SCRIPTURE: Luke 7:36-43
“If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)
Two people, a pharisee and a woman, who is the greater sinner?
Depends who you ask; this pharisee was ‘prophet’ enough to recognize that this woman was a sinner.
But if he were a prophet, he would also know who he was – that he was a sinner.
Jesus is a prophet, and He did know that she was a sinner – and He let her touch Him.
Jesus is a prophet, and He did know that he was a sinner – and he joined him for dinner.
Jesus did know she was a sinner, and so did the woman; the only one who didn’t know he was a sinner was the pharisee.
Jesus’ story about two men owing a debt and being forgiven shows that everyone – from the most sinful to the most holy – owes a debt they cannot repay to God.
But if we do not know it, if we do not realize how much we have been forgiven, we will not be very appreciative.
I may think I am not as bad a sinner as someone else, but it’s not my opinion that counts – it’s God’s!
Am I honest enough to admit my own sin, am I like this woman or like this Pharisee?
Think about how you show your gratitude to God, that will be a good indicator of how much sin you think you’ve been forgiven.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to see that it is not what I know about myself that counts, but what You know. You know me better than I do. You know me – all my secrets and follies and lapses – yet You still love me. ‘Thank You’ doesn’t say it enough!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
As I read this passage today, I am encouraged by the fact that God knows me, really knows me — my past, my guilt, my weakness, my pettiness, my selfishness, and so much more — yet is willing to associate with me. Not just associate with me, God is willing to identify with me, to be my Father, my Friend, to use me for His great purposes, to forgive and comfort and help and bless me.
I am like the Pharisee (thinking I am better than I am) and the sinful woman (knowing that I am not what I should be)… and Jesus comes to me, and allows me to come to Him.
Thank You God for Your love and mercy.
Observations/Application
Knowing oneself.
The pharisee painted himself better than the rest because he was of the religious order. They were seen by their actions and words as ‘holy rollers – better than the people who were sinners. Remember the prayer of the poor widow and the pharisee?
The woman know who she was as did the rest of the people especially the religious leaders of the day and would have nothing to do with people like her. Yet she knew she needed forgiveness and went to the One Who could do just that.
Christ knows the people’s heart then and now. I too am a forgiven sinner. In my daily living for Jesus I must make sure that the people’s ‘baggage’ does not comes in the way of share the gospel. Christ is for all. Just look and remember the background of the disciples and the people Christ dealt with. He dealt with those who knew they needed healing.
God knows all our hearts and we all have to come to the cross to be made clean – whiter tun snow.
Prayer
Lord, I too am forgiven by Christ’s blood. Help me daily to live like Your disciple so that others may also see Your great love through me.
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract ev’ry stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice.
I give up myself, and whatever I know,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst “No,”
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain
The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.