Forgiveness among human beings is a commanded and necessary part of the Christian life, but how often do we sit and contemplate what it means that our sins are completely forgiven by God?

In Luke chapter seven, we are given a parable about what the ultimate form of forgiveness means.

We see that a woman, who was a sinner, heard where Jesus was and went to him.

“And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfume.” (Luke 7:37-39 – NASB)

As sinners, all of us can identify with this woman. She was overcome by the guilt of her sin, and she was also overcome by the presence of Jesus, who she believed was able to forgive her iniquities.

But one of the Pharisees standing by did not understand what was taking place and did not acknowledge Jesus’ ability to forgive.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet he would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.“” (Luke 7:39 – NASB)

As he is about to illustrate for the Pharisee, Jesus knew perfectly well that she was a sinner. It was for sinners like her that he came.

“And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which one of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see the woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave be no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with him began to say, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:40-50 – NASB)

Jesus affirmed that her sins were many, but she sought him through faith, and thus, he forgave her.

There are several things we can take away from this passage.

1. We can’t fathom the depths of our sin

Do you know by number how many sins you have committed?

Do you know exactly how each sin you have committed has affected your life and the lives of others?

It isn’t possible for us to quantify the depths of our sinful activity, but what we do know is that we are just like the woman in this passage in that we have committed many sins.

2. The depths of our sin is the height of his forgiveness

Just as we cannot fathom the depths of our sin, we, in the same way, cannot fathom the magnitude of his forgiveness extended to us.

Jesus said the woman’s sins “were many,” but then he affirmed her love of him, which was much. He who sins much but loves Jesus much will be forgiven much.

3. Understand that we are like the woman

In the story, the Pharisee was wringing his hands over the fact that Jesus would associate with a lowlife sinner such as the woman. All the while, he did not grasp that he was a sinner just like her.

“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

We must put ourselves in the place of the woman and come humbly before the throne of grace that has been extended to us.

4. Kiss his feet

The woman, who understood her sin and the power of Jesus’ forgiveness, immediately went to kissing Jesus’ feet, anointing his head and wiping her tears on his feet with her hair.

She did this out of the overflow of her heart because of what Jesus meant to her. This was her expression of love and worship toward her savior, which Jesus understood and acknowledged.

We must not be afraid to worship our savior out of the overflow of our hearts.

5. Be awed by what forgiveness means

While the Pharisees looking on might have been slow to grasp his forgiveness of the woman and why he would release her from iniquity, they did ask a very deep observational question — “Who is this man that even forgives sins?”

They were awed by the power he possessed and the authority by which he proclaimed the forgiveness of sin.

In the same way, although we live after the time when Jesus walked on the earth, and we are granted forgiveness through grace, we should never take it for granted.

It was paid for by God, sending his son to be the sacrifice for all of our sins. He was put to death in a gruesome way on a cross. He suffered. He was buried.

Then, he rose on the third day and triumphed, and in so doing, gave us the triumphant victory in our lives over sin.