Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 18

For She Loved Much (Luke 7:37-50)

There was a woman who loved Jesus in an extraordinary way. She was bent in a lowly manner at the feet of Jesus whilst He was sitting to have a meal at the house of a Pharisee, washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with the hairs of her head and kissed His feet and anointed Him with the precious ointment that she brought. Luke’s gospel described her as “a sinner” (Luke 7:37). The expression of her love for Jesus was startling. It arrested the attention of those who saw her devotion to the Lord. 

Why was she weeping? Those were tears of grateful thanksgiving to the Lord. Jesus explained to His disciples who were keenly observing her, “47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” She found great peace in her heart, a great relief she felt, because the burdens of her many sins that has robbed her peace for a long time, have been taken away from her. The fetters of sin that binds and chokes her life have been broken when she first came to Jesus. She was now coming to Jesus to express her joy of sins forgiven. She did so with tears of joy – Psalm 30:5 (KJV) For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The psalmist in Psalm 30:2-4 expressed well the heart of this woman, “2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.” Her response was one of thanksgiving, “4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” In exchange for the filth of sin which she now loathed, Jesus has clothed her with the garment of righteousness. It is God who first reach out to us in love through the gospel and therefore a filial response of love is but our reasonable service. She did not feel it a lowly and despicable task to wait on the Lord in this humble way.

How can we understand the scene before us except the Lord would enlighten us! Jesus gave this clear illustration to help both the Pharisee who hosted our Lord and His disciple, Simon Peter. To the Pharisee, this woman was too sinful to be forgiven. But her expression of love revealed that there is none too sinful that Christ cannot save. Look how gloriously she was saved!

And to His disciples and us, it jolts all to consider how we have been loving the Lord, considering how He suffered the wrath of death and hell on our behalf.  May it jolt us to love Him more fervently by loving the people around us – Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matthew 25:40 cf. 44-50)

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 

This woman was gloriously saved when she, but touched, Jesus – John 1:4 (KJV) In him (Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men. Also, John 1:12-13 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

She beheld His glory when she but touched Him and was healed, body and soul – John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

As to the depth of her indebtedness toward Jesus, our Lord explained by this illustrative story –  40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.  And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

This woman, like all of us, have nothing to offer to pay our sins. She understood the depth of her depravity and corruption. As such, she was like the debtor who owed a hefty five hundred pence and have no hope of paying back.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

The Apostle Paul explained well this woman’s response for our understanding – Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

The Lord bless our devotion too. Amen.

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee