Nov 16, Parable of the Two Debtors, Luke 7:41-43

Nov 16, Parable of the Two Debtors, Luke 7:41-43

Although this story does not contain an important element of a parable, namely the introduction of “The Kingdom of God/heaven is like…,” it does contain the other elements. It does contain the hypothetical story (“a certain moneylender”) and the everyday occurrence that is used as a spiritual lesson.

Notice the situation. Jesus is having dinner at a Pharisee’s home. A sinful woman comes in and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, and then anoints His feet with perfume. I have to say, if I am watching this event, sinful or not, I would be embarrassed. I am almost embarrassed just reading about it. The Pharisees begin to grumble about the situation as well. In the face of this self-righteous attitude by Simon, Jesus presents this story.

The meaning is quite simple. Those who see themselves as forgiven much by God will be those most grateful and will love more in return. Notice the idea is not paying back or earning forgiveness, but a loving relationship.

Jesus then makes an immediate application to Simon in verses 44-50. How much do we love God? How grateful are we that our sins have been forgiven? I once was leading a man in a version of the sinner’s prayer that I used to have printed on my business cards. It went something like this, “…I am a lost sinner for whom Christ died…” The person stopped and commented that he wasn’t really a lost sinner, just a regular sinner. What about you?

⁴¹“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

 ⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

   “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.—Luke 7:41-43