When using the internet for Facebook, YouTube, or any other social media site, your feed is constantly giving you negative stories. And it’s all about the bad things people have done; it becomes so depressing that you start to think that using the internet is bad for you, and you realize the masses subconsciously start to develop a hate for people. Like Israel and the terrible actions they have done to the Palestinians in the Middle East. Or the politicians who compromise for power that rule the country they are in.

People have a right to be angry about these real stories they hear about and a legitimate reason to hate the sin that happens. But often the masses only fill their cup up to the brim with anger, only to empty it again, not being satisfied, and then replace it with hate for the people themselves. Jesus said we are allowed to be angry only if we have a legitimate reason (Matthew 5:22), but He did not give us any reason to hate anyone.

It seems the worse the story is about someone, the more the masses give into hate, but Jesus addressed this kind of reasoning. There were people in Jesus time who literally sacrificed others to please their false gods. Children and people (typically proceeding the religion they obeyed, like the false god Baal) were given to the altars for a ritual sacrifice, usually in terrible ways in the Old Testament, and there is no difference with the poor being oppressed and killed today for greed.

But what does Jesus say about these terrible people compared to just normal…light sins, like, let’s say, stealing a chocolate bar from the store or intercourse before marriage? Jesus said all sins are the same and that people only assume one sin is weightier than another. Here it is below.

”There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)

God does not punish someone more because they have done a specific sin that’s worse than some other sin. But Jesus does hold people more accountable if they knew his will versus the other who did not.

”And that servant, who knew his Lord´s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes, he shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48)

Notice Jesus saying people who have committed a lot of bad sins and repent will actually desire to do more for the Lord. It goes like this: “For unto whomsoever much is given,” Jesus is just saying whoever receives a lot of knowledge, material wealth for the poor, other followers, etc., “of him shall be much required.” Because that individual received much or a lot of those resources or people, he will be responsible for all that was given, and since a lot was given, that person will do much for the Lord. “And to whom men have committed much,” Jesus is talking about people who have done a lot of bad things in their lives compared to others who have not. “Of him they will ask the more.” The “of him” is referencing the people who have committed a lot of sins; that person will be asking more from the Lord or to do a lot more in works compared to others who have not committed much sin.

Do you see why Jesus doesn’t pay attention to specific sins? It’s not about who was better in their past life or who was worse in their past life (people brag about that stuff unfortunately, even Christians). The focus is Jesus desiring all men to be saved and the ones who the world hates the most that do terrible things (like Paul, by the way). Jesus can use them much if they repent. So we should not focus on the bad but on converting the bad.

”Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.” (Matthew 12:33)

Back to the previous verses I mentioned in Luke 13:1-5 about others trying to make certain sinners worse than others. Right after Jesus tells these people there is no difference, he tells a story of a man and a fig tree; read it below.

”He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto the Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9)

Here, friends, we have a story of a man who was tending to a stubborn tree that would not produce fruit. The Lord asks him why, after three years, hasn´t his tree produced good fruit for Him to enjoy yet? Then the dresser explains to the lord that he’s trying one last effort; he’s trying to use fertilizer or dung from animals to assist the tree in producing fruit of its own.

What I see from this story is a man trying to convert a stubborn sinner for three years, and he has been trying his absolute best to save the tree from death. This should be our attitude when dealing with the wicked sinners who have committed much: we should be trying to help them and care for them on God’s behalf instead of (like the masses) hating them for what they have done.

Another example from Jesus is in Luke 7:44-47. We read that a woman who was a prostitute does an unforgettable act of kindness to our Lord, Jesus. This woman is described as someone who committed much later by Jesus himself, but she does something no one has ever done to the creator before. Read below.

“And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, ‘Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house; thou gavest me no water for my feet, but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss, but this woman, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:44-47)

Note the last part where Jesus says, “But to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

Jesus gives this woman, who committed much, a high honor that he himself permanently marks through all of history; her name goes out into trillions of people’s ears. I would say it’s on a par with the apostles as far as being famous. Here it is.

”Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.” (Mark 14:9)

I want to give you two more stories of this interesting pattern in the gospels of Jesus showing people that they can change no matter how bad they were in the past. And that it’s arguably more beneficial for the Kingdom of God to prosper using some awful people. That’s not to say good people who follow God in good conscience cannot do a lot either, and I am not bragging about bad people either. What those people have done in the past is truly wrong in God’s eyes.

It’s just that the people who have done a lot of harm in their life recognize that they have done irreversible damage to God’s people. The only way to make up for it is to put in a lot of work in love, doing works of repentance (Luke 12:3:8).

The people who have done bad don’t necessarily hold onto guilt or condemnation as a factor either; as a new creature, they move on. If you were one of those bad people, it’s important not to let pride get in the way and puff you up because of this study. Just do the work humbly.

Jesus illustrates what I have been saying below.

”And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. And they began to pray for him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him, and all men did marvel.” (Mark 5:15-20)

We can safely assume that the man with Legion (supposedly 2,000 demons, some people argue) had done some wicked things to have that many spirits dwell in him. You don’t just inherit bad spirits unless you do bad things to give them access to enter. He also had self-harm-inflicting depression and violent encounters with other bystanders who passed him by and was even handcuffed but had escaped because of the strength he literally possessed.

This man, when healed, desired to be with Jesus very closely, but Jesus tells him to go and tell his family what great things God had done for him. So he goes and publishes his testimony of God’s power to not just one city, mind you, but ten cities. (Mark 5:20) Decapolis was an area of ten surrounding cities. So, as we can see again, big sinner, but once healed, great results. There is one last part.

There is another lesson we can extract from Jesus too when it comes to bad apples being forgiven. In Matthew 18:23-35 we read of a man who owed the Lord 10,000 talents of silver! That was a lot in the old days. The man who owed much is brought to the Lord, only to be judged guilty and have his wife and kids sold for the money. The man begging the Lord for forgiveness is pardoned of all his debt and released. Only later do we read of the same man grabbing another fellow servant by the throat and strangling him and telling him to pay him what is owed right now!

The man begs for forgiveness and tells him he will repay him all; he just needs a little time. He does not like that and throws the other person in jail. His fellow servants saw what happened and reported this to the lord. After the Lord knew of this wicked thing, the man who was not compassionate was delivered to the tormentors from Hell until the 10,000 of debt was paid in pain and suffering.

This is a lesson about forgiveness, indefinably. But there is another lesson about what happens when the man who committed much decides to treat others wickedly. The lesson is simple, nothing special. Don’t be like that man who was forgiven much, only to be thrown in Hell after. Unfortunately this happens, but it’s a good warning from Jesus himself; it shows two types of people. Ones who take Jesus seriously after being forgiven and others who don’t. One more short lesson, people.

“And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”
(Luke 7:40-43)

This is a parable that reminds us that Jesus can save even the most evil people and turn them around for the good of others, and that alone will be a great testimony. The two witnesses themselves might very well be individuals who owe our Lord one hundred trillion in debt. But God, being merciful, forgives them, and in return they do mighty things for the Lord.

If you are one of those people who have committed much, you better get to work! And to the other people, the next time you hear of others who have done terrible things, have mercy on them, love them, and try to change them when God presents the opportunity. Because those who have committed little, love little. But those who have committed much, love much, and can be used for the Lord much. Amen.