Jesus Tells the Weeping Woman Her Sins Are Forgivenby CBPepper
7:48Luke 7:48
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Jesus spoke these words as a direct personal assurance to Mary, whose sins had been many and grievous, while He was a guest at supper in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Her pardon was granted through faith in Him, not earned by her loving devotion, which was gratitude for mercy already received. Because she recognized how much she had been forgiven, she loved much, while Simon showed little love because he underestimated his own need of pardon. Any sinner, however sinful, who comes to Him with penitential confession may receive the same forgiveness by faith, bringing joy, praise and peace. That forgiveness heals the soul, which is more important than healing the body, and it calls the forgiven one to go in peace, leave sin behind and stop sinning.
Setting and Pardon Spoken
The words were spoken while Jesus was a guest at a supper in the house of Simon the Pharisee, having accepted the invitation to the meal. He entered in that way into the lives of the rich and cultured in order to reach their hearts, to reveal imperishable riches, and to teach those present. His generous mercy and presence on that occasion drew criticism from Pharisees, and His conduct and teaching there revealed His kind character in contrast to their self-righteous ideas about salvation.
The woman He addressed was Mary, also called Mary Magdalene, whose sins had been many and grievous. In pardoning her He revealed pitying kindness and mercy toward her. Her pardon, like His forgiveness toward Simon, called for gratitude and love, and her awareness of her need for mercy made her deeply grateful.
He gave her a direct personal assurance that her sins were forgiven after she humbly expressed love and gratitude. That assurance was spoken to her as a penitent, and it personally assures a penitent sinner that pardon is given. Her loving devotion was gratitude for mercy already received.
Forgiveness Through Repentant Faith
Pardon is granted through faith in Jesus, not earned by actions, and loving devotion is gratitude for mercy already received, not payment for forgiveness. Both the woman and Simon depended on the Saviour's pardon, but she prized that mercy and responded with greater love because she recognized her need, while Simon underestimated his own need and showed little gratitude. Forgiveness of great sin awakens deep love, so the one forgiven much loves much. Simon himself recognized this truth that the one forgiven more would love more, and David likewise loved much because he had been forgiven much through deep repentance and strong faith.
Any sinner, however sinful and unholy, who comes to Him as they are with penitential prayer and confession may receive this forgiveness by faith. It does not require long pilgrimages or journeys to holy shrines, and it brings joy and praise and peace. Children who recognize their sin, seek the Lord, and desire to follow Christ may be assured He accepts them, and some experience that assurance of forgiveness as peace in troubled hearts. When a daughter surrenders will, way, and affections to Jesus and seeks God with the whole heart, her sins are forgiven, turning away God's anger and bringing comfort that prompts praise.
Christ speaks forgiveness to the repentant, believing soul, and it is accompanied by conversion whose sincerity appears in good works and a changed life. Profession of faith alone does not prove a saving connection with Christ; that connection is shown by conformity to God's will in words, conduct, and character through reliance on Jesus for support and strength in doing one's own duties. He taught Simon with tact and patient, pitying kindness, sparing him open rebuke before the guests and touching the heart rather than forcing belief. Stern denunciation would have closed Simon's heart against repentance, but patient admonition opened his eyes to his neglect and unbelief, convinced him of his error and of the magnitude of the debt he owed his Lord, and won his heart to repentance, humility, and self-sacrifice.
Healing Soul and Changed Life
Forgiveness belongs to the way of salvation to be held out to the sick and suffering who come for care, and those who repent may receive pardon for their sins. Healing of the soul is more important than healing of the body, so forgiveness of sins is part of that deeper healing. Those who come are to be shown the way of salvation and led to repentance, that they may receive Christ's personal assurance of forgiveness with peace and a changed life. They are to repent, receive forgiveness, go in peace, and turn away from sin.
The words of forgiveness bring peace to those who come to Christ confessing their sins. That peace is joined to a call to leave sin behind and to stop sinning. Forgiveness spoken as a personal assurance is therefore applied to those who repent and are shown the way of salvation.
Those who have received this gracious assurance to a sinner must not hold themselves apart from people living in darkness and hardship. Every person is valued by God and purchased by Christ. The light and love awakened by forgiveness should be kept alive by helping people who need help, for when truth is not practiced and people become self-righteous, proud, and absorbed in their knowledge, faith grows dim and those they could have helped are left discouraged and despairing.
Mary's sins had been forgiven by the Saviour, and her costly anointing of Jesus' feet was an appreciative response to His work for her. That pardoning of Mary Magdalene proves sympathy with every mother in her work. Earnest prayer is heard, and help is ready for any woman in need who trusts, as woman's best friend.
