"How Much do you Love & Forgive? Luke 7:44-47 on this week's Word of Grace Devotional with Pastor Joe Marquez

​The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of March 27, 2017
How Much Do You Love and Forgive?
Luke 7:44-47, “Then 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.”
Beloved, in Luke 7, Jesus is invited to the house of a Pharisee to eat. As Jesus reclined to eat, a woman with an alabaster flask of ointment begins to anoint Jesus with this ointment and her tears. The Pharisee is aghast because this is a sinful woman and if Jesus were a prophet, He would know this and He would not allow her to do this.
Jesus, however, looks at the heart of this sinful woman and the heart of the Pharisee. Jesus then compares their hearts. The Pharisee never washed Jesus feet, as was customary- the woman washed Jesus feet with her tears. The Pharisee never kissed Jesus nor did he anoint Jesus’ head with oil. The woman kissed Jesus’ feet and anointed Him with a flask of very expensive ointment.
So, what were the differences between the woman and the Pharisee? The differences were love and forgiveness: Luke 7:47 says, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
The differences truly were one of humility verses self-righteousness. The Pharisee, in his self-righteousness could not see his own sin. The woman, in her humility, recognized her sin, her need for forgiveness, and her worship of the one who could forgive her sin and set her free.
She loved much and forgave much. The Pharisee loved little and forgave little. Beloved, do not allow your self-righteousness to lead you to love little and forgive little. Rather, humble yourself and allow yourself to love much and to forgive much. As one brother declared in a devotion once: “We all need a heavy dose of humility!” Amen!
Beloved, I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!
 
In Jesus’ Name-
Pastor Joe