Forgiven People Forgive

Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.
–Luke 7:47

The basis for all forgiveness is God’s forgiveness of us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Does this mean only Christians can forgive? Of course not. Non-Christians forgive all the time. But Christians ought to be much better at forgiving than non-Christians.

In Luke 7, Jesus told a parable to illustrate why we ought to be willing to forgive. He had been invited to a dinner party by Simon the Pharisee. Suddenly, the party was crashed by a prostitute. She wept at Jesus’ feet and anointed His feet with perfume. You can imagine what a stir this caused! Simon thought, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner” (v. 39).

Jesus was able to read Simon’s mind, so He told him a story: “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” (vv. 41–42). Simon was a smart guy. He said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more” (v. 43). Jesus told Simon that he was right. Then Jesus looked at the prostitute and said, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume” (vv. 44–46).

Jesus was pointing out that the prostitute had shown Him honor, while Simon had neglected his duties as a host. Then Jesus concluded, “Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little” (v. 47).

In God’s economy, there was little difference between the Pharisee and the prostitute. God was willing to forgive both, but only the one who was aware of her sin was truly grateful. In the same way, those of us who have received God’s forgiveness ought to be so grateful to Him that we extend the same forgiveness to others.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “Moving from Bitterness to Forgiveness” and “The Basis for All Forgiveness,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021 and 2015.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.