PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
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Today, we are going to work through a great encounter between Jesus Christ and two groups of people who responded very differently to meeting with the Lord.
There is a lot of great stuff here (you can watch the sermon on this passage here), so let’s get into it by reading the first section:
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 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. 38 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.
(Luke 7:36-38 NIV11)
See the people involved:
1 – The Pharisee.
We know that his name is Simon and that he is the one who is hosting Jesus and his disciples for a big event in his home.
2 – The Woman.
We do not need to know all that she had done to earn a bad reputation in order to see that she was broken hearted by all that she carried with her.
Her response to being in the presence of Jesus was not scripted or planned. When she came into the presence of Jesus, her guilt and shame overwhelmed her and she burst into tears. This was not a dignified and tidy scene but a messy and real series of desperate reactions to the weight of this moment.
39 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.”
(Luke 7:39 NIV11)
This religious leader knew exactly who this woman was and why she had a bad reputation. He assumed that Jesus would agree with him if he knew anything about her. He also looked down on Jesus for not being as well-informed as he was.
- What does this man’s response to seeing this woman react to Jesus tell you about his heart toward the Lord or his heart toward people who were in need?
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 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?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
(Luke 7:41-43 NIV11)
Paid
In the parable, the two debtors owed very different amounts to the moneylender. But they were equal in their inability to pay the cost of their choices.
The moneylender had compassion on both of these debtors and forgave their debts.
Let me ask you, who really paid the debt associated with this act of grace and forgiveness?
The debtors did not pay for their bad decisions; the cost was paid by the moneylender. Forgiveness always comes with a cost, and in this case, we see that the one who forgives is compassionate and merciful in that forgiveness.
44 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
(Luke 7:44-47 NIV11)
Into the Parable
When Jesus asked Simon which of the two debtors would love the forgiver more, Simon placed himself and this woman into Jesus’ parable. He was the one who (from his perspective) owed the lesser amount. This meant that the woman, whose debt he assumed would be greater, would then be the one who would love the forgiver the most.
Jesus confirms this conclusion as he compares the hearts of the weeping woman and the judgmental religious leader. The one who was grateful to be welcomed into the presence of Jesus was the woman who did not feel worthy. Her acceptance by the Lord led her to an increase in love and appreciation for Jesus.
The self-righteous religious leader felt superior to this woman and even to Jesus in some ways as he hosted this grand party and sat back in judgment of those he deemed to be less than.
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 7:48-50 NIV11)
Simon wondered whether Jesus was even a prophet as he made his assumptions about the Lord. And here at the end of this teaching time, Jesus made it plain that not only was he a messenger speaking for God the Father, he was God in flesh, able to forgive sins as the one who would pay the price of forgiveness on the cross.
Today
As you prepare for your day, consider these two responses to being in the presence of the Lord.
- Which one resonates with your heart today?
- Are you grateful to be welcomed into the presence of God?
- Are you overwhelmed with joy over the gift of grace poured out over your sins by the one who died in your place?
Come before the Lord with an open and willing heart today. Let the Lord move in you as he sees fit. Be like this woman who did not allow the concerns of others to slow down her own real response of worship and praise to the Lord.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Worked at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
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