Reading Plan:
Luke 7


Our Thoughts:
The sun has begun its slow descent. The sky, an explosion of orange and purple clouds, is replaced by darkness. The moon and stars ever so slowly begin to light the sky. The hustle and bustle of the city have been traded in for a stillness that encompasses the streets. All that can be heard from house to house is quiet conversations around a dinner table. One of the local pastors, Simon, has invited a strange man who is new in town over to his house. Simon has heard rumors of what this man has done while he has been in town. There is talk all across the city of the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, the lepers healed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised, and good news proclaimed to the poor. As Simon and the man eat a meal, the news spreads quickly that this new man is at Simon’s house for dinner.

Boom! Simon’s front door is abruptly flung open. Standing in the door is a sinful woman. A woman with a bad reputation. A woman who is usually the town's topic of conversation. Standing in the door, she holds a bottle of perfume worth 12,000 dollars. As soon as she steps inside the door, she runs towards the table. Simon has no idea what is going on. Thoughts begin to swirl in his head. The next thing he knows, the woman is at the man’s feet weeping. Simon goes from confusion to anger. The man’s feet are drenched in tears. Simon’s anger is escalating with each passing second. Then, the woman begins to dry the man’s feet with her hair. Simon is about to explode. His face turns bright red. The woman takes the 12,000-dollar perfume and shatters the bottle. There is no turning back now for both Simon and the woman. The woman must use all of the perfume here and now. Simon, now furious, screams out. “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” Simon rips into both the man and the woman. The room goes dead silent for a moment.

Then in a calm and composed voice, the man— Jesus—answers, “Simon, I have something to tell you. Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon tries to understand what this ridiculous story has to do with the situation at hand. He gives a short answer, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” Jesus confirms that Simon is correct in his answer. Jesus goes on to say that it is the same with sin. The person who has been forgiven of much sin loves God much. The person that has been forgiven little loves little.

This scene from Luke 7:36-50 shows Jesus's willingness to forgive the sinner no matter the sin. As you read today’s text, thank Jesus that he has paid the price for our sins and offers us forgiveness no matter what we have done or who we are.


More Questions:
What sin do you need to ask the Father to forgive?
Who in your life do you need to forgive?

Prayer:
King of Kings, thank you for allowing us to spend time with you. Thank you that you are a God of forgiveness. Thank you for sending Jesus to die for us so that we can be forgiven. Father, show us our sins so we may ask for Your forgiveness. Help us to turn from that and turn to you. Lord, you know our hearts; give us the strength and love to forgive others. Amen.

Author: Cooper Herrington