When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Luke 7:36

Jesus accepts everyone.

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 7:37-38

What keeps you from opening your heart to Jesus?

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “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

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

Luke 7:40

Don’t think thoughts you don’t want Jesus to know.

Are we ready to hear what God is saying to us?

Are we even listening?

Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?

Luke 7:41-42

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Luke 7:43

Are we all in or are we halfway in or half-hearted?

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.”

Luke 7:44-46

When we fail to act, we also miss our opportunities to be blessed.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 

Luke 7:47-48 ESV

We too can be forgiven of much.

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Luke 7:49

The lack of faith is what Jesus is addressing.

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:50

We are forgiven by our faith, not by our love for Jesus.

Simon was interested in religion.                                                           

She wanted a relationship.

Simon was thinking. She was thirsty.

Simon’s attention is careful & calculated.                                    

Her love is radical & risky.

The 7:47 Principle--We can’t give what we’ve never received.

Max Lucado

All scripture is from the NIV translation unless noted otherwise.