Forgiveness and Love: A Transformative Encounter
Summary
Today’s passage centers on a powerful encounter between Jesus, a Pharisee named Simon, and a woman known for her sinful reputation. As Jesus dines at Simon’s house, the woman enters, weeping at Jesus’ feet, washing them with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume. Simon, observing this, silently judges both the woman and Jesus, questioning how a prophet could allow such a person to touch him. Jesus, perceiving Simon’s thoughts, responds with a brief parable: two debtors, one owing much and the other little, are both forgiven. Jesus asks Simon which debtor will love the forgiver more, and Simon rightly answers—the one forgiven more.
This story is not just about the woman’s extravagant act or Simon’s silent judgment, but about the connection between forgiveness and love. The depth of our love is directly tied to our awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we recognize the magnitude of grace we’ve received, our hearts are moved to love more deeply and sacrificially. Jesus’ words, “whoever has been forgiven little loves little,” challenge us to reflect on our own posture—do we see ourselves as people in need of great forgiveness, or do we minimize our need for grace?
The narrative also explores how our experiences of pain and loss can become places where faith is forged and love is deepened. Through a personal story of family hardship and loss, we see how suffering, when met with the love and presence of Christ, can transform us into people who extend compassion to others. The willingness to revisit places of pain in order to serve and comfort others is a testimony to the power of the gospel at work in our lives.
Ultimately, the call is to remember what Jesus has done for us—not as a distant theological fact, but as a living reality that shapes how we love. We are invited to live lives marked by extravagant love, not out of our own strength, but empowered by the Spirit, rooted in the deep well of forgiveness we have received.
Key Takeaways
- The Link Between Forgiveness and Love
True love flows from a deep awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we minimize our need for grace, our capacity to love is diminished. But when we see ourselves as recipients of great mercy, our hearts are freed to love others with humility and generosity. [38:34]
- The Danger of Silent Judgment
Simon’s internal critique of both Jesus and the woman reveals how easy it is to judge others from a place of self-righteousness. Jesus challenges us to examine not just our actions, but our hidden thoughts and attitudes, inviting us to see others through the lens of grace rather than condemnation. [41:55]
- Suffering as a Place of Transformation
Painful experiences, though deeply difficult, can become the very ground where faith is strengthened and love is refined. When we allow Christ to meet us in our suffering, we are equipped to walk alongside others in their pain, offering comfort that comes from firsthand experience of God’s faithfulness. [50:57]
- The Power of Remembering Grace
Our ability to love well is sustained by continually remembering the grace we have received. Forgetting what Jesus has done leads to spiritual dryness and self-reliance, but remembering keeps our hearts tender and responsive, fueling a life of sacrificial love. [55:42]
- Love That Costs
To love well often requires us to revisit places of pain or discomfort, just as Christ entered into our brokenness. This kind of love is not sentimental or easy, but costly and courageous, rooted in the example of Jesus who gave everything for us. Such love becomes a living testimony to the gospel’s power. [54:52]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:37:20] - Reading Luke 7:36-47
[00:38:01] - The Parable of the Two Debtors
[00:38:34] - Forgiveness and Love Connected
[00:41:55] - Simon’s Silent Judgment
[00:44:37] - Debt Forgiveness and Our Response
[00:45:30] - The Question: How Much Have You Been Forgiven?
[00:48:07] - The Gospel’s Strange Power
[00:49:19] - A Family Story of Loss and Faith
[00:50:57] - Suffering and Spiritual Growth
[00:51:54] - Compassion Born from Pain
[00:52:39] - Serving Others in Their Suffering
[00:53:43] - The Testimony of Costly Love
[00:54:52] - The Power of a Mother’s Example
[00:55:42] - The Call to Love Much
[00:56:41] - Closing Prayer and Song
[00:58:41] - Announcements and Benediction
[01:05:16] - Dismissal
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide
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### Bible Reading
Luke 7:36-47 (NIV)
> When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
>
> When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
>
> Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
>
> “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
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> “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
>
> Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
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> “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
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> Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
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### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the woman take when she entered Simon’s house, and how did Simon react to her presence? ([37:20])
2. What is the main point of the parable Jesus tells Simon about the two debtors? ([38:01])
3. How does Jesus contrast Simon’s actions with the woman’s actions in the story? ([38:34])
4. According to Jesus, what is the connection between forgiveness and love? ([38:34])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Simon judged the woman and Jesus silently, rather than saying anything out loud? What does this reveal about his heart? ([41:55])
2. In the parable, both debtors are unable to pay their debts. What does this say about our own spiritual condition before God? ([38:01])
3. Jesus says, “Whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” How might someone’s awareness (or lack of awareness) of their own need for forgiveness affect the way they love others? ([38:34])
4. The sermon shared a story about suffering and loss leading to deeper faith and compassion. How can painful experiences shape the way someone loves and serves others? ([50:57])
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### Application Questions
1. Jesus challenges us to see ourselves as people in need of great forgiveness. Do you tend to minimize your need for grace, or do you recognize how much you’ve been forgiven? How does this affect your love for others? ([38:34])
2. Simon’s silent judgment was called out by Jesus. Are there people in your life you silently judge or look down on? What would it look like to see them through the lens of grace instead? ([41:55])
3. The woman’s love for Jesus was costly and public. Is there an area in your life where loving someone well would require you to step out of your comfort zone or revisit a place of pain? What might that look like? ([54:52])
4. The sermon described how suffering can become a place where faith is strengthened and compassion grows. Can you think of a time when your own pain or loss helped you comfort or serve someone else? ([50:57])
5. The pastor’s mother chose to return to the hospital to help other families after her own loss. Is there a place of past pain in your life where God might be inviting you to serve or encourage others? ([53:43])
6. Jesus calls us to remember what he has done for us, not just as a fact but as a living reality. What are some practical ways you can remind yourself of God’s grace this week? ([55:42])
7. The sermon ended with a call to love well, empowered by the Spirit. What is one specific way you can show extravagant love to someone in your life this week, relying on God’s strength rather than your own? ([56:41])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for a deeper awareness of God’s forgiveness and for courage to love others with humility, generosity, and compassion.
