Life of Christ Lesson 55: To Whom Much is Given . . .

From Matthew 11:20-30, we discuss what the Lord had to say about greater spiritual privilege bringing greater judgment. The citizens of the Galilean cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had greater spiritual privileges and opportunities for repentance and salvation than any other people, for Jesus Christ, God's Son, spent more time in their vicinity than anywhere else on earth. However, although the people were amazed by His miracles and authoritative teaching, few were spiritually and eternally affected by putting their faith in Him as Saviour and Lord. Thus, Jesus pronounced three "woe judgments" on them. Discussed also in this lesson is the sin of indifference. From Luke 7:36-50, the Lord taught a second important Biblical principle: greater pardon brings greater love. This is the account of the sinful woman who came uninvited to Simon the Pharisee's house to anoint Jesus' feet with her tears of joy and wiped them dry with her hair. Simon and his other self-righteous guests were horrified that Jesus would allow the woman to even touch Him. He used the occasion to make the contrast between a humble "babe" in Christ and a narcissistic "wise and prudent" man (see Matthew 11:25). He then taught "The Parable of the Two Debtors".