Parable Of The Two Debtors Series

The Parable of the two debtors

(Luke 7:36-50) Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. {37} When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, {38} and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. {39} When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." {40} Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. {41} "Two men 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 canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" {43} Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. {44} Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. {45} You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. {46} You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. {47} Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." {48} Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." {49} The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" {50} Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Application of the parable

How aware are we of our sins?

1. Do we show love to God?

(Luke 7:41-43) "Two men 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 canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" {43} Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

If we are aware that God has forgiven our sins, we will surely be grateful and love Him. The two debtors in the story knew that the creditor took a big loss to forgive their debt. As a result they were grateful. That is precisely the why the sinning woman behaved the way she did. She understood God's forgiveness for her and could express her gratitude for someone who had forgiven her. The way she showed her gratitude was not just to express her love but also to give to God something that was valuable to her - the costly perfume. We can do the same thing today. God has forgiven us. What valuable thing do we have to give to God to show our gratefulness - our money, talents, time?

Contrast this to Simon the Pharisee. He had no such emotion. Simon did not even extend to Jesus the common courtesies of the home - the kiss of welcome, water for His feet and oil for His head. Simon was living in sin and did not even know it. His behavior towards the Lord betrayed this condition. The problem with the Pharisee is that of self pride. This is so typical of a Pharisee as well as many of us today. Elsewhere Jesus told of a similar story of a Pharisee who was too proud to see his own sin.

(Luke 18:11-13) The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. {12} I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' {13} "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

2. Are we critical of others' sins/mistakes?

Another condition that showed Simon's lack of awareness for his own sins is his tendency to judge others. He despised the sinful woman. A person who truly realizes his own sinful condition and how God has forgiven him cannot possibly despise another. It is unthinkable that each debtor in the parable would despise the other for owing money but being unable to pay.