Luke 7:40-43

The people that Jesus spent most of His time on earth with were societies rejected. If He directed most of His life and ministry to them….shouldn’t we, who have been forgiven so much, also do the same?

underclass |ˈəndərˌklas|

noun

the lowest social stratum in a country or community, consisting of the poor and unemployed.

What would Jesus do?

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’ reply indicates that He knew the reputation of the woman, but was more interested in what the woman could become through the grace of God. 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.

Luke 7:40-43

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.”