A Verse
Luke 7:36-50
When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“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 replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
A Comment
Today is Holy Wednesday, on which many Christian traditions remember Judas’ betrayal of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. What is less known among Protestant Christians is that there is also a Christian tradition of remembering the Parable of the Two Debtors on Holy Wednesday as well. We have just read Luke’s account of this parable above.
In the parable of the two debtors, Jesus teaches us a lesson about forgiveness. The woman who came into Simon the Pharisee’s house and washed Jesus feet with her tears, and dried his feet with her hair, and then anointed him with expensive oil, was a known sinner in the area. Based upon Jesus’ interaction with her and the parable that he tells, this known sinner, this woman who was anointing Jesus’ feet, had either been forgiven by Jesus or knew that she could be forgiven by Jesus. There was no expense that she was spare to demonstrate her love for him.
To those who had not received Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, the woman’s actions seemed foolish. Why would anyone waste such valuable oil on someone’s feet? Furthermore, why would Jesus dare to be associated with such a woman?
These are the types of questions and objections that deceived people ask when it comes to Jesus. They are deceived and do not realize the infinite value of forgiveness offered to sinners in Jesus Christ. They cannot fathom why anyone would humble themselves as this woman did in the pharisee’s home. But Jesus reveals the reason why in his parable. It is because they do not perceive the value of what they have been offered in forgiveness.
The woman had been forgiven much. Therefore, she worshipped and sacrificed much to bring honor to Jesus. Others, however, either did not believe that they needed forgiveness or they thought that they only needed a little forgiveness. Thus, they did not bring Jesus the worship and sacrifice that he was due.
As we think about the parable of the two debtors and remember Judas’ betrayal of Jesus on this Holy Wednesday of Passion week, we encounter a striking difference between the two sinners. With the first sinner, she would spare nothing to worship Jesus. He had forgiven her of so much. In contrast, Judas betrayed Jesus for a mere 30 pieces of silver. Such a betrayal was satanic (Luke 22:3). How could anyone forfeit and ignore the gift of forgiveness that Jesus offered to all to gain some fleeting thing from the world?
This morning, I want you to consider the two responses to Jesus. The first being the response of the woman who had been forgiven much. The second being the response of Judas who refused to see what Jesus was offering and instead betrayed him. Take time to meditate on this comparison. Think about how much you have been forgiven by Jesus. How does your response to what he has done for you reflect his worth? How are you treasuring Jesus in your response to what he has accomplished for you?
A Prayer
Would you pray with me?
A Blessing
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
How Are You Treasuring Jesus?