Morning Cup of J(esus)
Fueling the Day!
Moneylender Forgives Unequal Debts
We are continuing with our study of the parable of Jesus. Today’s parable stands out so much because it is set within the greater story of the sinful woman coming to Jesus with the flask of ointment. It was obvious by her sweet and tender actions that she adored her Lord. She showed much love for Him.
The parable is about a moneylender who forgives unequal debts. One owes much, but the other owes only a little. Neither could repay the debt, so the moneylender chooses to forgive the debts. The debt refers to our sin debt, and the level of debt forgiveness is simply the sinfulness of our lives in which we become entangled.
The teaching takes place at the home of a Pharisee who invited Jesus to come and eat. During this time a sinful woman comes in with an alabaster flask of perfumed oil. The Pharisee questions Jesus about this because He thought that Jesus should not let this sinful woman touch Him. The parable is a rebuke to the Pharisee and his lack of manners and lack of love. Jesus draws a sharp contrast about the level of love shown to Him by the Pharisee and the sinful woman. It is also a tremendous lesson to us about our level of forgiveness and love for our Lord. He has forgiven us much; therefore we should love Him much.
Luke 7:36-50
A Sinful Woman Forgiven
36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.”
41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”
And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”
Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”