Neville Turley

Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  Mark 12:29-30 (GNT)

Our love for God must be one of total commitment. In the Gospel of Luke there is a thought-provoking story about a prostitute and a Pharisee  Her commitment to our Lord led to her personal salvation whilst the religious man was shamed.  (Luke 7:36-50)

It was a practice amongst Pharisees to sometimes host an open house dinner. Jesus had begun his Galilean ministry and Simon the Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. Jesus accepted. 

Hearing that Jesus would be present, the prostitute decided to go too. Carrying a full jar of perfume, she went directly to the table where Jesus as an invited guest was semi-reclining on a couch.

Standing behind him, she began crying. As her tears wet his feet she dried them with her hair. Then pouring ointment on his feet, she covered them with kisses.

Simon was shocked. Surely a genuine prophet would not allow such a woman to touch him!

So Jesus tells Simon a parable of two men who had to repay their debts to a money-lender. The one owed 500 silver coins, the other just 50. Neither could pay back the money, so the money-lender cancelled both their debts.

“Who loved the money-lender the most,” Jesus asked. “The one who owed the most,” replied Simon. “You are right,” said Jesus.  The more aware we are that our sins have been forgiven the greater our love towards God will be.

Then Jesus pointed out to Simon that the prostitute had shown him greater love by her actions than Simon had. Simon had not even extended the usual courtesies with which hosts in the East, traditionally welcomed invited guests. (Luke 7:44-46)

Jesus tells Simon, “The great love this woman has shown, proves that her many sins have been forgiven.” (Luke 7:47) Then Jesus turns to the prostitute and says, “Your sins are forgiven.”  The guests began to ask, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

We could have answered their question.  We could also have told them, that like the prostitute, they needed to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. 

Prayer: Almighty God, keep us ever aware of the many sins that we are guilty of and our need for your forgiveness.  Amen