Accepting Forgiveness

What is it worth to you to be forgiven? Have you experienced a relationship that somehow by some misdeed you have broken and have no way of restoring? You would know the value of forgiveness.

Luke 7:36-50 gives us a personal encounter, then a parable, then the application. The setting is the home of a Pharisee who has invited Jesus into his home for a meal. The text explains the customs involved,

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.¹ 

You would think the Pharisee would be grateful for this woman ‘washing’ the feet of Jesus but he did what too many of us would do and found fault with the whole thing.

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.” ²

Not only does the Pharisee disdain the woman but he also finds fault with Jesus for not being as ‘holy’ as himself. Jesus takes the tender way to put this act into context by using a simple parable for perspective.

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ³ 

With the simplicity of the judgment before them, Jesus asks Simon the Pharisee to judge the truth of the parable.

Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt.” ⁴

How often does the LORD present His values to us and lets us judge ourselves for our need to change? Not only does Jesus let Simon make the judgment and confirm it but then Jesus talks to the woman. When Simon degraded her act of love for God, she undoubtedly was embarrassed by this religious leaders condemning attitude so Jesus resolves her shame.

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.” ⁵ 

Simon the self-righteous Pharisee, had not done any of the humble acts toward Jesus which the woman did. She, acting in faith toward who Jesus is, had humbled herself and served Him. She was the one who Jesus recognized with forgiveness, no matter Simon’s judgments against her. Now, that was a problem for the other religious elite dining with Simon and Jesus for they did not see forgiveness as related to faith in Jesus. They also did not see the need of forgiveness for themselves. But Jesus acknowledged faith in the woman not evident in the others:

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.” ⁶

How willing are we to be humble enough to receive by faith the LORD’s forgiveness?