Devotional
Day 1: Forgiven Much, Love Much
The story of the sinful woman and Simon the Pharisee reveals that our capacity to love is directly connected to our awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we recognize the depth of our own need and the grace that Jesus has shown us, our hearts are moved to respond with extravagant love, just as the woman did. This is not about comparing ourselves to others, but about honestly acknowledging our own brokenness and the mercy we have received. The more we grasp the weight of our forgiveness, the more we are empowered to love God and others deeply. [38:34]
Luke 7:36-47 (ESV)
"One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, 'If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.' And Jesus answering said to him, 'Simon, I have something to say to you.' And he answered, 'Say it, Teacher.' '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?' Simon answered, 'The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.' And he said to him, 'You have judged rightly.' Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to remember how much you have been forgiven, so that you can love others more freely and deeply today?
Day 2: The Power of Remembering Grace
Remembering the grace and forgiveness we have received from Jesus is not just a one-time event, but a continual practice that shapes how we live and love. When we forget the depth of God’s mercy toward us, our love grows cold and our hearts become self-righteous or indifferent. But when we intentionally recall the ways Jesus has worked in our lives—how He has met us in our brokenness and offered us new life—we are empowered to extend that same grace to others, even when it is difficult or costly. [45:30]
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—"
Reflection: Take a moment to remember a specific time when you experienced God’s grace in a powerful way. How can recalling that moment help you show grace to someone else today?
Day 3: Love That Costs
True love often requires sacrifice and courage, especially in the face of pain or hardship. The example of a mother who, despite her own grief and loss, chooses to comfort and serve others in similar situations, demonstrates a love that is willing to enter into the suffering of others. This kind of love is not born out of our own strength, but out of a heart transformed by the gospel—a heart that knows what it means to be loved and comforted by God in our darkest moments. [53:43]
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
Reflection: Who in your life is going through a difficult time, and how can you step into their pain with comfort and love, even if it costs you something today?
Day 4: The Gospel Transforms Our Story
The gospel is not just a set of beliefs, but a living reality that intersects with our personal stories, shaping how we see ourselves and how we respond to the world around us. As we reflect on what Jesus has done—His life, death, and resurrection—and how that has changed our lives, we are invited to let that truth transform our daily actions, relationships, and choices. The more we allow the gospel to shape our identity, the more we become people who love well and live with purpose. [49:19]
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to let the truth of the gospel reshape your perspective or actions today?
Day 5: Empowered to Love by the Spirit
We are called to love well, not out of our own limited capacity, but through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the Spirit who reminds us of what Jesus has done, who fills us with God’s love, and who enables us to love others beyond what we could do on our own. As we go out into the world, we do so with the assurance that we have been forgiven much, and that God’s Spirit is with us, equipping us to love boldly and generously. [01:05:16]
Romans 5:5 (ESV)
"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Reflection: Where do you feel your love running dry? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh with God’s love so you can love others well today.
Quotes
And not only is that a powerful testimony for that family, it became an extremely powerful testimony for me. And so, Mom, thank you. Thank you for exhibiting that strength when it must have been very hard. Because the love that you were able to show really showed to me the power of the gospel. [00:54:52] (47 seconds)
I believe this is the life that God invites us into, a life that does not forget what Jesus did for us. And in the not forgetting of what Jesus did for us, empowers us to love well. [00:55:54] (22 seconds)
When my sister passed, it was obviously a very difficult situation for everyone. And a couple of years later, my mom, in my memory, did this twice, but perhaps more. And she was usually armed with simply a clipping from a Chinese newspaper. [00:51:28] (20 seconds)
But over time, I started to realize how meaningful that was for that family. Win-Win also eventually passed. It was obviously, again, just very hard. And as I got older and I thought back on the situation, there was a part of me that wondered, what gave my mom the strength to want to go through all of that again? [00:53:48] (29 seconds)
And I believe that it's actually as she was in the hospital with my sister and growing in her faith, realizing what Jesus was doing despite the fact that everything was going kind of a different direction than what we had hoped. But that Jesus was still loving. That God was still at work. That the Spirit was still moving. [00:54:19] (27 seconds)
And so, that will be the first. heart. And the second part of that group is we'll be working together to think through how did that gospel message, how did the life of Christ actually affect the things of our lives, our life stories, and how does that kind of interact? And hopefully the conclusion of that is as we see what Jesus has done, how that has affected our lives, that'll empower us to go and live those perfect and complete lives. [00:48:35] (28 seconds)
And so Jesus then shares this short parable. Two debtors, one owed 50 denarii, which was about a day's wage, and one owed 500. The person who owned the debt forgave both. And he simply asks this question, which of them will love more? [00:43:53] (25 seconds)
And as Christians, when we say Jesus died for you, Jesus loved you, we mean it. There is truth behind that. And so, we want to think through, how does all of that work? How does all of that come together? [00:48:17] (17 seconds)
And so, Mom, thank you. Thank you for exhibiting that strength when it must have been very hard. Because the love that you were able to show really showed to me the power of the gospel. Thank you. That we were called to love and to love well, even at great cost. [00:55:07] (43 seconds)
And yet, as Christians, when we say Jesus died for you, Jesus loved you, we mean it. There is truth behind that. And so, we want to think through, how does all of that work? How does all of that come together? [00:48:17] (17 seconds)
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