What does the Bible say about prostitution? Will God forgive a prostitute?

She found that He had a heart of infinite tenderness, for He neither spurned her nor fastened her sins upon her, but His hand lifted the burden, and she heard His own voice declare, "Thy sins are forgiven … thy faith has saved thee, go in peace."

The past, present and future was all settled there for her who had long been the prey of men and the Devil, and her whole heart, cleansed from its evil ways by the sanctifying power of His blessed love, poured out its affection upon Him. "She loved much," for He had forgiven much.

The woman of the city could have expected nothing but scorn and rebuke from the Pharisee and his guests; then why did she venture across his threshold? Jesus was there and the grace that was in Him drew her to His feet, and that same grace broke her heart and moved her to repentance and saved her from herself and her sins. With what wonder she must have listened as He talked about her, and approved her conduct and held her up as an example to the proud man at the other end of the table. She had been a great sinner, but He spoke even to her, for He would not let her go away without the comfort and assurance that only His voice could give; and what wonderful words she heard, never would the music of them cease to sing in her soul. "Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace." No wonder she loved much, for of all the people at that dinner, and of all those that crowded round the door of that house, she, the most despised and sinful, was the chiefest object of His gracious consideration that day (Luke 7:36-50).

But the Lord did not only speak of her forgiveness to the Pharisee, He also dealt with her personally as to it. What balm for her weary spirit must have been those four words, "Thy sins are forgiven." The saints of earlier days brought the appropriate sacrifice for each trespass or sin, and then knew that the particular sin was forgiven; they hardly knew such a complete absolution as the words of Jesus gave to her. The onlookers might well ask, "Who is this that forgives sins also?" God was here in the fulness of grace in the humbled Saviour.

The broken heart of the sinful woman would never have been bound up by the hard-hearted Pharisee; but the grace of God in Jesus brought to her salvation, forgiveness and peace. And how many broken-hearted sinners have been healed since that day! Any who come to Jesus, in true repentance, confessing their sins, will be blessed by Him; the tears of repentance being washed away, and peace and joy poured into the broken heart.

In the meantime repentance and remission of sins is preached among all nations. The grace of God has come to men in Christ. In His name forgiveness is announced to all. There are no exceptions. The woman spoken of in Luke 7 found out the vessel of the grace of God, and drew near to Jesus. She was a child of wisdom. Her hope was not based upon what was in her for God, but on what was in God for her. Simon was under the influence of the world, He was a child of folly. He thought everything depended upon what was in man for God. But he has to hear that when man has nothing to pay, he is forgiven. Ah! this is it. It is all pure grace. Simon is fearfully deceived. He condemns the activities of the grace of God in a world of sinners. He says, “This woman that toucheth Him is a sinner.” Yes, but a forgiven one. Blessed be God!

But there is a lovely conclusion to this sevenfold history of faith: "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace." Thus victory has not issued merely in destruction, but in this case, salvation. If there is victory in judging evil, how much more precious the victory in the deliverance of a soul from evil! How many were with her in the house we are not told, but all were preserved. The Spirit of God had wrought true conviction in her heart, which judged both the wretchedness of her own previous life and the stubborn rebellion of the city in which she dwelt. There can be no doubt that faith produced a mighty change in this poor, sinful woman. The messengers of God she received with peace, and confessed the true condition of Jericho. Wonderful the grace of God which "brings salvation," and teaches us "that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world" (Titus 2:11, 12). Wonderful too that these seven steps in the history of Moses and of Israel end in salvation for others outside Israel! Good for us to apply these things to our personal lives.

We will now look at the second point illustrated, the sinner brought into the place of safety. There was faith in Rahab: “I know that the Lord has given you the land.” There was repentance, self-judgment: “As soon as we heard these things our hearts did melt.” And there was prayer: “I pray you swear to me by the Lord.” Blessed marks of the work of the Holy Spirit in the sinner! And is it not to be noted that every desire the spirit prompts, is answered to the utmost? Did not God give her a true token? Did He not deal kindly and truly with her? Did He not save alive her father and mother, brethren and sisters, and all that they had? Did He not fulfil to the utmost bounds of “whosoever?” Ah, will not this once-lost harlot rise up in judgment against thousands who have rejected the kindness of God?

Our common version says, "Then drew near," but the words do not speak of what merely happened at a certain time, but of what was habitually taking place. We see that everywhere through the gospels, from the day at least in which He called Levi from the receipt of custom, and Levi made Him a feast in his own house, "publicans and sinners" flocked around the Lord. They had gone out largely to John's baptism before that, when through the gate of repentance they were invited to come to find remission of their sins. Now, when grace sought them more openly, it was to be expected that they, beyond others, would welcome it. And they did. "Verily I say unto you," were Christ's words to the Pharisees, "that the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not, but the publicans and the harlots believed him; and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him." (Matt. 21:31-32.)

Tax gatherers and harlots, though rebellious at first, could enter the kingdom of heaven because they repented; while these religious leaders of Israel remained outside because their promise to serve God was false. John the Baptist had come "in the way of righteousness," to call for repentance on the part of all, but the leaders disbelieved him: they considered themselves without need of repentance, for they had very respectfully told God that they would obey Him. But tax gatherers and harlots took to heart John's message of repentance. The leaders saw this, get would not repent of their own dishonesty.

Thus the condition of the guests, which stumbled the Pharisees, is accounted for. The publican and the harlot went into the Kingdom of God before these: for their knowledge of themselves as sinners, and their despair of self-recovery, made the Saviour of the lost to be fully suited to them. Repentance and faith were in their case friendly associates which took them by both hands to lead them to Jesus.