Anchor My Faith

Faith Evidenced by Commitment

Scripture: Luke 7:41-50

We ended the previous lesson with Jesus saying, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Jesus then begins to teach by saying, ^{Lk 7:41} “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

When Jesus says, “I have something to say to you,” we need to listen. Jesus tells Simon, the Pharisee, a story of a moneylender who had two debtors who owed different amounts; one owed 50 denarii and the other ten times as much. 50 denarii were equivalent to about two months’ wages and 500 denarii to about 20 months, or one year and 8 months’ wages. When the time came to repay their load, neither was able. As an expression of mercy, the moneylender cancelled the debt of both.

Considering the context of this dinner invitation, the woman was declared to be a sinner, but is Simon also guilty? Can we not connect the 500 denarii owed to the woman and the 50 denarii to Simon? If each was forgiven, would not the woman be the most grateful and have the greater love?

Simon thinks about this and answered, ^{Lk 7:43} “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” The lesser debt would be Simon’s lack of hospitality of not washing the feet of Jesus when he entered his house and his judgment of the woman. The larger debt was the sensual lifestyle of the woman. Simon answers the question correctly.

Jesus ^{Lk 7:44} “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. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”’

Jesus turns to the woman, but directing his comment to Simon, tells him what he didn’t do but what she did. Maybe the sins of Simon are few when compared to the sins of the woman, but both have sinned, just as you and I have sinned. Because of our sin, the debt we owe is our life. To be forgiven and be clothed with the righteousness of Christ and given eternal life, should cause us to love with a lifetime of dedication and service to God.

Jesus has brought shame on Simon for his lack of hospitality and now with his next statement, Jesus creates greater tension with the Jewish leaders. ^{Lk 7:48} “And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”’ Who but God can forgive sins? ^{Lk 7:49} “Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”’ They understand that only God can forgive sins, and by what Jesus just said, he is claiming to be God.

Jesus then closes this section of narrative with, ^{Lk 7:50} “And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’ It was not because of love that the woman was forgiven of her sins, but through her faith, which was evidenced in the way she honored Jesus in her act of washing his feet.

Prayer

Father, when I compare my devotion to Jesus with the woman in this lesson, I find I fall so far short. When I compare my willingness to suffer for the sake of the gospel with my brothers and sisters who live under persecution, I find I fall short there also. If the time comes and we must deny Jesus to not suffer, how much are we willing to bear? Would you; could you, give your life to remain faithful to Jesus if called upon to do so?