Sinners; there are sinners and there are sinners. In the gospels, there are found three situations wherein sinners are expanded on by the Lord Himself. It is humbling to revisit these, lest we find ourselves not afar from where we would least imagine ourselves to be.
With the adulterous woman arrested and cast down before the Lord; the many were challenging and instigating for a verdict, of stoning as demanded by the Law of Moses. Here was a sinner in the midst of sinners, yet the crowd not only did not see themselves worthy of being stoned, but considered themselves morally qualified to demand and execute judgment by stoning another. They were not caught in any act requiring the mandatory sentence of stoning till dead, seemingly guiltless of such indiscretions. Still, a sinner is a sinner, and in the presence of a thrice holy God, is there therefore any virtue, in “lesser” sins? Is it not strange; that one sinner could pursue the punishment of another for his sin? It is easy to collect the innumerable stones or projectiles we would keep in our pockets, ever ready to be cast at the so many we have marked out, when given opportunity or provocation. We may not have launched the stones physically even, but in our hearts, they really have been landed long ago. Let us be wary less we develop enough sophistry to assemble and maintain stockpiles thereby securing a détente; the munitions to dissuade each the other from launching any missiles. All in all, we are still not exempt from the perennial scuds coming in from who knows where! It is not unknown, that we can even pride ourselves in our arsenals. What accomplished sinners we are.
With the Pharisee and the Publican, the pharisee was insolent in his regard of the publican. To think, he could voice his despise to the LORD, in prayer, in expectancy of favor? When we would think of ourselves more circumspect, more respectable, less sinful, less depraved when we compare ourselves with our contemporaries, who are we really? It may be true, that we do not “gamble, smoke or chew”. We may not be promiscuous and jurisprudently refrain from “fooling” around. But the moment, we would think ourselves of purer kilt; we fit the errant Pharisee’s refrain. We forget that, except for the grace of God, we would not have been so preserved. Should we think ourselves so pious or strong? Dare we forget about asking the LORD to keep us safe from evil? Would we think that we are beyond being “sifted like wheat”? And when we see others, especially those from within the Church, ensnared, fallen or crushed, consider how our hearts respond; in godly sorrow for the fallen? Or in strong language castigating our disappointments? Or in grateful thankfulness that we have not been so tested or suffering ruin? With love awaiting to, at a proper time, mend and pick up the pieces or with cold distance, having found another’s feet of clay? Would we hear the gloating “Aha” and will a brother lament, that “he that ate at my table, has lifted his heel against me?” “God, I thank You that I am not like…..whom?” A broken and contrite heart; He will not despise. We really need not be broke, to understand that we are broken.
With Simon the Pharisee and the alabaster woman, the Lord had much to ask of Simon. Circumstances persuade those who keep the law diligently, live decent, circumspect, and respectable lives, to imagine themselves to be not too delinquent. Would that Simon ask in his heart; “does not the Prophet know, who and what sort of person this is, who is touching Him? For she is a sinner”. Is Simon really clean, even in his own eyes? Did he consider himself a righteous person? And the Lord’s address to Simon unveils a greater grotesque. Simon’s lack, in the provision of water, a welcome kiss and oil, was a reflection of Simon’s true depreciation of the person of the Lord. Simon had started questioning the integrity of just another teacher. The question and answer over indebtedness is not, the more urgent focus. Would that we differ from Simon? When was it last, that we had a tear to shed, for the sins we have committed not regarding them as trite? How does our lack evidence itself? We like Simon, may invite the Lord into our homes, but then, to what end? Is He the useful Guest that we can parade to our friends and neighbors, as a reflection of how important or well-connected we really are? It will be a cold day, if all this posturing and bluster serves only to buttress a feint of God-fearing religiosity. Does the Lord find His welcome and devotion in our homes and spaces? Would we hear, for ourselves, from Him, “your sins are forgiven.”? The tone and language in Luke could suggest that Simon was not prescribed such assurance. The texts could well have been a summary judgment. Take a moment, does the Lord’s prognosis fit, not only Simon?
