Luke 7:50- Saved by Faith

Saved by Faith

We know the story of the sinful woman who humbled herself and wash Jesus's feet with her tears and anointed his head with oil (read Luke 7:36-50). But, did you see the parable and the lesson Jesus taught to Simon while also correcting the thinking of the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were on their self-righteous pedestal again and were condemning Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch him. She was showing her humility by serving Jesus and the Pharisees took an action and applied their own meaning to it. In them doing this, Jesus began telling Simon (a different one than the disciples) a parable of a moneylender and two debtors. One debtor owed more than the other, but both had their debts forgiven by the moneylender. The debtor who owed more (10 times more) was far more thankful for being free of his debt. 

Jesus explains the parable by turning away from the woman and exposes Simon the Pharisee's disbelief that Jesus could forgive sins and that he was actually a prophet. Simon thought (in verse 39) that if Jesus were truly a prophet he would see how sinful the woman was that was touching his feet. Simon did none of the things that the woman did and they were in Simon's house. He saw her humility and said "he who is forgiven little, loves little." I understand that to mean when you are in debt a great deal (imagine $500,000) and that debt is forgiven, then you are more likely to be appreciative of the forgiveness of that debt than if it was just $5.

With our sins we must see that Christ can forgive us. He has the power and the ability. But, we must have the faith like this woman who knew she had done wrong and wanted to be forgiven. Jesus tells her in verse 50 that her faith has saved her and for her to "go in peace." When we have been forgiven, there is a whole lot more peace in life. Go seek Christ for forgiveness.

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