The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:7:36-50

kjv@Luke:7:36 @ And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

kjv@Luke:7:37 @ And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

kjv@Luke:7:38 @ And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

kjv@Luke:7:39 @ 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.

kjv@Luke:7:40 @ And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

kjv@Luke:7:41 @ There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

kjv@Luke:7:42 @ And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

kjv@Luke:7:43 @ Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

kjv@Luke:7:44 @ 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.

kjv@Luke:7:45 @ Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

kjv@Luke:7:46 @ My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

kjv@Luke:7:47 @ 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.

kjv@Luke:7:48 @ And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

kjv@Luke:7:49 @ And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

kjv@Luke:7:50 @ And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:7:18-35 Jesus and John the Baptist
  
• After - Luke:8:1-15 The Parable of the Sower
  

Study Resources:

dict:tcr Sinner

dict:tcr Debtor

dict:torrey Love to Christ

dict:easton Forgiveness of sin

Notes:

The certainty of our sin and indebtedness may not be as readily observed in the dirty details of one's sin as they are in the results of it's forgiveness once received. The Lord has spent a great amount of effort in making it known that a tree is known by it's fruit.

Here tonight we see one tree that has produced a most religious man observed in his near equality if not superiority over Christ. Curious yes (intellectually). Hospitable yes (to a self determined point). Judgmental no doubt when a better religion than his is revealed. The perception of sin and sin debt requiring the Lord's forgiveness is not so much a part of this man; thus we have the fruit that we do. The question is not knowing his debt does he at least know what the fruit of religion is supposed to be?

On the other hand we have the fruit of admittedly a most sinful woman. What her sinfulness means we can only guess as of now. What we can observe is the definite effect produced in her perceived release from all her sin debt. We observe the fruit of bold and daring gratitude within the confines of the Pharisee's house. We see an unselfish disregard of what others might think; a near foolish reverence according to standard and etiquette. We see tears and sobbing and anointment and hair used as a towel and indefensible humility. That is the fruit of a much different tree. And it might not come at first by the absolute knowledge of own's debt in every detail, but rather in the type of worship we know we would much rather be of.

The declaration to be made may not of necessity be just the burdensome preponderance of sin and debt, but the liberating observation of the contrast between true reverence and supposed reverence with the observation of what the perceived forgiveness of sin debt means to each. For that we have this woman's immortalized example as well as others. The certainty of our sin and our sin debt can be found out and likely sensed by us without doubt. It is nearly meaningless however unless one first knows that it can be and in Christ Jesus will be forgiven; and to know that with certainty one only has to look as far as the effect upon reverence that it has had on those who have gone before us.

Notice that in the story the Lord has forgiven both. It is only the one however that His forgiveness truly effects. Our debt to sin thus forgiven (paid for) our indebtedness becomes to Jesus. As it should be!

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:7:36-50
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:7:36-50 rwp@Luke:7:36-50 mhcc@Luke:7:36-50
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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