Greater the Pardon, Greater the Love
I was reading Luke 7:36-50 the other day, the story of the “sinful” woman washing annointing Jesus’s feet, and it caught my attention.
Jesus said to Simon in verse 47, “… he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
How should one take this statement? Did Simon’s sins need less forgiveness (meaning the woman’s sins were greater than his)? Did Simon himself think he had less need for forgiveness and thus receiving less forgiveness and showing less love?
I guess the reason I am wondering is sometimes I feel like I could love Jesus more if I had lead a very sinful life and then had a “conversion experience.” Instead, since a very young age, I have tried to lead a life pleasing to God.
I know that to God all our sins are equal and my sin would keep me out of heaven as much as a murdering drug dealer’s sins would. But from a human standpoint, who is going to be more thankful for forgiveness? Me or the murdering drug dealer? Personally, I would say him.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for salvation, and I love Jesus. But maybe it is another part of the mystery of God that He gives to those who lived “farthest” from Him a greater love for Him when they give their lives to Him?
cw
February 6th, 2006 at 3:08 pm
I agree with your last statement, and I’ve never really thought of it like that before. One thing that we can remember though, is that those who spend years away from God can rack up consequences that will never leave them, even though they are repentant and forgiven. Even though a dramatic conversion story sounds better in a conversation, and means a lot to the believer, there is nothing sweeter than a life free from so many of the consequences that come from a life filled with such sins as murder, sexual immorality, etc.
However, I suppose that it must be said that every sin does affect our lives in some way (i.e. the “small” sin of jealousy causes unhappiness). So none of us are off the hook. Our forgiveness is daily if our repentance is daily. If we could truly see that, then every day we would wake up just as happy as the drug addict that just got out of rehab and is ready to live for Christ.
It is hard to live in the mentality of the forgiven.
March 5th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
I agree with you Christian that the Lord forgives equally. And as for who the forgiveness would mean more to?…I’d say that comes down to each individual!
We are all created uniquely and different…as well as we all go through different situations, make different choices, etc. But Christ died for everyone, no matter what!