From my reading in Luke 7:31-50 in the One Year New Testament.

Scandalous Love 

Jesus was chilling at a Pharisee’s house and an immoral woman of the town heard he was eating there. Most likely she was a prostitute, or at least someone who was known as loose.

She went and bought a beautiful alabaster jar, filled with expensive perfume, for Jesus. She humbly knelt at Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair and then kissed his feet.

It would have been scandalous for a woman to touch a man in public, let alone a prostitute kissing Jesus. Immediately, the Pharisees judged Jesus for allowing a woman with a bad reputation to touch him and kiss his feet.

Those Who Are Forgiven Much Love Much

Jesus then told a very simple story about a man who loaned 500 days wages (over a years pay) to one and 50 days wages (almost 2 months pay) to another. Neither could repay, so he forgave them and canceled their debts. Then he asked,

“Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.” Luke 7:42–43

The larger the debt, the larger the gratitude. Jesus then turned the attention back to the woman. The Pharisees didn’t even do the common courtesy of giving Jesus water to wash the dust off his feet or greet him with a kiss or anoint his head with oil, but this “sinner” washed his feet with her tears, kissed his feet, and sacrificed money on expensive perfume! Then he said this,

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47

No matter how many sins you have committed, none are too great for Jesus to forgive. People that have messed up a lot appreciate his forgiveness even more than those who grew up in church and basically did good their whole lives.

The truth is that many people who think they are good have fallen into the trap of pride. Just because you are not a prostitute or have a radical conversion story doesn’t mean you don’t need Jesus’ forgiveness just as much!

Personally, I never want to take the forgiveness of Jesus for granted. I am grateful Jesus was willing to sacrifice his reputation to show that any sinner can receive his scandalous love!

No sin is too big for Jesus to forgive, and that is something to celebrate.

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