43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44 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.
45 “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.
46 “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.
47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”
49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:41-50.
As I read this story, I thought of two groups, two boxes. I was eager and quick to put myself in the box of the debtor who only owed fifty denarii. I felt that I am one of the group that only sinned a little and that only needs to be forgiven a little. After all, I have been a Christian my entire life. I have sinned only a little, and those few sins have only been little sins. I am not in the same group as that woman! I don’t want to be in the same box as that sinner!
It is amazing, and shows the depth of my sin, that I could feel this way even after reading the two very similar accounts in the Scripture for today. I have only quoted one account. The other account is in Luke 7:36-40. I would rather smugly think of my own self-righteousness and receive no forgiveness than put myself in the same group, the same box, “with that woman!” whose sins were many.
However, really, there is only one group. There is only one box. There is the group of those people whose sins are many and who are in such astonishingly great debt that their only hope is forgiveness and there is need is for much forgiveness. She is like me!
As I read this story again, I consider how this woman anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume, mixed in her own tears, and wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. How can I show my thanks?! I cannot do this literally, as this woman did, to show Jesus my thanks for His forgiveness of my many and great sins.
But, I can pray and ask Jesus: “How can I show my thanks to you like this woman?”
And Jesus tells me: “I will guide you in the paths of righteousness for My name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3). What you do for one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you do it to Me. (Matthew 25:40).”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 