LUKE 7:40-50 – And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he 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 wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss 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, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

THEME OF THE DAY: THE FOUR GREATEST WORDS TO GRACE THE HUMAN EAR.  Let’s do a little search in today’s scripture.  It’s not a “Where’s Waldo?” type of hunt, but it will require a good look because of the length.  Two hints. First, they are the theme of today’s nugget – the four greatest words. Second, they are spoken to the woman, not Simon.  Go ahead, and hunt.

Now the account. Jesus is about to teach Simon an important lesson, a very important lesson on forgiveness and love. Here it is . . . where sins are many and forgiven, love is deep and wide. Conversely, when forgiveness appears little, love will be shallow.  And it applies to us.

Do we love the Lord deep and wide or little and shallow? Our reaction and answer will be based on how we see our sin and what the Lord did for us!  Now back to the hunt for the four greatest words to grace the human ear.  They are toward the end of the dialogue with Jesus and Simon.  Our Lord spoke to the sinful woman four words that brought freedom and liberation to her sin-heavy heart.  He looks at her with eyes of compassion and the gentle words,  “Your sins are forgiven.”

Have you heard these words?  Not just at salvation but throughout the Christian life as we find ourselves stumbling along the way. The words, “Your sins are forgiven” still send forth the power of liberation to the soul knowing sin and the bondage it brings.  And each time we come to the Lord in confession, we are met with forgiveness and cleansing – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

PRAYER: “Father, help me not lose the amazement that You forgive me all my sins.”

QUOTE: “’Your sins are forgiven’ are the four greatest words to grace any human ear.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim