Luke 7:36-50
Much Forgiveness, Much Love
36 Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissing them and anointing them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—she’s a sinner!”
40 Jesus replied to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
He said, “Say it, teacher.”
41 “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Since they could not pay it back, he graciously forgave them both. So, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.”
“You have judged correctly,” he told him. 44 Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:36-50 CSB
Prayer: Jesus we thank you for what you have done and what you are still doing in our lives, interceding on our behalf even as we pray today. We thank you for humbling yourself by stepping down from Heaven into this sinful, broken world. Some of us may come to you like Simon the Pharisee and some come to you like the unnamed woman. We first and foremost thank you for receiving us both. If, in our hearts, we are more like the Pharisee we pray that you would break down the walls of our pride and place in our hearts a desperate need for you. If we approach you today like that of the woman we pray that you would see us, shower us grace and mercy, and forgive us. We pray that you would increase our faith so that as we go, we go in peace. Amen.