Forgiveness and an Alabaster Jar

Luke 7:36-50

One of the common attacks levied against Jesus by the Pharisees is that he spent his time eating with sinners. Table fellowship and social interaction with those who were sinners was frowned upon and physical contact with sinners was considered unlawful. Thus when Jesus is dining at a Pharisees house and a sinful woman joins them and washes his feet with her tears and alabaster ointment, the Pharisee's response is to judge Jesus. While the Pharisee might be technically right about Jewish law, he misses the deeper power of forgiveness. Jesus responds, as he often does when attacked, with a parable:

A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?

Luke 7:41-42

Jesus uses the parable to make the case that those who receive more forgiveness will be more devoted to God because they are more grateful. Conversely, those who believe they do not need forgiveness and mercy from God will not be devoted to God. Jesus forgives the sinful woman who the Pharisees deem as unworthy. They were ready to write her off, but because of the forgiveness she receives, the sinful woman has been transformed into a devoted follower of God. Jesus then said to the Pharisees: "I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." (Luke 7:47)

When believe we do not need God in our life we are much more likely to treat others harshly.  When we have not understood the true meaning of grace and forgiveness in a personal way, we cannot understand how much God really loves us. But when we have sinned and fallen short, when we have hurt others, lied, cheated, envied, lusted, oppressed others and not stood up for those being oppressed, we realize how powerful the forgiveness of God really is. Jesus did not come for the healthy he came for the sick, he came that those who were lost would find their way and their worth in him, that those who were broken could receive healing and wholeness. The sinful woman understood this and she lived her life forever transformed, forever grateful, and forever appreciating the love she was given.

Do you understand God's love or is it only an abstract idea?