Who Loves Him More?

Q. Thank you for your daily insight. I have a question about a verse, Luke 7:47. The last sentence really struck me as odd so I must be misinterpreting.

In the previous verses Jesus explained that the man with the biggest debt forgiven would have the most love for the man he owed. Was he implying in Luke 7:47 that since the woman had more sins, she would love Jesus more than a righteous man?

Perhaps I am reading into it too much but wouldn’t that be like saying a rebellious Christian has more love and appreciation for Jesus than a Christian who tried to live a righteous life of gratitude for his or her salvation?

A. By telling the story of the two debtors (Luke 7:40-43) Jesus was comparing the woman who washed His feet with the Pharisee who offered Him almost nothing. The woman knew she had been forgiven much and showed much gratitude, like the man who had been forgiven a huge debt.

The Pharisee, who thought he deserved to be forgiven, showed very little gratitude, like the man who had only a small debt canceled.

Your hypothetical pair really doesn’t fit the analogy, because the Lord was contrasting the Pharisee who believed in salvation by works with the woman who understood that salvation is by grace through faith. To the Pharisee Jesus was just another dinner guest, but to the woman He was her Lord and Savior.