s love and forgiveness will set limits or capacities on our love for Him, as well as on our forgiveness and love for others.

Think about it this way: God greatly loves all mankind. Through Christ, God offers great (total) forgiveness for all. If we perceive ourselves to have great sin and great need of forgiveness (like the

woman in the story), we will likely accept God’s gift of salvation, resulting in great love for Him. God says He’ll give us a new heart, with a great capacity for love, and the ability for great forgiveness towards ourselves and others.

However, if we perceive ourselves to have little or no sin and little or no need of forgiveness, we will likely reject God’s gift of salvation, resulting in little or no love for Him. We’ll remain lost in our sins, without a new heart or a reborn spirit, having limited capacity for

love, and limited forgiveness towards ourselves and others.

Self-forgiveness can be very difficult – even impossible, apart from the love and forgiveness of our Creator, and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. No one knows us better than He does, which means He knows every decision we make, good or bad, wise or

foolish. The Bible tells us that we will pay for the choices we make: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8)

The Scriptures repeatedly say God is a God of mercy, willing to wait for us to realize our true nature and flawed condition. He will give us many opportunities, and allow us to experience trouble, loss and even

pain in the hope that we will conclude, on our own, our true condition and need for His great forgiveness.

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to realize that before God, I am a great sinner in need of great forgiveness. If I have already put my faith in Christ and received Your forgiveness, never let me forget that I am

obligated to forgive others, as well as myself, for choices and behaviors that are not pleasing to You. Holy Spirit, I yield my body, soul and spirit to You, and ask that You continue to mold me into a Christ-like example of God’s forgiveness and love. In Jesus’s

precious Name, Amen.