Jesus spoke these words as a direct personal assurance to Mary, whose sins had been many and grievous, while He was a guest at supper in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Her pardon was granted through faith in Him, not earned by her loving devotion, which was gratitude for mercy already received. Because she recognized how much she had been forgiven, she loved much, while Simon showed little love because he underestimated his own need of pardon. Any sinner, however sinful, who comes to Him with penitential confession may receive the same forgiveness by faith, bringing joy, praise and peace. That forgiveness heals the soul, which is more important than healing the body, and it calls the forgiven one to go in peace, leave sin behind and stop sinning.
Setting and Pardon Spoken
The words were spoken while Jesus was a guest at a supper in the house of Simon the Pharisee, having accepted the invitation to the meal. He entered in that way into the lives of the rich and cultured in order to reach their hearts, to reveal imperishable riches, and to teach those present. His generous mercy and presence on that occasion drew criticism from Pharisees, and His conduct and teaching there revealed His kind character in contrast to their self-righteous ideas about salvation.
The woman He addressed was Mary, also called Mary Magdalene, whose sins had been many and grievous. In pardoning her He revealed pitying kindness and mercy toward her. Her pardon, like His forgiveness toward Simon, called for gratitude and love, and her awareness of her need for mercy made her deeply grateful.
He gave her a direct personal assurance that her sins were forgiven after she humbly expressed love and gratitude. That assurance was spoken to her as a penitent, and it personally assures a penitent sinner that pardon is given. Her loving devotion was gratitude for mercy already received.
Forgiveness Through Repentant Faith
Pardon is granted through faith in Jesus, not earned by actions, and loving devotion is gratitude for mercy already received, not payment for forgiveness. Both the woman and Simon depended on the Saviour's pardon, but she prized that mercy and responded with greater love because she recognized her need, while Simon underestimated his own need and showed little gratitude. Forgiveness of great sin awakens deep love, so the one forgiven much loves much. Simon himself recognized this truth that the one forgiven more would love more, and David likewise loved much because he had been forgiven much through deep repentance and strong faith.
Any sinner, however sinful and unholy, who comes to Him as they are with penitential prayer and confession may receive this forgiveness by faith. It does not require long pilgrimages or journeys to holy shrines, and it brings joy and praise and peace. Children who recognize their sin, seek the Lord, and desire to follow Christ may be assured He accepts them, and some experience that assurance of forgiveness as peace in troubled hearts. When a daughter surrenders will, way, and affections to Jesus and seeks God with the whole heart, her sins are forgiven, turning away God's anger and bringing comfort that prompts praise.
Christ speaks forgiveness to the repentant, believing soul, and it is accompanied by conversion whose sincerity appears in good works and a changed life. Profession of faith alone does not prove a saving connection with Christ; that connection is shown by conformity to God's will in words, conduct, and character through reliance on Jesus for support and strength in doing one's own duties. He taught Simon with tact and patient, pitying kindness, sparing him open rebuke before the guests and touching the heart rather than forcing belief. Stern denunciation would have closed Simon's heart against repentance, but patient admonition opened his eyes to his neglect and unbelief, convinced him of his error and of the magnitude of the debt he owed his Lord, and won his heart to repentance, humility, and self-sacrifice.
Healing Soul and Changed Life
Forgiveness belongs to the way of salvation to be held out to the sick and suffering who come for care, and those who repent may receive pardon for their sins. Healing of the soul is more important than healing of the body, so forgiveness of sins is part of that deeper healing. Those who come are to be shown the way of salvation and led to repentance, that they may receive Christ's personal assurance of forgiveness with peace and a changed life. They are to repent, receive forgiveness, go in peace, and turn away from sin.
The words of forgiveness bring peace to those who come to Christ confessing their sins. That peace is joined to a call to leave sin behind and to stop sinning. Forgiveness spoken as a personal assurance is therefore applied to those who repent and are shown the way of salvation.
Those who have received this gracious assurance to a sinner must not hold themselves apart from people living in darkness and hardship. Every person is valued by God and purchased by Christ. The light and love awakened by forgiveness should be kept alive by helping people who need help, for when truth is not practiced and people become self-righteous, proud, and absorbed in their knowledge, faith grows dim and those they could have helped are left discouraged and despairing.
Mary's sins had been forgiven by the Saviour, and her costly anointing of Jesus' feet was an appreciative response to His work for her. That pardoning of Mary Magdalene proves sympathy with every mother in her work. Earnest prayer is heard, and help is ready for any woman in need who trusts, as woman's best friend.