Jul 26

Luke 7:36-47
Memorise Luke 7:47
“…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief...”

The Pharisees were the religious leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ time and they prided themselves on the enforcement of God’s law. However, they also invented many other extra-biblical rules which they enforced just as strongly. They were self-righteous and liked to be seen praying loudly, giving alms and fasting (Luke 11:43-44, Matthew 6:1-6). They also liked to associate themselves with popular men; we see this when Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to his house for a meal. Jesus was very popular with the people at that time because of the miracles He did. We can see the Pharisee’s self-righteousness from his thoughts of disgust when Jesus let the woman, who was well-known to be a sinner – likely a prostitute, clean his feet with her hair. Jesus knew his thoughts and rebuked him with a parable of how the debtor who owes more will love the creditor more when he is relieved of his debt. This shows that the one who understands how great his sin is, and how great a forgiveness he or she has received, will love God that much more. There is thus no limit to God’s salvation and no sin so great that God cannot forgive. Conversely, all Man have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Simon failed to realise this and thought that he did not have sins as great as this woman. Realise that just one single sin will make us guilty of breaking all of God’s law (James 2:10). Therefore, all of us are equally guilty of God’s judgment and eternal death. How can we then think that anyone is beyond salvation if we ourselves are guilty as well?

Have you ever fallen into the same self-righteous trap as Simon the Pharisee? Do you ever find yourselves thinking that you are not as bad a sinner as someone else? You could be thinking of the people around you or even criminals you read about in the newspapers. Do you pass judgment on them like Simon and think that they can never be saved? Or worse, you think that they do not even deserve to be saved? If you find yourself thinking this way, repent and humble yourself. How can you a sinner worthy of death condemn another sinner when both of you are on the death row? Instead, recognise that Christ came to this world to save sinners, even those we consider the “worst” sinners. Should we not pray for them and preach the good news to them instead of condemning them to hell?

Thought: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).
Prayer: Teach me to see sinners as You do, Lord.