Evening journal., 1908-02-29
GROUND FOR GRATITUDE
To Whom Little Is Forgiven the
Same Loveth Little.--Luke 7,47.
BY Rev. C. T. Wyatt, D. D.


Jesus was the guest Of Simon. a self
righteous moralist He neglected to
show Jesus the conventional courtesies.
There was no water for his feet: no
kiss of welcome; no oil for his head.
Such neglect was great breach of
hospitality. A woman who had led a
sinful life entered the guest chamber
without invitation. She stood at the
feet of Jesus weeping Her feelings
overcame her. She was deeply penitent
The hot tears wrung from soul fun Of
anguish fell upon the unsandaled feet
Of the Master before she was able to
perform the act of love which she had
in mind. With her long tresses shs
wiped his feet and kissed them again
and again. She then anointed them
with the precious spikenard. There
was a contrast between her reverence
and affection and Simon's selhshness
and neglect. Simon looked on in
scorn.
He was shocked when he saw this
wicked woman was permitted to adore
the Master. He spoke within himself,
for he would not dare speak aloud.
"This man. II he were a prophet,
would know who and what manner OF
woman this is that toucheth him"
Simon thought Jesus ought to rebuke
her. but he did not understand the low
ing heart of the Saviour.
Christ read Simon's thought accur-
ately and answered Il in the parable of
the two debtors, in which he brings
out the contrast between this poor, sim
/ full. but penitent woman and the self
righteous, self-satisfed Pharisee. A
creditor had two debtors; the one owed
500 pence (SS5); tho other so pence
(sS5O). When they had nothing to
pay. the creditor fteely forgave them
both. Tell me, therefore, said Jesus,
(which of them will love him most?"
Simon answered, Il suppose that he to
whom he forgave most"
Jesus said. Thou hast rightly
Judged. Where core say unto thee
her sins which are many are forgiven,
for she loved much, but to whom little
Is forgiven. the same loveth little"
One debtor owed $40; the other $3.50,
/
than the other. But both were
bankrupt. and unable to meet their
obligation.
Simon, the respectable sinner, is
bankrupt in Gods sight as we'll as the
woman whom he despises.
We are all debtors 10 God, and we
can never discharge the Indebtedness.
The woman had u deep sense OF sin.
/ She felt that she was a great debtor.
We are not TO infer that there is ad-
vantage in having multiplied trans
gressions. in owing 600 pence rather
than so pence: that the more sin, the
more love- But contemplate the debt
subiectively. not as so many outward
| transgressions, but as a deep con-
sciousness Of sin, which is not always
In proportion 10 mans transgression.
To appreciate the greatness of Gods
mercy, we need 10 have a strong sense
Of sin II we viii remember how
much God has forgiven us. II will
awaken our gratitude end love. The
woman has no words adequate to ex-
press her gratitude.
Her soul pulsates with a new found
Joy. The fragrant odor Of spikenard
| but family portraNS the incense d
praise that was ascending from the
newly lighted altar Of q forgiven low
ing heart II love is TO be tested by
devotion to service, and service indi-
Gates the measure of forgiveness re
ceived. there are manv to-day to whom
apparently little has heen forgiven. The
duty here taught is gratitude for
pardon.
Simon is unsympathetic and censor
ious. Jesus is all compassion. His is
the love that can pity; the love that
can save. The world is harsh in its
judgment
A hard looking man was askei by q
gentleman II he thought God loved him.
The man exhibited more feeling than
the circumstances called for, so he
asked the man, what have said
that moved you?" He replied, 1T is
the only kind word 7 have heard for
forty years"
AS we have the snirit of the Master
we shall sympathiza with the erring.
c. 7. wyatt.