Greater Sins

I love God's Word! I love reading it first thing in the morning. I love learning even more about it from commentaries. I love the life application and even deeper meanings I learn from beloved pastors and teachers. I even love that prick of conviction from the Holy Spirit as the Word is read.

That happened this morning.

My eyes were opened to the truth of scripture as I had never considered before.

I am sure you have read this story before, as I have, but read it once more before I tell you what I learned.

A Sinful Woman Forgiven [Luke 7:36-50]



One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

When I was listening to R. Albert Mohler Jr (aka Al Mohler), he pointed (and this is my own paraphrasing) out that we are ALL infintely indebted to God for the sins we have committed. No one person is a greater sinner. God is SO holy that even on our "best" day we still fall infintely short of God's glory (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). The idea here is that this woman RECOGNIZES her sin as great, ugly and horrible sin and therefore RECOGNIZES even more what the sacrifice on the cross actually means.

We are all have a large, infinite debt that we owe to God for our sin. Our minds and hearts are in rebellion against our Creator. It is only by the grace and mercy given by God that we even want to please Him and seek forgiveness. And because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can be fully forgiven.

Notice what immediately follows Romans 3:23:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24)

A free gift. Awesome!! So we know...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 So join me in praying for God to open our eyes to see how ugly and huge our sin actually is; this will lead to an even greater appreciation of the saving work of Jesus. I love Jesus, but I always will long to love Him more. My heart swells when I think of the sacrifices He made for me. I am so unworthy, which makes the gift even greater. No wonder she was washing His feet with expensive perfume and wiping it with her tears and her hair. She adored Him.

Do you?