“Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:48-50
If you read through the Gospels, one thing becomes pretty clear: Jesus talks a lot about the Kingdom of God. It’s the heartbeat of his message. In this series, we’ve been exploring how the kingdom Jesus preached about isn’t just a metaphor; it’s an actual kingdom. It’s unlike any earthly kingdom we’ve known but still a kingdom. And when we understand how kingdoms work, we begin to understand the Gospel more deeply.
A Relationship Between the People and Their King
From the very beginning, God established a unique relationship with His people. The Bible calls this relationship a covenant. It’s not just a contract with legal terms—it’s a sacred agreement built on trust, commitment, and faithfulness. Some scholars even say that a covenant is what creates a kingdom. In other words, the Kingdom of God exists because of the covenant relationship God established with His people.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see this pattern. God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to bless his descendants and make them a great nation. Later, through Moses, God gave the Israelites laws to guide their life as His people. Then came the covenant with David, where God promised a future king from his lineage who would reign forever. These weren’t just deals God made with individuals; they were defining moments that shaped the identity of His people.
Sinning Against…
Most of the time, we think of sin as breaking rules—crossing a moral line we weren’t supposed to. But in a kingdom, sin isn’t just about violating laws; it’s about breaking trust. It’s a betrayal of the covenant, a fracture in the relationship between the King and His people.
God’s covenant always included expectations—ways of living that reflected loyalty and faithfulness to Him. When His people followed, they experienced the blessings of the covenant. When they turned away, they weren’t just disobeying—they were rejecting the relationship. That’s why sin carries weight. It’s not about rule-keeping; it’s about relational faithfulness.
This is why Scripture often frames sin in relational terms: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” When Israel disobeyed, it wasn’t just breaking laws—it was breaking the very bond that made them God’s people. And that fracture didn’t just affect their relationship with God; it rippled out into their relationships with each other, leading to injustice, oppression, and division.
So watch yourselves.
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.
Luke 17:3
Its Life, Not Legalism
When we look at sin this way, following God isn’t about legalism—it’s about life. It’s about living in the reality of our covenant with Him, embodying the values of His kingdom: love, mercy, justice, and faithfulness.
That’s also why repentance isn’t just about saying, “I’m sorry.” It’s about returning to the covenant—turning back to God and renewing that relationship. And reconciliation? It’s not just about fixing things between us and God, but also repairing the relationships within the community of faith. Sin tears things apart, but God’s kingdom is about putting things back together.
Who Can Forgive Sin?
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Luke 5:24
Here’s where Jesus comes in.
In ancient kingdoms, if you sinned against the king, you couldn’t just fix it on your own. Only the king had the authority to forgive. No amount of effort or good behavior could undo the damage—you had to be pardoned by the one in charge.
This is what makes Jesus’ ministry so radical. Over and over, he doesn’t just heal people—he forgives their sins. In Luke 5:24, when Jesus tells a paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” the religious leaders are stunned. Who does he think he is? Only God can do that! And that’s exactly the point. Jesus isn’t just a teacher or a prophet; he’s the King. The promised Son of David. The one with the authority to extend forgiveness and restore what sin has broken.
When we understand sin in terms of covenant and kingdom, it reshapes how we see Jesus. He’s not just offering us a clean slate—he’s calling us back into relationship with the King. And because of him, we don’t just live under God’s rule; we live as beloved citizens of His kingdom.
So the question isn’t just, “Am I following the rules?” The deeper question is, “Am I living in faithfulness to the King?”
Additional Scriptures and Discussion Questions
“Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Luke 7:48-50
Question: Reflecting on the passage from Luke 7:48-50, why do you think Jesus’ authority to forgive sins was so surprising to the other guests at the dinner?
Question: In what ways does understanding sin within the context of a covenantal relationship deepen our understanding of the Gospel message?
Question: The blog post mentions that sins against the king could only be forgiven by one in authority. How does Jesus’ claim to have the authority to forgive sins challenge traditional notions of forgiveness and redemption?
Question: How does viewing sin through the lens of covenantal relationships emphasize the importance of embodying values and principles within the covenant community?
Question: Consider the ministry of Jesus Christ and his claim to have the authority to forgive sins. How does this aspect of Jesus’ identity as the divine king shape your understanding of salvation?
The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
Jeremiah 31:31
Next week’s Topic: Mercy
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Tanner H Griffin 
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