“Repent And Forgive For You Too Are Forgiven”

Luke 7:36 – 40 ³⁶One of the Pharisees asked [Jesus] to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷And 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, ³⁸and 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. ³⁹Now 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.” ⁴⁰And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

          We are all like this Pharisee, though we do not think of ourselves in that way.  Who can say that they do not look at other people’s lives and judge them without examining themselves and seeing their own sins? It is easy to see other people’s faults. It is not as easy to see our own faults nor do we want to always see them.  After all we were raised in the church, and we attend every Sunday how many faults could we have?  When we are angered at someone or feel threatened by someone we almost immediately look at the other person’s faults to justify our anger, very seldom do we examine ourselves to see our fault that helped in creating the situation at hand.  We are all like this Pharisee because we do not want others pointing out our faults.

          Jesus listens to this Pharisee’s thoughts as this person is judging the women in tears.  It might not be as hard for Jesus to read this particular Pharisee as his body language probably gives evidence to his thoughts.  Actions do speak louder than words.  However, Jesus knew what this Pharisee was thinking.  It almost makes you wonder, why Jesus didn’t say to this Pharisee I not only know what this woman is, but I also know what you are too.  But, Jesus tells this Pharisee a parable instead.

Luke 7:41 – 43 ⁴¹“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴²When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

          The real question Jesus is asking the Pharisee, do you understand the gospel of your Lord?  We can sit and judge as to who is going to heaven and who is not, but the real fact in the gospel is who is compelled to repent and realize their forgiveness from God?  The other part of this reality is whose self-righteousness is a stumbling block that keeps them from being compelled to repent and receive God’s forgiveness?  As it is not that all Pharisees were self-righteous, it also is not that all churchgoers repent, or are not like this particular Pharisee.

          When we believe in heaven and hell and truthfully examine ourselves, and we become like this woman who wiped the tears of her sorrows off from the feet of the one who can save her.  It’s not about who is guilty and who is not; we are all as guilty as the woman crying on Jesus’ feet and the Pharisee that is judging her.

          Again, when we believe in our Lord we also believe we are compelled to examine ourselves and then compelled to repent like this woman who saw her sin and through tears repented at the feet of our Lord.  She did not do it through law or works but through the compelling gospel knowing our Lord truly forgives.

Luke 7:44 – 50 ⁴⁴Then 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. ⁴⁵You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

          Jesus sees true faith in the tears of this woman, because these tears believed that He, Jesus Christ came to save us from our worst enemy.  Our worst enemy is not just Satan as much as it is our own sinful nature that even tries to hide itself from our own eyes and heart.  But through tears of repentance we can also have tears of joy because our Lord Jesus Christ “does” forgive us.  Jesus Christ even gave up His life as a man and as a loving God to pay for our sins and assure that forgiveness into eternity.  Then Rejoice and have joy in your heart for Jesus Christ did all this out of the Father’s and His own love for all.  Amen.

Written by: Pastor Curtis A. May

Let us go forth in the Peace of our Lord and Serve the Lord who loved us first.