Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Forgiven Much


Luke 7:47

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  Luke 7:47



In the context of the above passage, Jesus was eating with a Pharisee when a sinful woman heard of it. This woman came to Jesus weeping. She wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. She kissed His feet and anointed them from the alabaster flask of ointment which she brought with her. This was a broken woman over her sin. The Pharisee questioned Jesus’ judgment saying to himself, “if He were a prophet, he would know what kind of a woman she was, a sinner.” Jesus knowing his thoughts, answered him by telling a story of two debtors with debts which could not be repayed. One owed much more that the other yet both were forgiven of their debts. Jesus asked “which would love more, the one forgiven of little, or the one forgiven of a lot.” The Pharisee answered correctly in saying, “the one who owed more.”

The thing is each us who are saved has been forgiven of a massive debt which we cannot repay. Oftentimes people compare themselves to someone evil, like a serial killer saying, “I am a good person. There is not much to forgive, at least I have never killed anyone or robbed someone at gunpoint.” You or I may have never murdered anyone, but have we ever hated someone? If so, Jesus said that we are guilty of murder in the heart. Ever stolen something? I know I have. I remember a time many years ago when I needed a spare tire, so a friend and I stole one out of someone’s truck. It was just sitting there in the back of the truck, so we took it. The owner had to work a few hours to buy this; then we come along and stole it leaving him to have to work more hours to replace it. Does God look at my sin and compare it to the serial killer and say, “at least you did not do that, so everything is ok?” I think not. Actually I know not. For each and every one of us who are saved, our sin cost Jesus His life. He went to the cross to pay for it. Do we really appreciate what Jesus did for us? Or do we just take it for granted, like it is no big deal that we are forgiven? The thing is, the more thankful we are for what Jesus did for us, the more we love Him for it. The more we love Him, the more we love and respect His Word. The more we love and respect His Word, the more we are changed and want to glorify Him with our lives.

A Sinful Woman Forgiven


36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.". 
Luke 7:36-50 NKJV


14 comments:

  1. You're right, Ken. Only we humans *rate* our sins - and sometimes that blinds us to the fact that we have all fallen (way) short of the glory of God. The smallest sin still cost Jesus the cross.

    Thank goodness for His forgiveness. It covers it all. And for that, I am so grateful!!

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. Thank you Sharon for your input and amen! Jesus took care of all our sin.
      Blessings,
      Ken

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  2. Very good post, Ken...The only thing I will add, is that the more we appreciate what Jesus did, the more we will hate sin...even the idea of sin a so called little sin, will remind us of the suffering that our Lord went through for us.
    I must admit, the first time a minister told me I was a sinner, I got defensive and actually said that I did not rob a bank or kill anyone...I was 20 yrs. old. :)
    God bless you for your ministry, my brother. ~Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa and very good point that you made. "...the more we hate sin...
      Blessings,
      Ken

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  3. Hi Ken- I love this passage. I've sinned for sure. I am so grateful for Jesus' sacrifice to set me free. My guilt is changed to joy because of Him. : ) I am free.

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    1. Hi Karen, Thank you Jesus! Because of Him we are free. Thank you for your comments and God bless.
      Ken

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  4. Satan is always trying to remind us of our sins that God has forgiven. :( I am thankful we have an advocate in Jesus.

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    1. Hi Dee. It is so cool that Jesus cleansed us of all our sins. Thank you for your comments and God bless.
      Ken

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  5. Amen!!
    I love your honesty Ken and you are so right. Even the sin of lying is just as bad as murder. Jesus tells us if we hate then we have committed murder. How could we ever save ourselves? How could we, who are sinful, think that even the good we do is good enough. Even our very best effort is nothing but rags in the sight of our perfect and Holy God. We need Jesus. Period. Without Him we are nothing.

    Great word Ken, thanks!
    <><

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    1. Hi child of God. It is really sad to see people trying to work their way to heaven or think they are good enough to geton their own. You are so right, we NEED Jesus. Thank you for your input and God bless.
      Ken

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  6. The more we love and respect His Word, the more we are changed and want to glorify Him with our lives.

    ....and I pray I am changed more and more each and every day!

    I like this post Ken. The last couple of weeks I have been thinking a lot on past sin. I know God doesn't compare because one sin is just as bad as another. Thank you for sharing this.

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    1. amen, may each of us keep growing and being changed. Thank you for your comment and God bless,
      Ken

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  7. POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS BY STEVE FINNELL

    How do you suppose the story of Naaman being cured of leprosy might have been presented if it was told by contemporary theologians? What doctrinal positions might have they proclaimed?


    2 Kings 5:3 She said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his Leprosy."


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: The only requirement mentioned to have leprosy cured is to be present with the prophet. "PRESENCE ALONE" cures leprosy.


    2 Kings 5:10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean."


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: In the original Greek language "will be restored," actually means, already has been restored.


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Water cannot wash away leprosy. That would be nothing but works. Man can do nothing to be cleansed of leprosy. God does it all.


    2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, "Behold, I thought, 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.'


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman was correct. Just have the prophet say the sinners prayer and waver his hand and Naaaman's leprosy would have been cured. Explanation: washing seven times in the Jordan river was just an act of obedience, it had nothing to do with curing leprosy.


    2 Kings 5:14 So he went went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Namman dipped, poured or sprinkled himself seven times because his leprosy has already been cured.


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman's baptism was a spiritual baptism. There was no water in the river and water does not mean water anyway.


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman baptized himself in water seven times so he could join the local church.


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATION: Naaman's flesh was restored because he had faith in the God of the prophet Elisha. Faith alone washes away leprosy. Baptism in the dirty river Jordan was not essential to cleanse leprosy!


    POSSIBLE CONTEMPORARY EXPLANATION: The entire 5th chapter of second Kings has been mistranslated. You really cannot trust the Bible.


    IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR NAAMAN TO DIP (BAPTIZE) HIMSELF IN THE JORDAN RIVER SEVEN TIMES TO HAVE HIS LEPROSY WASHED AWAY!


    WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTIAN BAPTISM WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER TO BELIEVE GOD'S WORD WITHOUT TRYING TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE TRUTH THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO YOUR DOCTRINAL POSITIONS?


    HAVING A HONEST, PRAYERFUL, UNBIASED APPROACH IS ESSENTIAL TO UNDERSTANDING THE "WORD OF GOD."


    (All Scripture quotes from:NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)

    YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http//:steve-finnell.blogspot.com

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    1. So are you saying I must work to earn my salvation? For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works least anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph. 2:8-10. It is simple, if you believe and love God, you will obey. See John 14:23-24

      Delete

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