The Two Debtors

Hand out pens and papers that include the following: the word forgiveness at the top, and 30+ lines underneath. Tell students they will have five minutes to make as many words as possible out of the letters in the word forgiveness. (Consider having a prize for the one who makes the most words.)

Just like many words came from this one word, many things come after we allow forgiveness into our lives and then extend forgiveness to others.

The Hope of Forgiveness

Have you ever felt hopeless???

Hopelessness is that feeling we have when we’re facing impossibilities and feel we have no answers and nowhere to go.

We know that God is the answer to everything, but we aren’t always sure how that works…

How is God everything we need?

How does He meet those needs and help us lay down hopelessness?

Before Jesus died on the cross, everyone was faced with an impossible situation: carrying the stain and weight of sin. Our fate was death. There was nothing that could stop it… except God’s perfect plan. He came, He bled, and died, and in that, He took authority over hopelessness. And it’s possible because of forgiveness!

Earthly Stories with a Heavenly Meaning

Jesus was famous for explaining things through small, practical stories: parables. He wanted people to understand His kingdom, so that every one of them could be a part of it.

One time, He used a parable when a woman who the Bible says was a known “sinner” came to Him while He was sitting around the religious people of the area (Pharisees).

The Pharisees were astonished and angry that she had the boldness to show her face in a place where she wasn’t welcome. But she sat at Jesus’ feet… she washed His feet with her tears… and dried His feet with her hair. And then she took this expensive and valuable ointment and anointed His feet.

Now… Simon… he had something to say about this:

Luke 7:39 KJV 1900

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

And then Jesus says, “Simon, I’ve got a story to tell you. Have a seat.”

Luke 7:41–42 KJV 1900

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

And Simon said that obviously, the person who had the most debt would love the most because he had been forgiven the most. Jesus said he was correct. And then, He connected that to what just happened…

While Simon had not brought water for Jesus’ feet, had not kissed him, and had not anointed Him with oil, this woman had done all those things. And Jesus told Simon that the reason she did all of these gestures of love was because of her incredible need for forgiveness.

And then, Jesus turned to her and forgave her.

We are all like that woman with the alabaster box and the debtor with a large debt. We can’t live eternally without God’s gift of forgiveness. And so, we have to also extend that forgiveness to others.

It’s not the popular thing to do - but it’s the right thing to do!

Application

Have you ever gotten help from someone when you had car trouble or weren’t able to get anywhere without help?

I remember once, we were canoeing and we tipped. Some people offered to help, but they were NO HELP AT ALL.

I also remember having run out of gas once, and if someone hadn’t helped us, we were stranded!

Now, I want you to think of someone you know, who right now, they are in a mess of their own making. Maybe you have strong opinion about them.

Paul had something to say about this. He said that we should think about ourselves whenever we find a brother or sister who are trapped in their own mess. Because our perspectives change when we think about how we would feel in that situation. It’s hopelessness!

Galatians 6:1 KJV 1900

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

To have a “spirit of meekness” means to be humble enough to admit we don’t have all the answers and are just as human as our friend who has sinned. And it’s only by the grace of God that we aren’t in the same situation!

Did you know that Paul began the books he wrote by intentionally calling himself a servant and reminding the people that he was once a sinner on the way to destruction, but Jesus stepped in and saved him.

We are going to find ourselves in tough situations in life. That’s unavoidable, but it doesn’t mean that it will be something that hurts or ever destroys us.

Paul was dedicated to helping anyone that he could and in the same way, we should look out for those that can help us when we are in need.

We need to have a support system that we can trust and rely on.

Friends can provide help to us when we have problems.

Spiritual leaders can teach and lead us when we don’t know where to turn.

Having a support system that works s really important for your growth and spiritual well-being.

The Power of Love and Forgiveness

The woman with the alabaster box came to Jesus, not out of obligation, but out of love. She chose Jesus, not because she had to, but because she wanted to.

And we have to do like she did:

Recognize our need

Recognize that our need is greater than our own ability to handle it ourselves

Bring it to Him

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

This means that none of us can be good enough, on our own, to escape our problems.

Sometimes, we feel we haven’t sinned at the same level as others. Doesn’t matter. Just being human is enough to qualify you for a sin debt too great to pay back.

And when we lay down our pride and realize how limited we are, we open up ourselves to His forgiveness. Because He wants us to want Him.

2 Corinthians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We know through the story of the woman with that alabaster box, and many other stories, that no sin is too big for God to forgive.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Now, Satan will try to convince us that we are too broken, and have messed up too many times, and are too bad for God to forgive and use. But Scripture tells us that He is not only able to forgive us… it’s all He wants: us to come to Him to be forgiven!

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

We can count on God to live up to His promises and be longsuffering with us! He will continue to reach for us and extend forgiveness! All we have to do is repent and be forgiven!

Conclusion

There are a lot of people who repent and feel like it’s just too easy. As if, for all of the massive amount of sin they committed, it should be harder or take longer to be forgiven. It should take more work!

But that’s exactly why God included in Scripture all the details of his brutal crucifixion. It doesn’t feel like much work has to be done, because it’s already been done! Jesus carried it on His shoulders to save us from sin! Every whip, every punch, every thorn in the head and nail in the hand - He was finishing the job!