Luke 7:44,47 … do you remember this woman? I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she washed my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair… her sins which were many are forgiven, for she loved much. But to who little is forgiven, the same loves little.
This is the famous story where Mary (sister of Lazarus) brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil into the house of Simon, a Pharisee, and anointed Jesus’ feet. As she wept and wiped Jesus’ feet, Simon was alarmed that Jesus did nothing to prevent her, an immoral woman, from doing this! Jesus turns to Simon, knowing his thoughts and declares this spiritual principle:
The greater the revelation you have received that you are forgiven by Jesus, the greater you will love.
Forgiveness flows out of the grace of God. And the greater the grace of God that you have received, it will not cause you to go out and sin more, it will cause you to become more like Jesus and love more!
Legalism and religion struggle to receive and even preach the gospel of grace because of the fear that grace is a “license for people to go out and sin”. But legalism is what causes people to sin more – the only problem is these people keep their sins deeply hidden in the “closets of their lives”.
The more a person receives the revelation of grace, the more that person is less likely to go out and sin – that’s the truth.
The woman in this powerful story knew she was a great sinner – yet she also knew that even a great sinner could be greatly forgiven and redeemed by God. Now you don’t have to go out and commit some really great sin so you can be greatly forgiven! Forgiveness is a revelation. You just need to understand how great Jesus' love toward you is.
And this revelation of forgiveness produced one of the greatest displays of worship in the Bible. That flask of oil was worth about one year’s wages. It’s like you being so grateful that Jesus had forgiven your sins, that you give to Him one year’s wages.
This woman wasn’t trying to purchase or earn her forgiveness, it was a radical outpouring of her love.
I have encountered some Christians who dislike bringing offerings into the House of God and dislike the tithing message even more – some people have even left the church because of this. But the revelation of what Jesus has done for a Believer is what produces a radical outpouring of love to give. You will love to give to God’s church, you will love to tithe and to partner with God in the preaching of His grace. You will love being generous with your time, your talents and even your wealth!
This woman with the alabaster flask of oil didn't give out of obligation, it was because of her revelation of Jesus’ radical forgiveness.