A Sinful Woman Forgiven

Loving well is what God has called us to do.

The world is full of people

craving for grace and love.

Are we loving graciously?

~*~*~

{Luke 7:36~50} speaks of a sinful woman forgiven.

In verse 36~ Jesus was invited to a meal

and it was in the home of a Pharisee, Simon.

Jesus tells us in Revelation 3:20

that if we hear His voice and allow Him in,

He will sup with us.

Jesus thought it was important 

that we break bread together.

Often we see in God's Word

where fellowship was centered around a meal.

Don't you find it comforting

to visit and fellowship with others

around the table with a meal?

~*~*~

In verses {36~38} It was customary in that day

for outsiders to hover around during banquets

so they could watch the "important people"

and hear the conversation.

Since everything was open they could

enter the banquet hall and speak to a guest.

That would explain how the woman

was able to reach Jesus.

Jewish Rabbis did not speak

to women in public,

nor did they eat with them in public.

A woman of this type would not be welcomed

in the house of  Simon the Pharisee.

~*~*~

This woman was known for her sin.

I think this woman was a hurting woman.

You know people must have talked about her.

She likely built walls around her heart.

You know how people can be...

Hurtful with their words~

Hurtful with their actions~

I'm sure being looked upon as a woman

of ill repute would cause her to become hard hearted.

~*~*~

Oh Lord Jesus, may grace be upon our lips

as we speak to others,

may grace be in our actions and lives

as You have called us to love graciously

in a world where there are many hurting people.

Something drew this woman into this banquet

so she could know something about this Jesus.

Something must have told her

that Jesus was trustworthy.

Something Jesus said or did

began to break down the walls of her heart.

~*~*~

The woman admitted she was a sinner

and gave evidence that she was

a repentant sinner.

Her tears~ her humble attitude~ and her expensive gift~

all spoke of her changed heart.

~*~*~

Simon, on the other hand, 

was a critical host verses {39~43}

Simon got his feathers all ruffled up.

He judges Jesus for responding 

to this "sinful" woman. 

YIKES!!

Simon's  real problem was

blindness; he could not see himself,

the woman, or the Lord, his honored guest.

It was easy for him to say

"she is a sinner!"

but impossible for him to say,

"I am also sinner!"

How easy it is to point the finger!

It is easy for any of us to see the wrong in others,

but over look what is in our own hearts.

In verses {40~47} Jesus reveals Simon's deeds.

Everything that Simon neglected to do,

{ wash Jesus' feet~gave Him no kiss~ and did not anoint His head with oil}

the woman did~and she did it from her heart.

The parable does not deal with the amount of sin

in a persons life but the awareness 

of that sin in his heart.

~*~*~

Forgiveness is a gift of God's grace; 

the debt was paid in full by Jesus Christ.

{Ephesians 1:7 & 1Peter 1:18&19}

Verses {48~50} "

And Jesus said unto her, thy sins are forgiven,

 thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

This woman was not saved by her tears and her gift.

Jesus made it clear that it was her faith

alone that saved her.

No amount of good works 

can pay for our salvation.

{Titus 3:4~7}

~*~*~

Grace is love that pays a price,

and that price was the death of the 

Son of God on the cross.

~*~*~

The woman knew that her sins were forgiven

because Jesus told her so.

For us today~it is God's Word that tells

us we have been forgiven.

I love what {Hebrews 8:12}

promises us,

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,

and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

Such a beautiful promise from the Savior.

~*~*~

Verse {47} "Wherefore I say unto thee,

her sins, which were many, are forgiven;

for she loved much;

but to whom little is forgiven,

the same loveth little."

~*~*~

Not only are we forgiven,

but we should be going out and loving graciously on others

where we are surrounded with many hurting people.

"Those who have been forgiven much, love much."

People all around us are looking for grace and love.

Do we look at them and see their sin?

Or will we look upon them

seeing that they need love,

and that they need it from a gracious heart. ? 

~*~*~

Our Precious Heavenly Father.

May we not look upon others with pointed fingers,

but see our own sinful hearts before You,

 our Holy and Righteous God.

Cause us to love well, seasoned with grace

as You have called us to do.

Amen.

~Be Lovely~

Debbie