This morning, we continue our series on “The Parables of Jesus.” We will seek to glean “Pearls from the Parables.”
Before we get to the parable, let’s look at a scripture we have been looking at all year. This is something I believe the Lord wants us to meditate on.
(Psalm 126:4 TPT)
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
This is a season of refreshing and restoring for us.
The parable we will look at today comes in the middle of a story where a sinful woman is worshipping at Jesus’ feet and later Jesus forgives her of her sin In the middle of the story, Jesus share a short parable we will consider.
(Luke 7:36-43 ERV)
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. Jesus went into the Pharisee’s house and took a place at the table.
37 There was a sinful woman in that town. She knew that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house. So the woman brought some expensive perfume in an alabaster jar.
38 She stood at Jesus’ feet, crying. Then she began to wash his feet with her tears. She dried his feet with her hair. She kissed his feet many times and rubbed them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who asked Jesus to come to his house saw this, he thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know that the woman who is touching him is a sinner!”
40 In response, Jesus said to the Pharisee, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Simon said, “Let me hear it, Teacher.”
41 Jesus said, “There were two men. Both men owed money to the same banker. One man owed him 500 silver coins. The other man owed him 50 silver coins.
42 The men had no money, so they could not pay their debt. But the banker told the men that they did not have to pay him. Which one of those two men will love him more?”
43 Simon answered, “I think it would be the one who owed him the most money.”
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Understanding Our Debt: The Foundation of Forgiveness.
— Recognizing our spiritual indebtedness is key to understanding God’s grace. You won’t be thankful for being saved if you never realized you were lost in the first place.
— Like the two debtors in the parable, we all owe a debt to God – a debt of sin we cannot pay on our own. We were born in sin because of Adam, and we continued in sin because of our sinful nature.
— This parable invites us to acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy before God.
— The greater our awareness of our debt, the greater our appreciation for forgiveness.
— It’s not about comparing sins but recognizing the universal need for grace.
— We were all born sinners in need of a Savior. Thankfully, Jesus paid a price we could not pay for a debt He did not even owe!
— This awareness should foster humility, killing pride and self-righteousness.
2. The Power of Received Forgiveness.
— Experiencing God’s forgiveness can radically change our lives and perspectives.
— Forgiveness received should translate into love and gratitude expressed.
— When you know you have been forgiven of much, you express more gratitude than those who believe they were forgiven of little.
— When you know you have been forgiven of much, it is evident in your actions, attitudes, and approach to others.
— The story challenges us to reflect on how much God has forgiven us and how much gratitude we should express as a result.
— Please take a moment to think about how good God has been to you and how many times He has extended grace and mercy to you. If you meditate on that long enough, you will live a life of service fueled by gratitude and humility.
3. Judgment vs. Compassion: Learning from Simon the Pharisee.
— Simon represents an attitude of judgment and a lack of awareness of his own need for grace.
— Religious people think, “I am right, and sinners are wrong.” Jesus came to teach us that we are all wrong and we all need God’s grace.
— Simon was looking down on the woman, calling her a sinner, not realizing that he was one too.
— This parable warns against the dangers of spiritual pride and self-righteousness.
— True spiritual maturity is marked by humility and compassion, not pride and condemnation.
— We must guard against the Pharisaical attitude that minimizes our own sins while magnifying the sins of others.
— Jesus calls us to empathy, understanding that we are all in need of grace and mercy.
— The measure of our forgiveness towards others reflects our understanding of the grace we’ve received.
4. Love as the Fruit of Forgiveness.
— Jesus links the depth of love shown to the extent of forgiveness received.
— Our capacity to love is expanded as we comprehend the depth of God’s forgiveness towards us.
— Love motivated by gratitude for forgiveness is genuine, selfless, and transformative.
— This parable challenges us to love others not based on their merit but on the grace we’ve received.
— If you know you have been forgiven of much (in other words, you know how “jacked up you were”), you will never look down on others because you know you would be nothing without the grace of God.
— The story invites us to be agents of grace, extending forgiveness and love in a world desperate for both.
5. Living Out Forgiveness in Practical Ways.
— Forgiveness should not remain a theoretical concept but be evident in our daily interactions.
— This includes forgiving others as we have been forgiven, releasing grudges, and seeking reconciliation. This is what we have been discussing for the last few days.
— Godly forgiveness involves showing grace in situations where we might feel justified in withholding it.
— Practicing forgiveness can lead to healing, restoration, and breakthroughs in relationships.
— Let this parable inspire us to be proactive in forgiveness, reflecting the heart of Jesus in our world.
— The more you acknowledge how much God has forgiven you, the more you should be quick to forgive others.
6. Gratitude Amplified: The Impact of Recognizing What God Has Forgiven You Of.
— The depth of our gratitude is directly proportional to our recognition of the extent of forgiveness we’ve received.
— Those who are acutely aware of the magnitude of their forgiven sins often exhibit a greater sense of thankfulness and humility.
— This parable illustrates that when we understand the enormity of our forgiven debt, our hearts overflow with gratitude and love.
— Acknowledging our own spiritual failings and the grace we’ve been given leads to a more profound, sincere appreciation for God’s mercy
— This heightened gratitude often manifests in increased compassion and kindness towards others, recognizing that we, too, were once in desperate need of forgiveness.
— The story challenges us to examine our hearts: Do we see ourselves as ‘minor’ sinners, or do we recognize the vastness of grace that covers our transgressions?
— Our spiritual growth and capacity to love are greatly enhanced when we fully grasp the extent of our forgiveness in Christ.
— Our lives should be marked with a profound gratitude, humility, and a readiness to forgive, mirroring the grace we have abundantly received.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, this is a season of refreshing and restoring for me!
I declare that Your forgiveness has transformed my heart, filling it with gratitude and love.
I know how much You have forgiven me of, Father, and as a result, I see others through Your eyes of grace, avoiding judgment and embracing compassion.
I commit to loving others not based on their actions but on the forgiveness and love I have received from You.
I live out forgiveness daily, showing grace and seeking reconciliation in my relationships.
I am deeply grateful for the forgiveness I have received, and I will extend this same grace to those around me.
Father, as You help me understand the depth of my forgiven sins, my life will reflect Your mercy and love.
I embrace Your call to be an agent of forgiveness and love in a world that desperately needs it.
Living with this mindset, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
