"Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Luke 5:31-32. This was Jesus' reply to the scribes and Pharisees when they asked Him why He ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners. What did Jesus mean by these statements? I think He meant precisely what He said. He was focused on this goal of calling sinners. He repeats it in Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." It was up to the scribes and Pharisees to decide if they were in the righteous or the sinners camp. Jesus simply stated facts --- the sick need a physician, sinners need to be made righteous. If the scribes and Pharisees perceived that they were already well, Jesus, the Great Physician, couldn't help them. If they perceived they were already righteous, He couldn't relieve them of their sins. In reality, we are all sinners in need of Him. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.
I have often read this verse, "... he who is forgiven little, loves little" Luke 7:47, and interpreted it as meaning that some people don't have as great a capacity for loving the Lord as others do. Does this mean that a forgiven bank robber can love Jesus more than a forgiven bubble gum thief? Today I saw this verse in a different light. I saw a relationship between it and the words of Jesus in Luke 5:31-32 about the sick being the ones needing a physician. Again I believe Jesus is speaking in regard to our self-perception. We can only love according to how much we believe we needed Jesus' sacrifice. If we feel that our sins were not all that great (that we were forgiven little) we won't appreciate what He did for us that much (we will love little). In reality, the forgiven bubble gum thief can love Jesus more than the forgiven bank robber, if he realizes that no matter how "small" his sin, it took the death of Jesus to atone for it. Jesus had to endure the whole crucifixion experience for the sins of each one of us.
1 John 4:19 says, "We love Him because He first loved us." The more I fix my eyes on Calvary, and become aware of HIs love for me, the greater my capacity for loving Him.
It's easy to get ashamed
Of the things I do
When I compare myself
To the saint sitting on the pew.
But when I see the murderer
Waiting on death row,
I'll admit I feel
Not quite so low.
When those around me
Are the ones I measure myself by
Sometimes I smile,
Other times I cry.
But when I gaze
On the spotless Lamb,
And begin to see
Just how vile I am,
I realize that one hand
Nailed to the tree
Would never have been
Nearly enough for me.
A few lashes on
His innocent back
Would not have made up for
My great lack.
No, a slap on Jesus' wrist
Wouldn't have sufficed.
My sins merited
The ultimate sacrifice.
The crucifixion experience
In its entirety
Was the requirement
To set me free.
The more I truly realize
This is so,
The deeper and stronger
My love for Him will grow!
I have often read this verse, "... he who is forgiven little, loves little" Luke 7:47, and interpreted it as meaning that some people don't have as great a capacity for loving the Lord as others do. Does this mean that a forgiven bank robber can love Jesus more than a forgiven bubble gum thief? Today I saw this verse in a different light. I saw a relationship between it and the words of Jesus in Luke 5:31-32 about the sick being the ones needing a physician. Again I believe Jesus is speaking in regard to our self-perception. We can only love according to how much we believe we needed Jesus' sacrifice. If we feel that our sins were not all that great (that we were forgiven little) we won't appreciate what He did for us that much (we will love little). In reality, the forgiven bubble gum thief can love Jesus more than the forgiven bank robber, if he realizes that no matter how "small" his sin, it took the death of Jesus to atone for it. Jesus had to endure the whole crucifixion experience for the sins of each one of us.
1 John 4:19 says, "We love Him because He first loved us." The more I fix my eyes on Calvary, and become aware of HIs love for me, the greater my capacity for loving Him.
It's easy to get ashamed
Of the things I do
When I compare myself
To the saint sitting on the pew.
But when I see the murderer
Waiting on death row,
I'll admit I feel
Not quite so low.
When those around me
Are the ones I measure myself by
Sometimes I smile,
Other times I cry.
But when I gaze
On the spotless Lamb,
And begin to see
Just how vile I am,
I realize that one hand
Nailed to the tree
Would never have been
Nearly enough for me.
A few lashes on
His innocent back
Would not have made up for
My great lack.
No, a slap on Jesus' wrist
Wouldn't have sufficed.
My sins merited
The ultimate sacrifice.
The crucifixion experience
In its entirety
Was the requirement
To set me free.
The more I truly realize
This is so,
The deeper and stronger
My love for Him will grow!
