The Parables of Jesus: Luke 7:41-47
Luke 7:41-47
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."
"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then 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. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." (NIV)
I have struggled with Verse 47, because I put words into it that aren’t there. I would summarize it to say that those who sin more, are forgiven more, and thus love God more. When I look closer, it doesn’t say that. Her love was not as a result of being forgiven. It is the other way around. For she loved much, her many sins have been forgiven.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But only those who love the Lord and seek forgiveness will receive it. Had the man who owed 500 denarii not sought to have the debt cancelled, he would not have received release from his debt. Who then do you think would love the man more, the one who still owed 500 denarii, or the one who had his 50 denarii debt forgiven? If we fool ourselves into believing we haven’t sinned or believe our debt is too large to deserve forgiveness, we will not received the gift of forgiveness. When we come to God and truly repent, we truly realize how much Jesus did for us.
Forgiveness is a free gift, but it came with a price. Don’t take it for granted. Take time today to reflect on how big of a debt has been forgiven. Like the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, find a way to show God how much we love him.
John Gesick
