The Lie of "Much Less Than" & "Much Greater Than"

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Luke 7:47-48


Recognize these mathematical signs? They represent "much less than" and "much greater than." Do they apply to human sinners? Can any human say that they sin "much less than" another human sinner naturally? Can they say that they keep the law of God "much greater than" other human sinners naturally?

This is the point of the story here in Luke 7. Jesus is exposing the lie of this Pharisee and all others who would apply this "degree of sin" analysis to himself in comparison with other humans. He does not see himself on the same sin condemnation as this woman of the street who obviously is "much greater" a sinner than he, and "much less" a doer of good than he. Jesus condemns such a "self-righteous" attitude which is a lie. The Bible teaches that rather than a "less than" or "greater than" comparison between humans sin record, it should rather be an "equals" sign. Paul clearly teaches this quoting from the Old Testament in Romans 3:10-12 "as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

So Jesus contrasts these two types of responders to His Law and Gospel by the love that they have for Him in mercifully forgiving their sins. "Her sins are many, have been forgiven, because she loved much. And the one to whom little is forgiven loves little." Those who believe they have any spiritual good apart from Jesus' forgiveness will love Him little, while those who recognize and confess their sins are many and great love Jesus much because He forgives all their sins through His holy, innocent, bitter, suffering and death for them upon the cross.

Why love Jesus much? Because He first loved us much and died for our sins that they might be forgiven! (1 John 4:19) Allowing His Word of Law to condemn us as the sinners we are through and through on our own and then to allow His Gospel to forgive each and every one of them for Christ's sake permits us as this woman through faith to depart in peace, knowing we are saved.