There was a Pharisee named Simon (it was quite a popular name in Bible times). He invited Jesus to dinner. That might have been a gracious act of hospitality, but in this case it was not: Simon’s invitation to Jesus was not about friendship and welcome, for the customary courtesies for a guest were omitted (Luke 7:44-46).

Then a woman “who was a sinner” entered the house (7:37): she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and anointed them with some costly ointment (7:38). Simon muttered to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, “he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him – that she is a sinner” (7:39).

Jesus then told the famous parable about the two debtors, one with a substantial debt (two years’ pay), the other with a smaller debt (two months’ pay): when the creditor forgave them both, he asked Simon, which one would love him more? Simon answered that it would be the one who had the larger debt forgiven (7:43). Jesus responded that that’s how everyone could see that the woman had had her large debt forgiven, for she had loved much (7:47). Jesus left Simon – and us – to see that Simon’s own debt may have been relatively small, but since he had loved Jesus little, or perhaps not at all, we would have to feel uncertain as to whether he was forgiven.

We are uncomfortable with the notion that the result of forgiveness needs to be a life that looks different: if forgiveness is free by grace, doesn’t that preclude any requirement of ‘works’ involved? That’s an important point, but it’s not the point here: the parable’s narrative gives us a specific sequence, which we can see paralleled in the woman’s story. In both instances the gracious gift comes first, and the grateful response comes second. Forgiveness is the cause, and loving devotion is the effect.

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How shall we respond to your deep grace, O Lord: your astonishing grace that establishes forgiveness for all our sins? So often we respond with complacency, taking your mercy for granted. Teach us to offer you our whole hearts, with overflowing gratitude.

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