Luke 7:40-50

From childhood I have been afraid of people and the emotional and physical pain they can inflict. My heavenly Father I have always trusted. My earliest memory of this total trust and faith in Him was at the age of 9 and it has never changed....my Protector, my Teacher, my salvation, my God!

The Underclass

Nearly every society and every city in biblical times had a large underclass. Tending to congregate in the cities, the underclass included the poor, the sick, the disabled, the lepers, the blind, the insane, the demon-possessed, widows, orphans, and refugees. Lacking resources to provide for even their basic needs, many turned to begging, stealing, menial labor, slavery, or prostitution. Few cultures made provision for these desperate, destitute wanderers, and so they remained largely powerless to change their condition. Yet it was to the underclass that Jesus intentionally directed much of His life and ministry.

Jesus’ point is that the amount of love showered on the Savior will be in direct proportion with one’s sense of the gravity of the sins that the Savior has forgiven. The woman knew she had been forgiven much, and as a result she would love much. Faith is the human channel for receiving God’s gifts.

Luke 7:40-50

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered and said to him,  “Simon, I have something to say to you.” 
So he said, “Teacher, say it.” 
⁴¹  “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 
⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” 
And He said to him,  “You have rightly judged.” ⁴⁴ Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon,  “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 
⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 
⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 
⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”