“The Gospel of Luke can teach us to be kind to all just like Jesus…” I read this statement a few days after our family devotional took us through the story of the “sinful woman” (Lk. 7:36-50). Jesus consistently treated people in ways that were completely unexpected. I’m sure you already have a list of several interactions that immediately come to mind (i.e., sinful woman, Lk. 7; Bartimaeus, Lk. 18; Zaccheus, Lk. 19). 

I find this as an indictment against myself. I must constantly ask myself: “Am I as kind as my Lord?” I believe the basis of this kindness was the innate value Christ saw in every soul. And again, I must challenge myself: “Do I see the value in each and every soul?” 

Oftentimes we are much more comfortable being Simon. We can look down our noses at those in spiritual chaos, and deceive ourselves into thinking we are somehow better than them (Lk. 7:39: “Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, ‘This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner’”). In reality, we must all see ourselves as the woman who could never repay God for all the sins we’ve committed (hence the parable of the Two Debtors: Lk. 7:40-50). If we can humble ourselves into that mindset, we will find it much easier to be kind to others.