There are sinners and there are sinners; to which do we belong?
God bless.
/ckh
With the adulterous woman arrested and cast down before the Lord; the many were challenging and instigating for a verdict, of stoning as demanded by the Law of Moses. Here was a sinner in the midst of sinners, yet the crowd not only did not see themselves worthy of being stoned, but considered themselves morally qualified to demand and execute judgment by stoning another. They were not caught in any act requiring the mandatory sentence of stoning till dead, seemingly guiltless of such indiscretions. Still, a sinner is a sinner, and in the presence of a thrice holy God, is there therefore any virtue, in “lesser” sins? Is it not strange; that one sinner could pursue the punishment of another for his sin? It is easy to collect the innumerable stones or projectiles we would keep in our pockets, ever ready to be cast at the so many we have marked out, when given opportunity or provocation. We may not have launched the stones physically even, but in our hearts, they really have been landed long ago. Let us be wary less we develop enough sophistry to assemble and maintain stockpiles thereby securing a détente; the munitions to dissuade each the other from launching any missiles. All in all, we are still not exempt from the perennial scuds coming in from who knows where! It is not unknown, that we can even pride ourselves in our arsenals. What accomplished sinners we are.
With the Pharisee and the Publican, the pharisee was insolent in his regard of the publican. To think, he could voice his despise to the LORD, in prayer, in expectancy of favor? When we would think of ourselves more circumspect, more respectable, less sinful, less depraved when we compare ourselves with our contemporaries, who are we really? It may be true, that we do not “gamble, smoke or chew”. We may not be promiscuous and jurisprudently refrain from “fooling” around. But the moment, we would think ourselves of purer kilt; we fit the errant Pharisee’s refrain. We forget that, except for the grace of God, we would not have been so preserved. Should we think ourselves so pious or strong? Dare we forget about asking the LORD to keep us safe from evil? Would we think that we are beyond being “sifted like wheat”? And when we see others, especially those from within the Church, ensnared, fallen or crushed, consider how our hearts respond; in godly sorrow for the fallen? Or in strong language castigating our disappointments? Or in grateful thankfulness that we have not been so tested or suffering ruin? With love awaiting to, at a proper time, mend and pick up the pieces or with cold distance, having found another’s feet of clay? Would we hear the gloating “Aha” and will a brother lament, that “he that ate at my table, has lifted his heel against me?” “God, I thank You that I am not like…..whom?” A broken and contrite heart; He will not despise. We really need not be broke, to understand that we are broken.
With Simon the Pharisee and the alabaster woman, the Lord had much to ask of Simon. Circumstances persuade those who keep the law diligently, live decent, circumspect, and respectable lives, to imagine themselves to be not too delinquent. Would that Simon ask in his heart; “does not the Prophet know, who and what sort of person this is, who is touching Him? For she is a sinner”. Is Simon really clean, even in his own eyes? Did he consider himself a righteous person? And the Lord’s address to Simon unveils a greater grotesque. Simon’s lack, in the provision of water, a welcome kiss and oil, was a reflection of Simon’s true depreciation of the person of the Lord. Simon had started questioning the integrity of just another teacher. The question and answer over indebtedness is not, the more urgent focus. Would that we differ from Simon? When was it last, that we had a tear to shed, for the sins we have committed not regarding them as trite? How does our lack evidence itself? We like Simon, may invite the Lord into our homes, but then, to what end? Is He the useful Guest that we can parade to our friends and neighbors, as a reflection of how important or well-connected we really are? It will be a cold day, if all this posturing and bluster serves only to buttress a feint of God-fearing religiosity. Does the Lord find His welcome and devotion in our homes and spaces? Would we hear, for ourselves, from Him, “your sins are forgiven.”? The tone and language in Luke could suggest that Simon was not prescribed such assurance. The texts could well have been a summary judgment. Take a moment, does the Lord’s prognosis fit, not only Simon?
There are sinners and there are sinners; to which do we belong?
God bless.
/ckh
