Luke 7-C “If this man were a prophet…”

S = Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
v. 47[Jesus said] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

O = The Pharisee was grumbling to himself, that Jesus was displaying a shocking lack of discernment and decorum…he apparently couldn’t tell this woman was “a sinner.” Simon’s questioning implied that, in his view, a prophet would not allow a sinner to touch him. Jesus turned this challenge around and said that her expression of love was a sign of her having been forgiven. Jesus not only knew the woman had been a sinner, but he knew the questions in the Pharisee’s mind. He answered the Pharisee’s unspoken question in v. 47 and made a further point that perhaps Simon’s lack of love and even common hospitality showed that the Pharisee was in fact the unforgiven sinner. Ouch! The unperceptive ones at this meal were Simon and his Pharisee friends, for they did not realize that God sat down to eat with them that day, and that the woman was very different now.

A = Do I second guess Jesus’ methods and plan at times? Do I think I could do it better? How forgiven am I? The test of humility and love is available to serve as a fact-checker on my life and my confession.

P = O Lord, thank you for your forgiveness and your loving commitment to get through to everyone, to break down our walls of self-righteousness so that your love can be poured into our hearts! May I love much this week!  Amen.