Thursday, January 27, 2022

Getting to Know Jesus #27

We left off our study yesterday in Luke 7, with Jesus having dinner in the home of a Pharisee. The man was thinking judgmental thoughts both about Jesus, and this woman of ill repute who was anointing and Kissing Jesus' feet. Jesus had gotten permission to speak and tell this story:
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 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. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Since the Pharisee was bent on comparing himself to others, Jesus plays that game. As a host he was a total fail: he did not have Jesus' feet washed or His head anointed, while this woman went overboard. This woman had been willing to humbly show that she was a repentant sinner; the Pharisee was not. As a result of her faith, proven by her actions, she would be forgiven. Since the Pharisee did not, he would not. One final comparison we could make is that Jesus had the power to judge and to forgive; the Pharisee did not, even though he lived like he did.  The woman got what she came for: peace with God; the Pharisee would not. 

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