(48)  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  (49)  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  (50)  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke 7:48-50

Explanation:

Jesus declares that this woman’s sins are forgiven.  He has the authority to forgive sins, being God.  This woman receives the end of what those who understand their sinfulness and go to God for forgiveness receive- forgiveness from God!

Yet we see in this scene that there are those who missed the whole point of the parable and the identity of Jesus.  “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”  This is a repeated argument against Jesus, and Jesus reads their minds and hearts yet again.  Jesus is unequivocally claiming deity and has proven His deity repeatedly throughout the Gospel.  It seems as if this is the story Luke is wanting to share.  Luke is not concerned with Jesus just as a miracle worker and healer.  He is not concerned with Jesus as merely an incredible teacher.  He is not just concerned with Jesus as a moral example.  He is presenting Jesus as the Son of God who is proving His identity as God who has come to bring salvation and forgiveness of sin through faith in Him.

Isn’t this what He says to the woman?  “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace”. 

She is not saved by her good works.  She is not saved because of her tears or her anointing of Jesus.  Those are merely fruits of her belief in Jesus.  She has trusted that Jesus can forgive her, and in going to Him for forgiveness, Jesus responds to her faith and forgives her. 

Application:

This woman was saved the same way you and I can be saved and are saved.

“For by grace are you saved through faith”.

Ephesians 2:8

(3)  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  (4)  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,  (5)  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;  (6)  Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  (7)  That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:3-7

If we think we can be right with God on our own, we will not be.

If we understand our own need for a Savior, and go to Him by faith, we will be saved.

If we understand our own need for a Savior to sanctify us, we will live the Christian life dependent on Him and therefore empowered by Him.  If we try to do it on our own, we will fail.

Response:

• Are you living in self-righteousness or depending on Christ today?