Love Like Jesus

Jesus knew the power of a parable. Telling stories was a tactic He often used to get His point across and to make it stick. Parables have a way of turning our magnifying glass away from others and to ourselves. This is exactly what Jesus did with a Pharisee by the name of Simon.

Simon had invited Jesus to his house. While there, “a woman of the city, who was a sinner” brought an alabaster flask of ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:37). Simon thought to himself that Jesus should have known who this woman was. Jesus, knowing Simon's heart told a story (Luke 7:41-42).

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Obviously the answer is the one forgiven the most. Jesus’ point, the woman had been forgiven a great deal, thus she would be the most gracious toward Jesus. 

We need to be careful not to make a couple of mistakes that Simon made. First, he made some false assumptions about his own holiness. He presumed himself to be “better” than this woman. Scripture clearly teaches us that each and every one of us are sinners (Romans 3:23). Second, we must remember that Christ cares for, loves, and died for all people (John 3:16, Romans 10:13). We must not assume, as Simon did, that Christ values some people more than others.

Allow the power of the parable to teach us. Not only does this story stand to teach us that those who are forgiven much will love much, it also teaches us that Jesus loves much. If Jesus loves much, then so should we.