We can carry around the burden of our sins to the point that the burden causes us to break – emotionally, spiritually, maybe even physically. Or we can give our sin-burden to Jesus Christ; allow Him to carry it on the cross – freeing us to worship God with our whole heart and our whole lives.

SCENE #1 – THE PHARISEE INVITES JESUS – 7:36-39:
One of the famous Pharisees, who are becoming His enemies (5:17-6:11), hosts a dinner and invites Jesus as an honored guest (ver. 36). In that same city, there was a certain woman whom Luke identifies as a “sinner.” This woman heard that Jesus was in the home of Simon and brought an alabaster flask of myrrh (ver. 37).

The Pharisee, Simon the host, saw the behavior, and the fact that Jesus had not sent her away, and thought within himself that Jesus surely could not be a holy prophet of God acting this way (ver. 39). At this point, in Simon’s mind, based on Jesus’ response to this “sinner!” Jesus could not be a prophet.

SCENE #2 – JESUS’ PARABLE – 7:40-43:
Jesus gives a parable using two debtors. One (ver. 41) owed the creditor a debt equal to more than a year’s salary (500 days), while another debtor owed the creditor the equivalent of a month and a half’s salary (50 days). Then Jesus told Simon (ver. 42) that the creditor “graciously forgave” both. He then asked which of the two would love “more?”

Simon responded that he supposed that the one with whom the creditor was more gracious would love more (ver. 43).

SCENE #3 – JESUS BLESSES THE FORGIVEN WOMAN – 7:44-50:
Jesus directed Simon’s attention to her by saying, “Do you see this woman?” We wonder if Simon had really seen the woman, if he had seen her as a person made in the image of God. Jesus did. Then Jesus contrasts Simon’s behavior toward Jesus with the woman’s behavior.

Jesus directed His attention to the woman and said, once again, that her sins “have been forgiven” (ver. 48). The other guests, sitting at the same table with Jesus in the same home of the Pharisee, were asking themselves who Jesus might be if He presumes to have the authority to forgive sins (ver. 49)!

Jesus finally gives the woman peace and hope, telling her that her faith – in responding to Jesus in trust and obedience – had saved her. She could leave with a settled state of mind, with tranquility in her thoughts, and peace in her heart. She was forgiven by God. Nothing else truly matters.

The focus of this text is not primarily the fact that the woman was forgiven. The purpose of the text is to highlight how she responded to Jesus after having her sins forgiven. If we want Jesus to carry the burden of our sins, we have to give that burden to Him, first of all. As He says in Mark 16:16, we have to trust Him and be baptized into Him in order to lay our sins on His shoulders.

But what further do we do? We have to accept that forgiveness once He offers it. In other words, we have to forgive ourselves. We have to give Him that burden we carry rather than continuing to carry it ourselves.

The woman’s profound display of affection is a clear sign that she knew she was freed from her moral “debt” which she owed God for her sins. When you and I realize that we have truly been forgiven and so saved from an eternal hell with Satan and his angels, we will not stop worshipping and praising God and His Son, our Savior. The primary motivation for worship is thanksgiving.

This woman had not been welcomed into Simon’s home as a guest, but as a forgiven sinner, Heaven embraced her at death with open arms.

Paul Holland