In Luke 7:36–50, Jesus is at a Pharisee’s house when a woman known for her sinful reputation shows up, weeping and anointing His feet. The Pharisee is shocked that Jesus would let her touch Him, but Jesus tells a story to show that those forgiven much, love much. The Pharisee doesn’t see his need for forgiveness, so his love is small, but this woman knows how much she’s been forgiven, and her love overflows. When we remember the depth of God’s mercy toward us, it should make us the most loving people in the world—because we’ve been loved much, we should love much.

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Today we’re going to be reading from Luke 7:36–50 — the end of the chapter.

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went to the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is touching him — that she is a sinner.”

Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

“Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.”

“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.”

And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins — which are many — have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”

Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

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

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Such a good story. Such an important story for us.

That line — “the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little” — should describe the Christian life in reverse. Those who have been forgiven much, love much.

In this scene, we see a stark contrast between the woman and the Pharisee. My Wesley Study Bible points this out so well: the Pharisee feels no need for forgiveness. He is respected, looked up to, and important. He sees no reason to need anything from Jesus. Because he doesn’t believe he needs forgiveness, he hasn’t been forgiven much — and therefore he doesn’t love much.

The woman is different. We don’t know her exact sins, but everyone in town knows her reputation. The Pharisee even thinks to himself, “If Jesus were really a prophet, he’d know she’s a sinner.”

Now, in our Christian understanding, we say with Paul in Romans, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”We’re all sinners. But in their culture, “sinner” was often a social label tied to someone’s job or status. Tax collectors were called sinners. People with “unclean” professions — possibly including this woman — were labeled sinners. And if an unclean person touched you, you were considered unclean too.

So Jesus tells a simple story: one man is forgiven a million-dollar debt, another is forgiven a small debt. Who’s more thankful? Obviously, the one forgiven more.

This woman has been forgiven much — so she loves much. The Pharisee feels no need for forgiveness — so he loves little.

When we understand how much God has forgiven us, when we grasp the depth of His mercy, it should make us the most loving people in the world. There should be no one beyond the reach of our love. Why? Because God saw the depth of our sin — every mistake, every failure, every moment of rebellion — and loved us anyway.

Paul reminds us, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” At our lowest, at our most unlovable, Jesus loved us. That’s this woman’s story. And if you’ve been forgiven much, your life should overflow with love.

I’m reminded of that Steven Curtis Chapman lyric: “There’s no one more thankful to sit at the table than the one who best remembers hunger’s pangs.” If you’ve known hunger, and you find yourself at a feast, you’re thankful. If you’ve been deep in debt and are suddenly debt-free, you’re thankful. If you’ve sinned greatly and been forgiven completely, you’re thankful — and you love much.

So today, may we remember how much we’ve been forgiven. May our lives be a living testimony to God’s mercy, grace, and goodness. And may we love much, because we’ve been loved much.

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Tomorrow we’ll start Luke chapter 8, reading verses 1–3. Looking forward to it. Have a great day.