In a Pit or on a Pedestal?
"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." Luke 7:47
I'm reviewing a study I did on Luke a couple of years ago, and today I was in Luke 7:36-50, when Jesus was anointed at the Pharisee's house. Before I journaled, I read the scripture a few times, each time focusing on the perspective of a different person in the story. It gave me a rounder, clearer picture of Jesus and how he ministered to these broken people, as well as yet another lesson on humility. (You might want to review that scripture before continuing.)
The Woman...humbled herself. Had genuine sorrow for her sins. Sacrificed beyond her means. Did all of this out of love, not obligation or to get something from Jesus. Jesus forgave her sins because of the faith she demonstrated with love. He also honored her among the men who were judging her.
The Pharisee...invited Jesus to dinner, along with other guests. Was it to test Jesus? Was it to learn more about Him? We can't know for sure, but he did not show Jesus common manners afforded guests. This, along with his judgment of the woman indicates his arrogance. He didn't honor Jesus as a guest, let alone recognize who he was. Interestingly he addresses Jesus as "teacher" - but considering all of the above, it's either sarcastic or ironic. And we wouldn't want to overlook the fact that the Pharisee thought his judgment of the woman in his mind, but Jesus responded to his heart.
Jesus...surely, had known the Pharisee's heart when He accepted the dinner invitation. I have to think he was more comfortable eating with "tax collectors and sinners," than with this crowd. As I put myself in his place, I believe that as the woman wept and wiped his feet with her hair, he was moved. Moved by her humility, her love, possibly even moved knowing that she was preparing him for burial. Then, to "hear" the Pharisees' thoughts about her, it's superhuman that he didn't show anger in her defense, but instead told a story to teach the Pharisee and company, a thing or two.
The Parable...I understand the moral to the story is that those who understand the level of forgiveness they've received, love more than those who think they need little forgiveness. The debts owed in the parable were finite, so they could be compared to each other (as we humans do). However, we are equivalent to one another, in our debt to Christ. Regardless of our compared levels of sin (which do not exist to him, but in our minds), He offers each of us LIFE instead of DEATH. One cannot deserve more death than another. We all deserve death. But for the purpose of teaching this group, Jesus told a story that compared debts of different amounts. I imagine he was meeting them where they were, comparing the sinfulness of the woman to their own righteousness. I'm most interested in the verse which says, "her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." He changed the equation -
She loved much --> so her many sins were forgiven; He was forgiven little --> So he loved little.
Her love was first. He was forgiven little, so he loved little.
Jesus addresses them as if they needed little forgiveness, even though they needed as much forgiveness as the woman did. If he confronted their true state, they would become defensive and miss any teaching at all. It was profoundly generous of Jesus to teach people who didn't want to be taught by him, or even think he had anything to teach them, in a way that they could take away at least a morsel of his wisdom.
What this scripture teaches me:
- Jesus recognizes and rewards genuine love, humility and faith.
- Jesus does this regardless of how far in the pit a person is.
- Jesus will honor and defend us to those who judge us.
- Jesus is willing to teach those who don't think they need teaching, who are deceived into thinking they are wise and righteous. And he still does that with love and kindness, meeting them where they are.
- Because of this and so much more, my love for Jesus can and should be authentic, based on who he is. My love for him should be my first instinct and my top priority.
- My assumption of the amount of mercy I need from Jesus, affects the way I love. Lack of humility will hinder love.
May we all seek Him, whether we are in the pit, or on top of a self-built pedestal. He will meet us where we are, make us worthy, and teach us to be more like Him. He will prune the deception and distractions from our lives. He is patient beyond measure, He is generous and kind. He loves us more than we can grasp. Lord, make me more like You.
I'm reviewing a study I did on Luke a couple of years ago, and today I was in Luke 7:36-50, when Jesus was anointed at the Pharisee's house. Before I journaled, I read the scripture a few times, each time focusing on the perspective of a different person in the story. It gave me a rounder, clearer picture of Jesus and how he ministered to these broken people, as well as yet another lesson on humility. (You might want to review that scripture before continuing.)
The Woman...humbled herself. Had genuine sorrow for her sins. Sacrificed beyond her means. Did all of this out of love, not obligation or to get something from Jesus. Jesus forgave her sins because of the faith she demonstrated with love. He also honored her among the men who were judging her.
The Pharisee...invited Jesus to dinner, along with other guests. Was it to test Jesus? Was it to learn more about Him? We can't know for sure, but he did not show Jesus common manners afforded guests. This, along with his judgment of the woman indicates his arrogance. He didn't honor Jesus as a guest, let alone recognize who he was. Interestingly he addresses Jesus as "teacher" - but considering all of the above, it's either sarcastic or ironic. And we wouldn't want to overlook the fact that the Pharisee thought his judgment of the woman in his mind, but Jesus responded to his heart.
Jesus...surely, had known the Pharisee's heart when He accepted the dinner invitation. I have to think he was more comfortable eating with "tax collectors and sinners," than with this crowd. As I put myself in his place, I believe that as the woman wept and wiped his feet with her hair, he was moved. Moved by her humility, her love, possibly even moved knowing that she was preparing him for burial. Then, to "hear" the Pharisees' thoughts about her, it's superhuman that he didn't show anger in her defense, but instead told a story to teach the Pharisee and company, a thing or two.
The Parable...I understand the moral to the story is that those who understand the level of forgiveness they've received, love more than those who think they need little forgiveness. The debts owed in the parable were finite, so they could be compared to each other (as we humans do). However, we are equivalent to one another, in our debt to Christ. Regardless of our compared levels of sin (which do not exist to him, but in our minds), He offers each of us LIFE instead of DEATH. One cannot deserve more death than another. We all deserve death. But for the purpose of teaching this group, Jesus told a story that compared debts of different amounts. I imagine he was meeting them where they were, comparing the sinfulness of the woman to their own righteousness. I'm most interested in the verse which says, "her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." He changed the equation -
She loved much --> so her many sins were forgiven; He was forgiven little --> So he loved little.
Her love was first. He was forgiven little, so he loved little.
Jesus addresses them as if they needed little forgiveness, even though they needed as much forgiveness as the woman did. If he confronted their true state, they would become defensive and miss any teaching at all. It was profoundly generous of Jesus to teach people who didn't want to be taught by him, or even think he had anything to teach them, in a way that they could take away at least a morsel of his wisdom.
What this scripture teaches me:
- Jesus recognizes and rewards genuine love, humility and faith.
- Jesus does this regardless of how far in the pit a person is.
- Jesus will honor and defend us to those who judge us.
- Jesus is willing to teach those who don't think they need teaching, who are deceived into thinking they are wise and righteous. And he still does that with love and kindness, meeting them where they are.
- Because of this and so much more, my love for Jesus can and should be authentic, based on who he is. My love for him should be my first instinct and my top priority.
- My assumption of the amount of mercy I need from Jesus, affects the way I love. Lack of humility will hinder love.
May we all seek Him, whether we are in the pit, or on top of a self-built pedestal. He will meet us where we are, make us worthy, and teach us to be more like Him. He will prune the deception and distractions from our lives. He is patient beyond measure, He is generous and kind. He loves us more than we can grasp. Lord, make me more like You.
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| Photo by Utsav Shahon Unsplash |
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