Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little. (NRSV)

Let’s be real, the story of the sinful woman who anoints the feet of Jesus with an alabaster jar of oil is strange. This is not a thing that happens in our modern society. Pharisees were highly esteemed in first century Palestine, and women were not. That’s the first difference we need to acknowledge. By the custom of the day, this lady was out of line. Secondly, who just invites themselves into the house of someone throwing a party? Let alone when there is a socioeconomic disparity that would certainly make everyone uncomfortable.  

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And then she does the unthinkable: Weeping, she covers Jesus’s feet with oil, wipes them clean with her hair, and kisses his feet. Such a remarkable act of humility; so much greater than the typical custom of a servant cleaning the guest’s feet with water. This woman gave her everything, expressing the most profound gratitude for who Jesus was and what he had done for her by forgiving her many sins. Her hospitality exceeds that of the Pharisees, who had the means to do better than they had done (vv. 44-46).

The Pharisee, who objected to Jesus allowing this “sinner” to touch him, clearly had little sense of having been forgiven and, thus, no sense of gratitude to Jesus, as this woman did. I think herein lies the point – when real forgiveness occurs, great love is the result. Like the relief of setting down a heavy burden, forgiveness brings about a similar weight lifted. It is a natural response to demonstrate gratitude and love to the person who relieved you of such a burden. The greater the burden, the more grateful you are. For example, I am more grateful for my truck’s payload capacity than I am my wife’s purse fitting my phone inside. Makes sense, right? It’s a greater relief of burden. It’s not a big deal if I have to carry my phone; it is a big deal to move 2,000 pounds of gravel. I appreciate my truck more than my wife’s purse.

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Have you been forgiven of many sins? Do you have this sense of relief and gratitude? Is it accompanied by an expression of gratitude and love? If so, people who don’t will notice. Just as the Pharisee noted, then received an education, so we grow the Kingdom of God when great love is the expression of our gratitude. Forgiveness multiplies this way. Jesus is the origin of it all, and we love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Because he loves, he forgives. Because he forgives, we love. Through our love, others know His love. It’s a beautiful cycle!

Father, may your forgiveness produce gratitude in my heart that is expressed through love, that your Kingdom would grow. May the world see the change you can make in a life when they see me. Amen.