The Two Debtors

Introduction

We are in a series studying parables that introduce the kingdom of heaven.

Remember, the kingdom of heaven is God’s reign (perfect will) coming to earth as it already is in heaven.

Right now in our first messages we’re looking at the kingdom taking root - basic ideas about the kingdom. Last time we saw that Christ’s kingdom is not something that we add to our stuff, our thinking, our religion, our way, or even anything on this earth. His kingdom, as a new patch of cloth, would tear an old garment, and as new wine, would burst old bottles/wineskins.

Today we want to look at a situation that occurs, and how Jesus uses that to use a quick parable to teach an important lesson about the freedom that people in His kingdom enjoy.

Along with Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9.

Luke 7:36–43 AV

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 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. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 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? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

1. The Reason for the Parable

vv. 36-40

This parable is sparked as a result of a specific event. Here we see a woman has entered into a home and made an exceptional display which is the setting for Jesus’ teaching.

A. The Actions of This Woman

Who she was - we’re told in v. 37 that she was a woman in the city, and a sinner. We have no specifics here, but based on Simon’s reaction later, she was probably a prostitute.

She comes into this dinner - which was not private, people would come in and watch what went on. The invitees would have been reclining on low couches, leaning on the left arm with their head towards the table and their body stretched away from it.

This would could easily come in and stand near the feet of Jesus. She brings an alabaster box of ointment - this was a very costly perfume.

Here she is, a woman of ill-repute, breaking open a costly perfume at Jesus feet, crying, kissing his feet, and wiping them with her hair - a significant action because Jewish women didn’t unbind their hair in public.

It is clear already that at some point Jesus had turned her from her sinful ways and she was expressing love and gratitude - we’re not told if she had met Jesus before - but she must have been in the crowds listening to him teach and preach.

B. The Reaction of Simon

Well Jesus’ host Simon the Pharisee saw all this and had a reaction.

Simon is disapproving. He is disapproving of the woman - here we see that she probably wasn’t just a sinner, but a notorious sinner, a chief sinner, known in the city.

In addition, he is disapproving of Jesus - ‘if he were a prophet’ he would know this. This is very condescending and judgmental.

Well, Jesus knows exactly what he is thinking. In v. 40 he calls him out. He made sure He had Simon’s undivided attention.

2. The Teaching of the Parable

vv. 41-43

Now Jesus is going to teach an important lesson through a very short parable.

A. The Quick Story

There were two debtors that owed a creditor - one owed 500 pence and the other 50 pence.

A pence was a ‘slang’ name for the silver denarius of Roman days. Like how we’d use the term ‘buck.’

It was a days wage. So one man owes around $15,000 and another owes around $1,500.

In the story we see that neither can pay, they both have nothing with which to pay the debt.

So, the creditor forgives them both of their debt. It’s a simple story, but here’s Jesus question: which of them will love him most?

B. The Grudging Response

Simon is going to give his answer, but he doesn’t seem very willing - it says in v. 43 - “I suppose”. It doesn’t take much intelligence or insight here to get the right answer, yet Simon is still grudging in giving his answer. He may have an idea of where Jesus is going with this.

Jesus simply answers to Simon - you got the right answer.

3. The Lesson of the Parable

Luke 7:44–48 AV

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

A. The Question to Simon

v. 44a

Just something quick to point out. Look at Jesus question to Simon in v. 44 - ‘Seest thou this woman?’

Did Simon, did Simon really see this woman.

“Simon couldn’t see that woman as she then was, because he was looking at her as she had been.”

B. The Stark Contrast

v. 44b-46

Jesus proceeds to give a stark contrast between how Simon treated Him and how the woman treated him.

Simon didn’t give him any water to wash his feet but the woman washed his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

It was customary to offer water to wash a guest’s feet. Abraham did this when the Lord appeared with two angels.

Genesis 18:4 AV

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

Apparently Simon didn’t even carry out this simple custom with his guest.

Simon didn’t greet Jesus with a kiss, but the woman hadn’t stopped kissing Jesus’ feet.

It was also custom to give a welcoming kiss from the host. We see this with Joseph and his brethren.

Genesis 45:15 AV

15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Simon didn’t anoint Jesus with anything, but this woman anointed his feet with oil.

Now anointing Jesus’ head with oil would have been an exceptional act - one recognizing him as king. But Jesus is showing us here that Simon doesn’t recognize Jesus for who he is (if he was a prophet), yet this woman in the most humble way possible does by anointing his feet.

C. The Love of Kingdom People

vv. 47-48

Jesus now applies what we taught about the two debtors. He is going to forgive a debt. Here the debt of pennies in the parable is equated to sin.

Sin is a debt that we all have - a debt that whether it is 50 pence or 500 pence, none of us can pay. God is the creditor to whom we must pay. How is our sin a debt to God?

Well say a man robs his neighbor - he is a criminal for stealing and he owes his neighbor. Our sin robs God of his holiness. Our sin gives ourselves more credit that what God deserves.

We break God’s law and are a debtor to His justice - thus some can be ‘more’ guilty than others - have broken more laws.

This woman’s debt of sin Jesus notes - in v. 47 - her sins, which are many. She’s clearly the debtor of 500 pence in his story. And while the Pharisees thought themselves pretty righteous, they still had sin-debt as well.

He tells her in v. 48 - your sins are forgiven. Now this caused a reaction!

luke 7:49-50

Luke 7:49–50 AV

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

We note in v. 50 that her weeping at Jesus’ feet didn’t save her - it was her faith. She had likely already placed faith in Christ before she walked in the house - but this display was as Jesus mentions in v. 47 a display of her great love (for she loved much).

Are you a sinner? Well, the kingdom of heaven is made up of sinners. The kingdom of heaven is made up great sinners, chief sinners, notorious sinners. The kingdom of heaven is made up of society’s rejects. The kingdom of heaven is not made up of the religious and the righteous, but of great sinners who have experienced great forgiveness from their Lord.

God’s forgiveness is free with no strings attached. He freely and simply forgives entire debts of sin.

So kingdom citizens what does that mean for us? It means we should love much - do we love Jesus as the woman did? Do we see people as Jesus does? Or are we more like self-righteous Simon - one who claims religion and righteousness, but who doesn’t even see the need of sinners, and won’t even recognize the Lord that sits before him?