What does Luke 7:49 reveal about the Pharisees' perception of Jesus' identity? Setting the Scene • Jesus is dining in the home of Simon the Pharisee when a woman “who was a sinner” (Luke 7:37) anoints His feet with perfume and tears. • Simon silently doubts Jesus’ prophetic discernment (Luke 7:39). • Jesus responds with a parable and then declares to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). • Immediately we read verse 49. The Crucial Question “Those reclining with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’” (Luke 7:49) What the Verse Reveals about the Pharisees • Skepticism, not worship – They ask “Who is this?” rather than “This is the Lord.” • Limited view of Jesus – At best, they see a teacher or prophet; divine prerogatives do not fit that category. • Assumed monopoly on forgiveness – According to their theology, only God (and, in a limited sense, the temple priesthood) could pronounce forgiveness. • Silent accusation of blasphemy – The unspoken logic: “If He is not God, He is falsely claiming divine rights.” (Compare Luke 5:21; Mark 2:7.) • Hardened hearts despite evidence – They witness a changed life and still question rather than believe. Why This Reaction Matters • Scripture affirms that forgiveness is God’s domain alone (Exodus 34:6–7; Psalm 130:4). Their question tacitly admits that Jesus is exercising divine authority. • Their doubt contrasts sharply with the woman’s faith; the one who saw her need recognized Jesus’ identity, while the self-righteous questioned it. • Luke presents the Pharisees’ question as a prompt for the reader to answer: only God incarnate can do what Jesus just did. Take-Home Truths • The Pharisees’ response exposes unbelief: they do not accept Jesus as the Divine Son. • Their very question, however, underlines His true identity; by forgiving sin, Jesus unmistakably acts as God in human flesh (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). • The narrative invites every reader to move from “Who is this?” to “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). |
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