02/24/2025
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Receiving God's Unstoppable Forgiveness"
(Luke 7:36-50)
We’ve already talked about how forgiveness starts with recognizing our sin. But what about when that sin feels too big, too messy, too shameful? Have you ever wondered, Can God really forgive me for this?
If so, you’re not alone.
Luke 7:36-50 tells the story of a woman whose reputation was so bad that the religious leaders didn’t even see her as a person—just a sinner. She was the kind of person they whispered about, avoided, and judged. But when she heard that Jesus was in town, she didn’t hesitate. She crashed a dinner party at a Pharisee’s house, bringing an alabaster jar of expensive perfume.
And what did she do? She wept at Jesus' feet, washing them with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Then she anointed them with the perfume. This was an extravagant, vulnerable act of love—one that made the Pharisees furious.
They couldn’t believe Jesus would even let her touch Him. But Jesus saw what they couldn’t: a heart desperate for forgiveness.
He turned to the Pharisee and told a simple story about two people who owed money—one a little, one a lot. Both debts were forgiven. Who would love more? Jesus asked. The Pharisee answered, The one who was forgiven more.
Jesus then said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
What This Means for Us
This woman wasn’t just forgiven—she was changed. Her response to grace was love. She didn’t care about the stares, the whispers, or the shame of her past. She just wanted to be near Jesus.
And here’s the truth we all need to hear: No sin is too big for God’s forgiveness.
We’ve all got things in our past that haunt us. Maybe it’s a failure, a bad decision, or a season of life you wish you could erase. But Jesus isn’t waiting for us to fix ourselves before we come to Him. He’s waiting for us to come—broken, ashamed, empty-handed—so He can make us whole.
Pause & Reflect
- Do you ever feel like your past is too messy for God’s grace?
- Are you holding onto guilt when Jesus has already said, You are forgiven?
- Have you forgotten the depth of God's mercy in your own life?
This story is a reminder that forgiveness isn’t just something we receive—it’s something that changes us. When we truly grasp the grace of God, we can’t help but love Him more.
So, take a moment today to remember the ways in which God has forgiven you. Let that gratitude stir your heart to worship, just like the woman in Luke 7. And then, let it move you to extend that same forgiveness to others.
🙏 Challenge: Who in your life needs to experience God’s grace through you today? Is there someone you need to forgive, someone you need to reach out to, or someone who needs a reminder of God’s unstoppable forgiveness?
God’s mercy is limitless—let’s live like we believe it.
