Word of Salvation – Vol.13 No.10 – March 1967
He Who Has Been Forgiven Much Will Love Much
Sermon by Rev. J. van der Reest on Luke 7:36-50
Scripture Reading: Luke 5: 17-26
Psalter Hymnal: 328:1,3; 236:1,3,6; 375; 373:1,2,3; 373:4
Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who does not know Jesus? Every living person will have heard His name mentioned at least once or twice. And we may even say that in the Western world there is a general interest in Jesus. Of course you realize that there is a difference between interest; – just a general interest, a superficial interest – and let us say: a real devotion. The first one a general interest in Jesus is still existent, but that real devotion, that is not so manifest. That real devotion is often hard to find.
Jesus, in the days He was on earth, met already with this symptom. He had caused and received plenty of interest. Many came, were almost driven to Him by their curious interest in Him; but Jesus then already indicated that He preferred the real devotion. And Jesus teaches this also in our text. He says to us that He prefers real devotion over and above just some general interest. And our Lord also teaches us here how this real devotion comes about. Very clearly Jesus shows us that: ‘he who has been forgiven much, will also love much. That is the point of our text that when one has been forgiven a great debt, one becomes truly thankful, really devoted.
We will look at the three following points concerning our text:
- That there was an interested friend,
- That Jesus preferred the devoted follower,
- That she was a forgiven sinner.
1. It appears that at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth, there were even some Pharisees who were interested in Him. Some of them regarded Jesus as their friend, others were just curious. And Simon, the Pharisee also belongs to this category. We don’t read that he was a great friend of the Lord. In fact we don’t read much about Simon at all. His name is only mentioned in this passage of Scripture. It appears that Simon the Pharisee was only interested, just plain curious about Jesus. No, Simon did not esteem Him very highly. Jesus was to him only an interesting person, who could entertain him and his friends at his dinner table. If Simon had esteemed Jesus highly, or accepted Him as a personal friend, then Simon would have made sure of the small courtesies for his friend, such as water, a towel and a servant to wash His feet. No, Simon did not receive Jesus very warmly. Simon only accepted Jesus as an interesting person, not less but definitely not more than that.
But suddenly the dinner and the conversation is interrupted. A woman has come into the room and placed herself near Jesus’ feet. We must remember that it was a custom in those days to lie down on cushions or a couch while one was eating. Leaning on the left elbow, one could eat with the right hand, while the feet were placed away from the table. So Jesus was not sitting on a chair as we would do today; Jesus’ feet could easily be reached.
And further it was also a custom that anyone interested to meet a friend could walk in during a meal and talk to that person. And even women were allowed to do this.
Yes, the dinner and the conversation was interrupted, but not because a woman began to talk to Jesus, not because she placed herself at His feet. Something far more important disturbed the gathering. We read in our text: vs.39 “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, 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’!” That Simon the Pharisee, and most likely his guest also, were so surprised about this incident was not because it was a woman who was disturbing them, but the TYPE of woman. Our text says that she was a sinner and the whole town knew it. Yet Jesus does as if it is quite alright. Apparently Jesus does not mind that this woman, this sinner, touches Him.
The esteem which Simon had for Jesus did not increase through this incident, but grew even smaller. And Simon 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….!” That little bit of interest that Simon had for Jesus, was vanishing very fast.
Jesus knows what is going on. He knows what the people around the table are thinking. He knows their secret thoughts, just as He knows ours. But Jesus does not rebuke them, He does not tell them off. No, He holds a mirror in front of them and lets them see for themselves how little understanding they have and also what little love, real devotion they possess. Jesus lets the woman continue her work and tells them a little parable. Vs.40-43: “And Jesus answering said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ And he answered, “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
A little and simple parable, is it not? Yet the point is extremely clear. What Jesus wants to say is: ‘He who has been forgiven much, will also love much.’ It is as if the Lord says: ‘Simon, once one has been forgiven a great debt by the Master, one is no longer curious, just interested in that Master; but one then begins to LOVE that Master.’
