Luke 7:47

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Luke 7:47 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks these words at a dinner in the house of Simon, a Pharisee. A woman known in the city as a sinner enters, stands behind Jesus weeping, and washes His feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with ointment. Simon doubts Jesus’ acceptance of her, so Jesus tells a parable about two debtors—one forgiven a large debt, the other a small one—and asks which will love the creditor more. Simon answers correctly, and Jesus then applies the lesson to the woman and Simon.

Meaning

Jesus’ opening word, “Wherefore” (Greek: hou charin), means “for this cause” or “therefore,” showing that He is drawing a conclusion from the parable. He declares that the woman’s many sins are forgiven, and her great love is the evidence—not the cause—of that forgiveness. Her actions of washing, kissing, and anointing His feet were expressions of gratitude flowing from the forgiveness she had already received. In contrast, Simon’s lack of such love revealed that he perceived little need for forgiveness. The verse teaches that the depth of our love for Christ is proportionate to our awareness of how much we have been forgiven.

Biblical connections

The onlookers’ question in Luke 7:49, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” points to Jesus’ divine authority to forgive sins, a central theme in Luke’s Gospel. The following verse, Luke 7:50, records Jesus saying to the woman, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” This connects forgiveness, love, and faith: her love was the fruit of her faith, and her faith was the channel through which she received God’s mercy.

Application

This verse warns against self-righteousness. Simon’s failure to show love revealed his lack of awareness of his own sin. Believers are encouraged to cultivate a deep sense of their own sinfulness and the greatness of Christ’s mercy, leading to a life of grateful love and devotion. This is not a command to sin more so that grace may abound, but an observation of the natural response to grace. As we grasp the magnitude of God’s forgiveness, we are moved to love Him and others more fully, extending the same grace we have received.

Reflection

Consider the woman’s extravagant love and Simon’s cold reserve. Which one reflects your own heart? When we recognize the depth of our need and the abundance of God’s pardon, love becomes a spontaneous response. Let us ask God to deepen our awareness of His forgiveness, so that our love for Him and for others may grow in proportion.