Luke 7:47, commentary and pictures

Her many sins were forgiven, and her great love was the result and evidence of that forgiveness in gratitude, not its cause or payment, for both debtors were unable to pay and depended wholly on mercy they could never repay.
Love for Christ is measured by the sense of forgiveness, growing with a clear sight of personal sinfulness and defilement in the light of the law, abhorrence of self, and appreciation of deliverance, and it is the depth of repentance rather than the greatness of the sin that brings pardoning love into the heart.
Her love poured itself out in costly, humble devotion at His feet, while Simon showed little love because in proud self-righteousness he felt little obligation, giving no water, no kiss, and no oil, though he too had been forgiven much.
Yet without openly shaming him, Jesus patiently set his neglect and guilt before him until his eyes were opened, his heart was subdued, and he repented and became humble and self-sacrificing.
Those who know themselves forgiven much love much in return, and that love appears in tender compassion toward the tempted and suffering, in joyful labor for perishing souls, and in standing nearest to Him at last, as David also showed when with deep contrition he relied on mercy rather than excusing his great sin.

Setting and Meaning

The saying was spoken at a feast to which a Pharisee had invited Jesus, and the meal itself became an occasion for teaching those present. He entered the homes and social settings of the wealthy and cultured in order to reach their hearts and open spiritual riches to them, sharing table fellowship even with the irreligious and turning such gatherings into instruction. The woman's many sins were forgiven, and her great love was the result and evidence of that forgiveness in gratitude, not its cause, payment, or means of earning it. One who recognizes little forgiveness loves little, as coldness and neglect reveal failure to appreciate needed mercy.

There are no comparative degrees of obligation in the saying, and forgiveness is not earned by loving more, for both debtors were unable to pay and both depended on mercy they could never repay. Jesus met Simon on his own ground and used Simon's own judgment to expose Simon's failure to repay his Benefactor with respect and love that casts out unbelief. Simon felt little obligation because as a proud Pharisee he did not see how great a sinner he was, counted himself more righteous than the woman and superior to her, and thought inviting so exalted a guest to his house was sufficient honor. Yet he too had been forgiven great sins and shown miracle mercy in cleansing from leprosy and living death, while giving no water for feet, no kiss, and no oil for head. Mary prized pardoning mercy for her many pardoned sins, became thoroughly penitent and humbled, was filled with love, was free from doubt about divine power, and was ready to sacrifice all.

Love for Christ is measured by conviction of sin and sense of forgiveness, and true love cannot dwell in a self-righteous heart. Simon thought he loved Jesus, but his lack of love was exposed when Jesus honored a poor, sorrowful, repentant woman above him. Not to see personal deformity, selfishness, and defilement in the light of the law is not to see the beauty and spotless character of Christ. The degree of love depends on the clearness and fullness with which a person is awake to sinfulness and its perils, abhors self, appreciates Christ, and is grateful for deliverance and cleansing from sin. Such right love is then revealed by action in harmony with the law through Christ's help.

Great sinfulness gives no reason to expect no great victories in God. Guilt must not be lessened by excusing sin, for no one can come near to God by faith without realizing sinfulness. Those who realize their sin can stand on the promises and with unwavering faith claim a share in the infinite sacrifice made for the human race, clinging closely to Jesus whose great heart of love draws them to Himself. It is the depth of repentance, not the greatness of the sin, that brings pardoning love into the heart, and when much is forgiven the heart loves much.

Grateful Love Expressed

The woman had many and grievous sins pardoned, and her heart became full of love and gratitude toward her Saviour. She prized pardoning mercy, became thoroughly penitent and humbled, was filled with love, was ready to sacrifice all for Jesus, and was free from doubt about His divine power. Her great love was expressed in grateful acts of devotion to His feet, washing them with tears and wiping them with her hair, never ceasing to kiss them, and anointing them with ointment. She felt nothing too dear to bestow upon her Saviour, and that the more costly and precious the ointment the better it expressed her gratitude, honoring Him with precious ointment out of love and gratitude flowing from forgiveness. Added love came because He had raised her beloved and much-loved brother from the dead.

Simon in contrast felt little obligation and showed little love because as a proud Pharisee he did not see how great a sinner he was. He felt more righteous than the woman and superior to her, and thought inviting Jesus to his house was sufficient honor, though he too had been forgiven great sins and cleansed from leprosy and living death by miracle mercy. His coldness, neglect, unbelief, and want of gratitude appeared in giving no water for the feet, no kiss, and no oil for the head, failing to show his Benefactor the respect and love due so exalted a guest. A small sense of need for forgiveness leads to little love and little gratitude, while one who recognizes a great debt responds with great love. Simon himself recognized the principle that the one forgiven most must love Christ most, and that Christ loves most the person He forgives most.

Without openly shaming Simon before the guests, Jesus with patient admonition, pitying kindness, and true statement of his case convinced his mind of his neglect, unbelief, guilt, and want of gratitude, subdued his heart, and won him. Stern denunciation would have closed his heart against repentance, so patient kindness was used to expose guilt and lead to repentance. Simon's eyes were opened, he was touched, he saw the magnitude of the debt he owed his Lord, repented, and became a humble, self-sacrificing man. Those forgiven much love much because painful knowledge of sin's evil, power, guilt, suffering, sorrow, and cost, together with gratitude for the great sacrifice made to save and cure from sin, humbles them and fills them with love, gratitude, and praise. Those who have never fallen cannot appreciate this gratitude in the same way.

Forgiven Love in Life

Those who know they have been forgiven much love much, and that love forbids severity toward tempted and suffering people. Instead of condemning them or driving them away, the forgiven respond with tenderness, compassion and practical help. Great forgiveness awakens great love, while a sense of being forgiven little produces little love.

The one restored from many sins loves greatly, shares the joy over the saving of the lost, and takes a place by the Father's side and in the Father's work. When those who seemed especially hopeless surrender and receive great forgiveness, their love becomes deep and active, preparing and moving them to labor patiently for other perishing souls as they themselves were labored for. By contrast, one who refuses to join in welcoming the restored brother and denies relationship to him loves little and remains in darkness without, for failure to love shows failure to know God, because God is love.

Deep love follows the experience of being forgiven much, so ministers must first seek Christ personally, confess their sins, and receive pardon and acceptance through Him. Only then can they point others to Him as the Redeemer who forgives sin and present truth with its sanctifying power. Those whom Christ has forgiven most will love Him most, and those with the most to overcome in evil traits, when forgiven much, love much in return. That great love will bring them at last to stand nearest to His throne in the final day.

David illustrates how awareness of forgiveness deepens love. Though he sinned greatly, he was loved not because he was perfect but because with profound humility, sincere penitence and deep contrition he accepted rebuke and relied on mercy rather than resisting it or making excuses for sin. The pardon of Mary Magdalene's many sins likewise reveals generous mercy toward sinners in contrast with self-righteous condemnation. It presents Christ as the compassionate friend of women who responds to need, sympathizes with every mother's work, hears earnest prayer, gives people the chance to know His character, and is ready to aid in need all who will trust in Him.