LUKE 7:36-50 LOVE AND FORGIVENESS The invitation the Pharisee named Simon gave to the Lord wasn't one made from a desire for the fellowship of the Lord or appreciation for who He was and what He was doing to bring blessing to the people. If that were the case the normal courteousness of the time would have been given to the Lord when He came to that home. This was likely a plan to in some way to find fault with the Lord Jesus. The words spoken by the Lord just before this scene took place were "Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Those words along with the public prayer He prayed in Matthew 11 left no doubt as to who He claimed to be, the Son of God. Why would the Lord accept an invitation like this when He knew there was hostile content behind it? Compassion and love for sinners no matter who they are is a characteristic of the divine nature. He loved both Simon and the sinful woman. Love rises above obstacles, slights and unbecoming behavior, and puts attention on the value of a person. When one has come to the Savior, "We love Him, because He first loved us." In turn a result of divine love is being shown to undeserving sinners as we are: "we love the brethren," "we have love on to another."
The evidence of forgiveness in the woman who was one of the "heavy laden," was clearly seen when her love for the Savior passed the social boundaries and restrictions imposed on those of a sinful life-style by those who put their own varying values on sin. The appreciation of one who has been forgiven finds a way to express itself. In the case of this woman there was no obstacle that hindered her from getting to the One who she had truly believed on and had received forgiveness from. The tears of joy and gladness had replaced the guilt of sin and remorse, and found their rightful place on the feet of the "Forgiver." The fruitful seed of the Gospel had found soil ready to receive it and now there is evidence of new life that is seen in the watered feet, the drying towel of her human hair and the scent of myrrh being poured out on the feel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
How gracious is the love of God when it extends to sinners! Those who know the depths of sin and have experienced the forgiveness God grants, have "the love of God shed abroad in our hearts." At the first opportunity a forgiven sinner will express in some way their gratitude for the grace that saved them. The religious sinner who puts varying degrees of value on sin, often never sees their need of salvation because they compare themselves with people, they know who have gone farther in outward sins than they have. Many never come to realize the depravity of sin in their own self-righteous heart and soul. To them as long as they do not give vent to what is inside, they are safe from condemnation. Such people either forget or never understood that while "man looks on the outward appearance, God looks on the heart." Simon was one of those kinds of people.
Turning to Simon, the Lord addresses him directly with a story of two people who each had a debt. One owed ten times more than the other, and both were forgiven the debt they owed. He knew Simon considered the woman a far greater debtor than himself. He also knew Simon did not take seriously his own sin but considered the sins of the woman a far greater wrong. So, when appreciation for forgiveness was described, Simon gave the right answer. Then looking at the woman and speaking over His shoulder to Simon, the Lord let Simon know He discerned the outward sins of the woman as a prophet would. He also let Simon know He knew what Simon was thinking inside himself. He knew all about them both.
There is nothing that is hidden from the One who knows "the thoughts and intents of the heart." When truth is presented in the Gospel, we don't know the need completely but God does. We may anxiously look for results but it is only God "who giveth the increase." The woman had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ before this event and had come to show her devotion and love to the Lord. As a forgiven sinner she brought evidence of her appreciation in her hand in the alabaster jar filled with perfume. Her tears of joy from within also gave evidence to her gratitude for forgiveness, and her unrestrained hair being used as a towel showed her spontaneous acts of devotion were her way of giving her all. The contrast was Simon's obvious ignoring of common courtesy to the Lord. Simon had a self-centered view of those around him as he judged their motives and actions. By speaking the truth to Simon and revealing his need in a way most needed and suitable, the love of Christ for the self-righteous sinner was expressed. The way God works with one person may be very different from the way the Gospel is extended to another. The Spirit of God can make the message perfectly appropriate to those He is seeking to convict and bring to repentance and new birth.
The Lord Jesus Christ does appreciate devotion. He knows when it is there, He knows when it is real, and He knows when it is missing. He knows when we neglect what we should do. He notices every act of devotion and every lack of appreciation we withhold. When one gives from the fullness of a redeemed heart, there is great value in that giving from the heart that brings the response of the Savior.
To have what is of value and keep it for one's self - Is like having a cure for disease and storing it on a shelf. There is need around us, that will still be there - But when we give to the Savior, we show our love and care.
We who have been forgiven have a fellowship that is sweet. There are expressions of thankfulness that grow larger when we meet. The grace of God to us when He gave His only Son - Stirs devoted hearts when we appreciate what He has done.
Not every redeemed person will express love like the others. There is a variety of worship from the gathering of sisters and brothers. Some devoted praise comes in holy silence from one's heart. Audible expressions are shared when the first hymn begins to start.
We may not have an alabaster box of perfume that is very precious. But each one who loves the Lord has devotional ways that express us To the Object of our love, the Savior, who above all is so great -
And in our devotional acts and words, Him we appreciate.
There is no template to the heart, no special way to say What we love and appreciate, but each and every day There are ways that can come to us, usually extemporaneously, That we can express what is inside to Him who died for me.
Part of what we do in reading and particularly in meditation - We find arising worshipful thoughts that awaken our devotion. In faith we give them to the Lord, in no way trying to prove Ourselves of any special worth, we just want to express our love.
"Father, when we meet together this morning, may Thy Holy Spirit give us ways and words to express our devotion to the Lord. Whether those are audible or silent isn't all that important because Thou dost know our hearts. Just take glory to Thyself and Thy Son as we poor redeemed people seek to honor and remember our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."