The Two Debtors
Sep 10, 2005 Print This Post
//MOOD: Arg
//NOISE: Steve clattering around
Luke 7:36-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for a meal, so Jesus accepted the invitation and sat down to eat. A certain immoral woman heard he was there and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who was the host saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, This proves that Jesus is no prophet. If God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. Shes a sinner!
Then Jesus spoke up and answered his thoughts. Simon, he said to the Pharisee, I have something to say to you. All right, Teacher, Simon replied, go ahead.
Then Jesus told him this story: A man loaned money to two peoplefive hundred pieces of silver to one and fifty pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?
Simon answered, I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt. Thats right, Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didnt offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didnt give me a kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sinsand they are manyhave been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. Then Jesus said to the woman, Your sins are forgiven.
The men at the table said among themselves, Who does this man think he is, going around forgiving sins?
And Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go in peace.
What can I learn about God?
My thoughts on this one start with the story surrounding Jesus’ story. It struck me that Jesus ate with the Pharisee. The reason this struck me is that we always hear about him eating with “sinners.” His reputation was hanging out with those the society considered throw-away. But, to him, they were all the same.
This guy also was impolite to Jesus, not following the customs of welcoming someone into his home. That didn’t stop Jesus from staying and eating with him. It’s cool that even when the guy is rude to Jesus, Jesus still reaches out to him. I like that.
As far as the parable itself is concerned, we can learn that Jesus forgives, regardless of our level of sin.
What can I learn about people?
We all have a debt to repay, but none of us can afford to repay it. Whether we have sinned greatly or sinned really-greatly, we still are in debt. And those that have sinned a ton and are therefore fogiven a ton, tend to be more grateful.
What can I learn about me?
I am thankful for being forgiven. I am a huge big-time sinner. And the level of hypocrisy I had in my life when I finally gave in to him seems unforgiveable. But he forgave me anyway.
Connect the dots.
Not much else to say except that it struck me that the Pharisee called Jesus “teacher” and Jesus called him “Simon.” Not sure what that means.
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