He/She (We?) who loves much....

Luke 7:36-50(NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible (link available on links page)

³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Parable of Two Debtors

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” ⁴¹ “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” ⁴⁴ 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. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. ⁴⁷ For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

As I read today's text I can't help but wonder what Simon, the Pharisee's real motive was in inviting Jesus to dine with him. Was he just wanting to have the most popular man in town over for dinner? Was he hoping to learn something about Jesus that he could use against him? To some extent his words and reaction reveal his heart when he says:  “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”      We are never really told what motivated Simon, but it seems clear that he didn't really know or believe who Jesus was.

We also are not really told why Jesus accepted the invitation. Jesus normally didn't like to associate with the religious elite. He preferred to interact with the common people, something He was often critcized for. Did Jesus know, through His times of prayer or by the Holy Spirit's revelation that this teaching and salvation opportunity would happen? Jesus always seemed prepared to say the right thing in every situation. He was never caught off guard. We too have been given a promise that the Holy Spirit will help us to know what to say.  

Matthew 10:16-20 says:    “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; ¹⁸ and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Jesus says that what we say is a testimony to them and we can be assured that if we will yield to the Holy Spirit, He will give us the proper words to say for the time.  Jesus did spend a tremendous amount of time in prayer and fellowship with the Father and He walked in fellowship with the Father and the Spirit. Jesus said He only did what He saw the Father doing.(John 5:19)  Amos 3:7 says:   Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.   God wants us to know His will and His plans. He wants us to join Him in the work He has for each day. We need to take time and make time to listen and to yield. How often might we miss opportunities, devine appointments, that the Lord has arranged for us and for others, because we are not listening and yielding?

There is one person in this account whose motive for coming is clear. The woman, who is never named in this account, had clear motives and intentions.       there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.       When she learned that He was there she went. This woman was certainly aware of her standing in the community. She knew she was judged and condemned by the religious leaders. Yet their judgment, their condemnation and criticizism was not enough to change her. Jesus though was different. There was something about Jesus that made her want to turn from her sin. There is something about being in the presence of holiness and righteousness that changes us. In Psalm 51 the psalmist says:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;
According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
And cleanse me from my sin.
³ For I know my transgressions,
And my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against You, You only, I have sinned
And done what is evil in Your sight,
So that You are justified when You speak
And blameless when You judge.