Luke 7:36-50.   Forgiven much!!                                                               16/6/13

 ³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said. ⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

 Hey, have you people heard about this new bank here in town? It's really tremendous – I would suggest that you all think seriously about changing over. You see, I heard of this businessman that owed the bank over $1million and had no way of paying it back. When he was called in by the manager he thought he would be sold up, for sure. But before his very eyes he just wrote off the whole debt. Amazing! But that is not just an isolated case. There was another guy who only owed $50,000 and the same thing. And there were many others. Naturally that first man is that wrapped that he is out telling everyone about this bank. He is over the moon.

 Could you ever imagine a bank like that - doing this to your debt? I can just imagine your reactions if there was such a one.

 Unfortunately however when it comes to our spiritual lives things appear to change a bit - don't they? There we act more like the Pharisee here in our reading, than the woman or businessman. Forgiveness from God is not always appreciated as it should be. In fact there is often a lack of an appropriate response to what he has done for us. I wonder if that then is failure to understand the depth and magnitude of our sin. Perhaps we think we are not bad. Or does it indicate something else?

 Let us relate this possible attitude to God and his forgiveness to our image of the businessman and his debt. When the manager calls him in to see him and talk over his situation, the man replies; Well, I have got this game of golf today. Then tomorrow I am off shopping for a new car. The following day I am off to Melbourne for a few days at the casino. Then after that, I have to get a bit done around the business. Look, I know I should come in straight away, but I will get around to it when suites me; Maybe in a few weeks time.

 Six weeks later he finally comes in and just plonks himself down and puts his feet up on the manager’s desk; no greetings, handshake, nothing. Then proceeds to says; I see you had Frank in here. I would have thought you wouldn't touch him with a forty foot pole. You’re the bank manager, so you should know his situation; I would watch him; crawling after you; trying to impress you. The other day I saw Bob come in with his budget. He is the meanest and most miserable old sod there is. Surely he couldn't be making a go his business. After all he is half dead.

 Anyway, that is enough of that; what's your problem mate? What my problem! I haven't got a problem! Oh, come off it - I am alright mate – so what's $1 million. I know I am not even meeting my interest payments and I am not getting much work done lately. But look there is golf and all these other things that I have to do. But look I do come in here to see you a couple of times a year; and so what if don't have a budget: they never work out anyway.

 Anyway, look, the debt is not really my fault - I mean – the costs are always on the rise and the competition is getting tough; and the governments not looking after us; and then there are the unions. Then on top that my wife is spending up all time. Then of course your interest rates are way too high: it is day-light robbery. Anyway you lent me the money in the first place; so you take care of things. Just give me what I want, when I want it.

 Is that our attitude toward God and our spiritual lives? But let us continue with our story.

 Hang on; can you run that past me again. The boss in head office has written off the whole debt and all I have to do is sign the papers! No - no - no - your just pulling my leg - aren't you? No – I can't accept the offer - I have got to do right thing - I must have to do something - perhaps just wipe the interest bill. Look I have to be seen to be doing the right thing.

 Look, I know I can't pay back the debt and that it is getting worse: just wipe the debt out when I pass on will you, so that I can get to the next life with a clear conscience. In the meantime, I would like you to just let me go on living as I have been – alright. The he walks out of the office and goes on with life.

 It is all a bit ridiculous don’t you think? Nobody would act that way with regard to their debt.  Except when it comes to their debt toward God.

 Surely this is an over-exaggeration of our situation. Is it? How often don't we treat God and the forgiveness that he offers in a similar way? Let's be honest with ourselves. We may not always be as open and brazen as this man, but how often isn't a very similar attitude there in our lives.

 Now we may or may not have committed a sin or sins like the prostitute here in our reading, or openly flaunted the 10 commandments in their literal sense. But the fact that our relationship with God is not what it should be is an indication of the sin and disobedience that is still there in all of our lives: The things that we do wrong, whether big or small, are all symptoms of our sinful nature and our broken relationship with our Lord. The resultant debt is unrepayable on our part. We too deserve to be sold up and discarded as trash - sent to Hell.

 But here today again, Jesus stands before us and says; ‘Because of my death on the cross your sins are forgiven you - your debt has been wiped clean. Nothing need keep you from experiencing that perfect family relationship with me and my Father ever again. Not one of you has done anything that I cannot forgive. I died for every single one of you. All who believe and are baptised will be saved. My death on the cross and resurrection is the absolute assurance that this is for real. So go from here assured that your unrepayable debt of sin has been forgiven and nothing now stands between you and God, and from holding your head up high. So go in peace - knowing that everything is taken care of.’

 
Now surely with that Good News we would want come into his presence to listen to him and hear what else he has to say to us. We will go from here relieved and ready to live as members of God's family: excited and overjoyed – wanting to tell others how God is ready to show that same love that we have just experienced in all our various relationships that we have in our day to day life. Knowing that we have been forgiven much now we surely will go and be prepared to do the same to all those who have let us down. We will want to show our gratitude for the great thing our Lord has done for us.
         
Remember back to what our reaction would be to having a $1million debt cancelled. Well, now in even greater way, we can go from here overjoyed and thankful to God for what he has done for us: Wanting to do all that we can for this one who has done such a great thing for us. Making every opportunity to listen, hear, read and learn of everything else that he has to say to us - recognising that that too will be important for us. So there will be an all-out effort to love the Lord your God with all heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

 All this and more becomes part of our lives as we take to heart the fact that in our Lord Jesus Christ we have been forgiven much. And having been forgiven much we are then able to love much.

                                  
But in conclusion the question still is: do we believe that we have been forgiven much, or little? Does the extent of our love indicate something of our thinking? Perhaps, do we even care if we have sinned and even want forgiveness? Is it important?

I pray that God increases our understanding of the magnitude or our sin and thereby of the forgiveness he extends toward us. Then through that may he draw us to love him above everything else and our neighbour as our self. We all have been forgiven much. May we take it to heart and live in light of it.  For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish