Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus on Forgiveness
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Romans 3:22-26
We Fall Short of the Glory of God
22 There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Luke 7:36-50
Jesus Forgives a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 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. 38 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.
39 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.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 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?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
As we read the story of Simon and Jesus we learn a lot...Jesus has a decidedly different view on people...He knows that forgiveness in not a once and done thing, but is a constant attitude...Forgiveness must be practiced often...The Pharisee Simon doubts that Jesus is a prophet, otherwise He would know about this woman...Yet, as Jesus tells Simon the Pharisee the Parable, we see that Jesus knows very much about this woman...Jesus is teaching Simon and us that the woman sinner is showing much appreciation to Him because of her many sins...She knows she has no bargaining position with Jesus, she is a sinner, who falls short of the Glory of God...Only the Grace of Jesus can free her of her large sin debt and she realizes this...
Jesus holds no resentment toward the sinning Simon, just as He holds no resentment for the sinning woman who is anointing Him...Jesus is teaching us that forgiveness is a way to free one of an emotional link, and this link is usually a negative one...Simon seems to be less forgiving and thus calls the woman a sinner...Simon seems not to want her in his house...To be able to quickly forgive is a very High form of LOVE...And Jesus forgives her immediately...Jesus shows her great mercy...
Throughout our journey through life, there will be people who will make us mad and they will sin, just as we will sin...There will be people we need to forgive...Holding on to anger and not forgiving is not good for us...Forgiving quickly helps us be more peaceful and happier...Let us learn about the power of forgiveness and the power of grace...There is Great Power in Forgiveness and Great Power in Grace...There is also power in being merciful...