Ever had that said to you, or have you ever said it to someone? Usually it’s not true – they don’t really know what you’re thinking. They can only guess. They might, if they know you quite well, have a fair idea as to what your reaction is to a particular situation or statement made, but only you really know – and, if we’re honest, our
thoughts are sometimes best left silent within us, aren’t they?

But there is one who knows exactly what is go ing on in my mind and is able to note if it is a sinful thought, or a loving one, or a questioning thought. And He is able to respond in some way, to acknowledge or rebuke it.

I’ve sometimes said; Thoughts are words to God. Certainly David in Psalm 139 :2 (CSB) says of the Lord ‘you
understand my thoughts from far away’. Notice?

He understands them.

In Luke 7 from verse 36, we read of when Jesus was an invited guest at a dinner arranged by a Pharisee. We don’t know how many other guests had been invited, but certainly there was one person who came in uninvited. We only know it was a woman from the town ‘who lived a sinful life’. A bit of a bad lot? But she came round to the feet of the Lord, as He reclined at the meal table – the Jewish custom. We read that she was
weeping and allowing the tears to fall on Jesus’ feet and then bathing them in the perfume she had brought.

Now, I can imagine the Pharisee slightly starting at this sight, having no idea of what really was going on; but he stays quiet, thinking, or saying to himself:

“If this man were a prophet, (as people were saying) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

But he kept that thought to himself, or so he thought (no pun intended). And not think ng that Jesus was anything more than a Jewish teacher, he hadn’t realised that the Son of God heard every word of his thoughts (because thoughts are words to God), and answered them.

I like how the NLT puts it in verse 40 – Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
And from what the Teacher had to say proved that not only did He understand Simon, the Pharisee’s every thought, he also fully understood everything about that woman’s circumstances and the spiritual work that had been going on within her to cause her to show such deep love and worship of her Saviour. Yes, she had sinned
greatly, but she had received, as Chris Bowater’s song says:

Greater grace, deeper mercy,
Wider love, higher ways.
Perfect peace, complete forgiveness,
It’s all found in You,
It’s all found in You.

Yes, it’s all found in Jesus, and that goes for us all, if we truly confess our sins and receive His forgiveness. And Jesus’ words ‘Your sins are forgiven’ can be for you and me too. For the Pharisee, it was a rebuke and we don’t know how he responded. Every word – spoken or unspoken; every action or thought – He knows. But David in that Psalm 139:17 knew this wonder.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

Be thankful He knows what we’re thinking.

Steve
Elder

May 2025

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