– PARABLES OF JESUS –
The Parable of the Two Debtors
Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to his home for a meal. As He sat at the table, a woman, simply identified as a sinner came in. Some have tried to identify her as Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2), but the text does not infer this. Her name is not as important as what she did. Simon withheld some basic courtesies from the Lorrd – he did not wash His feet, give Him a kiss, nor anoint His head. However, the woman whom Simon called a sinner (Luke 7:39) did all of these for the Lord (Luke 7:44-46).
Having seen such a contrast between his host and this impromptu visitor, the Lord spoke a parable to Simon. He said:
There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more? (Luke 7:41-42)
Both debtors felt gratitude for their creditor’s goodness, but Simon answered the Lord rightly, the one who was forgiven the more would love him more. What he may not have expected was how Jesus applied the parable.
The Pharisees were the epitome of pride and self-righteousness. Even in our text we see this. Simon judged himself better than the woman, a sinner, and the Lord, obviously not a prophet, since He allowed such a woman to touch Him. He was just like his peers, who congratulated themselves on their greatness and perpetually extolled their own virtues.
Both Simon and the woman were debtors in the parable, regardless of whether they acknowledged it or not. The apostle Paul wrote,
...all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
It may have been that the woman had a larger debt of sin than Simon. The Lord did say he sins were “many.” We don’t know how many sins Simon had, but we do know that he did not display the love that the woman did for the Lord. In response to her love, the Lord said,
...her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. (Luke 7:47)
Notice he does not say that Simon is forgiven. He hadn’t shown any love to the Lord at all. He showed contempt for the Son of God, casting doubt on who He was. The one who loves much is forgiven much; the one who loves little is forgiven little; and in Simon’s case, it may be that the one who did not love at all is not forgiven at all.
The other guests who sat at the table heard the parable and Jesus’ use of it, and wondered among themselves,
Who is this who even forgives sins? (Luke 7:49)
You may recall, in Mark 2:7 the Pharisees called Jesus a blasphemer (not verbally, but in their thoughts), because He claimed the authority to forgive sins. It does not seem that Simon’s other guests were of as harsh an opinion of Jesus as those who saw the paralytic raised, but His words certainly began a buzz among them.
Friend, what is your disposition toward the Lord? Do you love Him? How much do you love the Lord? How do you show your love for Him.? No matter how numerous or serious your sins may be, you can receive forgiveness if you will acknowledge the Lord as the King of your life. That is exactly what this sinful woman did.
She did not have a bucket of water from which she could wash His feet, and so she emptied her heart out before Him, pouring her tears upon His feet. She did not have a towel to dry His feet, so she used her hair. Such an act was consistent with a servant before her master. She adored Him, as seen by her perpetual kissing of His feet. Then she declared Him not only to be master, but also her King. The anointing of the feet was exclusive to royalty. She claimed Him, the King of kings and Lord of lords to be her’s. Will you make the same claim to Him?
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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