Understanding Love. Luke 7:36-47

You love as much as you've been shown love. If you've never seen love then you won't be a loving person. However, those that have been taught love by seeing love are much more likely to love.

When the Pharisee saw Jesus, he didn't see the love of Christ. The Pharisee instead was threatened as he sought to uphold his own righteousness in the face of someone who was condemning it. In the situation below the prostitute got it. She understood who Jesus was and who she was in light of him. She loved him so much because he first loved her.

Perhaps the reason we don't always love as we should is because we don't always understand how much we've been loved. Sometimes it's easy to forget where we'd be without the grace that God had on us.

Luke 7:36-47
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.

41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Questions
1. What did you learn about Jesus from this passage?
2. Why do you think we don't always love well?
3. What do you think you need to change related to this passage?

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