Forgiven For Everything

[Jesus said,] “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Luke 7:47-48

HOW MANY SINS do you think you’ve committed in your lifetime? How about this past year? How about recently?

The woman who came to Jesus was a known prostitute, and presumably she had committed many sexual sins. Perhaps she had also sinned in other ways—stealing, lying, cheating, or cursing. As a result, when she came to Jesus, she knew how badly she needed his love and forgiveness.

Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, probably thought he was pretty good compared to her. In fact, he felt a little outraged that Jesus submitted to this woman’s ministrations. But was he really that different from her? Hadn’t he committed many sins too, perhaps more than she had, if the truth were told? How about pride, hypocrisy, and greed?

In reality, all of us have committed sins, any of which means we deserve death. It’s just our faulty perception that makes us think we’re better than others. We’re not. When we realize that, we can claim the great promise of God’s total forgiveness. And also rejoice in it like that woman so long ago.