Forgiven Sin and Love

April 10

In Luke 7:41–43, Jesus was in the home of a Pharisee. Simon, the Pharisee, burned with contempt when a woman, known to be a “sinner”, poured very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet after washing them with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Simon thought to himself that if Jesus were a true prophet, He would have known of this woman’s background and instantly rejected her. (Note: Though somewhat similar, this is a different story than the anointing at Bethany in John 12.)

Now, Dr. Luke doesn’t tell us much about this woman. From what he does say, however, the scholarly consensus concludes that this woman was the town harlot. Based on that information, it’s no reach to further conclude that this expensive perfume was purchased with money she’d earned from her “trade.” One might understand Simon’s disgust then by this woman and her behavior in his home with his guest.

As He often did, though, Jesus recognized the Holy Spirit crafting a teachable moment. So, the Master Carpenter went to work, laying out a parable that ended with a very pointed question. Suppose that two servants owed their master a huge debt, He began. One of the servants owed the master about two months’ wages; the other owed around eighteen months’ wages. Jesus then asked, “If both servants were forgiven their debt, which one would love the master more?”

One can almost hear Simon being mentally dragged to Jesus’ point as he answered “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” I suppose? Really?

Jesus then turned to the woman and asked Simon, “Do you see this woman?” See her? Of course he saw her. He was disgusted by her! But Jesus used a special word here for “see.” The Greek verb blepo doesn’t mean to merely see something/someone physically. It means to behold, beware, or observe in such a way that one also begins to perceive something mentally or spiritually. It’s seeing with our “mind’s eye.” But what was it Jesus wanted Simon to see?

The Lord began recounting to Simon that, upon entering his home, this Pharisee had not provided Him—the guest—with the most basic, customary service of the day: Washing the guest’s feet. The woman, however, had virtually bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and toweled them off with her hair. Simon had also given Jesus no kiss on His cheeks, another well-established custom which was a sign of welcome. The woman, though, had showered Jesus’ feet with kisses.

Finally, Jesus noted that Simon had not anointed His head with oil—the traditional show of honor. Simon had literally failed in every possible form of social grace. Like his heart, he had behaved coldly.

Since His arrival, the most humble service, warmest welcome, and highest honor bestowed upon the Master of All had come from a woman of the red light district. But it wasn’t Simon’s lack of hospitality that Jesus wanted Simon to see. This Pharisee had been so blinded by his own self-righteousness and contempt that he’d not only failed to welcome a guest into his home, he had missed the opportunity to welcome the Master into his heart.

The woman, however, had not failed. From the beginning, she had humbled herself, repented with tears, used her own “glory”—her hair—to wipe Jesus’ feet, and given her Master His rightful place of honor—upon the throne of her heart. She had loved much, and now she was going away forgiven of much—while Simon and the other guests were left to consider their ways.

Application

Many years ago, I heard some tremendous salvation testimonies from some once rebellious people. Drug addicts, drunkards, sexually immoral people… I sat listening as all of these less-than-model citizens shared how they were graciously saved. These people had been radically saved and transformed by the Gospel! As a result, they passionately loved Jesus like that town harlot, and that love could be seen on all of their faces from a mile away.

Then, there was me.

I grew up in church and can’t remember a time when our family wasn’t actively attending Sunday School and church services. Except for a few small indiscretions, I was one of the “good kids.” Admittedly, I occasionally wondered if I should go out and commit some heinous sin, so that I would have a “better” testimony and love Jesus more than I did. Of course, this was not a wise idea by any stretch of the imagination.

But what I can also tell you is that, the more time I have spent reading and studying God’s Word, meditating on its truths, and reading deep books written by very godly people, I have learned this: I am no better than the “worst of sinners.” I am a sinner. (Romans 3:23) My sin put Jesus on the cross as much as the worst of the worst in history.

Because of my sin, I also deserve the eternal death sentence. (Romans 6:23) I am cut from the very same cloth worn by every other lost, sinful, and needy soul who ever walked the earth. I am exactly what I beheld that fateful night at church and exactly what Simon beheld that fateful day, yet failed to recognize.

Reformer Jonathan Edwards rightly pointed out that all of us bring nothing to salvation—except our sin which made salvation necessary. Grace is unearned favor. If I or you or anyone else could earn God’s favor, then His salvation would be a wage—not a gift!

“There, but for the grace of God go I,” goes the old saying. In other words, it is only because the very hand of God restrained me that I did not go down the same path as those forgiven sinners I saw that night. In fact, I must confess with Paul, “I am the worst of sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

I have been forgiven just as much, just as deeply as any other person who ever received the gift of eternal life, and for that I am eternally indebted to the One who paid a debt He did not owe.

He paid a debt He did not owe,
I owed a debt I could not pay,
I needed someone to wash my sins away;
And now I sing a brand new song,
“Amazing Grace,”
Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.
~ Anonymous

© Copyright 2026 Craig Beaman