2. With this parable Jesus also makes a sharp contrast between Simon the Pharisee and this woman. No, Simon did not ‘run away with’ Jesus, nor had he welcomed Jesus very warmly. His interest in Jesus was enough to give Him an invitation to his dinner, but that is where his interest in Jesus stopped. But Jesus says to Simon: “Do you see this woman?”
Now it was hardly necessary to draw any attention to what this woman was doing. Her unusual behaviour must have caused all eyes to look in her direction. This woman overcome by emotion, began to cry. So much even that with her tears she made Jesus feet wet. She had brought no towel and humbled herself even more by loosening her hair and used this to dry Jesus’ feet. Then she kissed them and finally anointed them with costly perfume. Perhaps she had bought the perfume once for her own body; now she used it to perfume the Master’s feet.
Jesus said to Simon: Do you see this woman? Look at what she is doing. This is not just a general interest in Me. No, this is devotion; this is real thankfulness; this is true love. Your interest in Me did not even go as far as showing Me the courtesy of receiving and welcoming Me with good manners. But look, her devotion, her love goes so far that she expresses it in a way which you find hard to understand. You did not have so much interest or respect for Me, as to wash My feet; nor did you kiss Me as your friend. But she has washed My feet with her tears, she has dried them with her hair; kissed My feet continually and has even put costly perfume on them. Yes, Simon what you did not even think of putting on My head, she that sinful woman, on whom you all look down, she has put on My feet.
See the difference Simon? She is not only interested in Me; she is devoted to Me. She has become a devoted follower; she truly loves her Master and Saviour.
3. But that is not all that Jesus tells Simon. He also tells him the reason why she has become so devoted to Him. Jesus says to Simon: “I tell you, her sins, which are many are forgiven….!” She is the one in the parable who owed much; who had a great debt and who has been forgiven all. That is the reason why she can hardly control her emotions; because she was a sinner and has been forgiven. She is free from her debt, from her guilt. She is saved, delivered. And that is what Jesus says to her, in the presence of all: “Your sins are forgiven.” Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Perhaps you say: ‘What a beautiful story’. And that is true, that is what it is. But this beautiful story also has a very difficult question for us: ‘Where do we stand?’ Let us make it a very personal story; let us even change the names in the story. Where would you place your name, my brother and sister? Would you put it in Simon’s place or in the place of that sinful woman?
Or to put it in a different way: Are you only interested in Jesus or are you really devoted to Him? And please do realize brother and sister that you can only say that you are a devoted follower, if you have been forgiven a great debt. You can (must) say that you really love Jesus, if He has forgiven you all your sins. When you have been freed from all your guilt and shame; when He has made you really free; then you will love. Then you cannot help but love your Master, then you will be a devoted follower.
Perhaps you may not come to such an emotional expression of your devotion (although this is possible), but in every way possible you will show your devotion, your thankfulness. Your thankfulness for the great deliverance which you have in Jesus Christ.
And let no one say that he does not have a debt. We all are debtors and our debt is so great that God’s Son had to die, had to be nailed to the cross to pay for that debt of you and me. We were all in great debt and still are unless we believe.
Have faith, brothers and sisters; have faith and you also will be set free from your great debt, have faith and you will be forgiven, yes even you and me; for he who has sinned much will be for- given much; so that in turn we may love the Master very much.
Brother and sister have you been forgiven much? So much that it is too much to enumerate? Then you will not have just a superficial interest in Jesus. Then you will not give Him some sporadic, haphazard token of your interest, just now and then. Just like one pats a dog so now and then to show him one’s affection. No, if we have been forgiven much, then we will love much. Then we will seek His constant fellowship; then we will be thankful our whole life, from day to day.
Have you been forgiven much?
Do you love much?
Brothers and sisters Jesus wants to say to you: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Amen.