Parable of the two debtors
The Parable of the Two Debtors is a short but powerful lesson told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 7, verses 36-50. It is part of a larger narrative where a sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet with her tears and perfume, demonstrating profound love and repentance. The parable itself is shared during a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Simon, who had invited Jesus to dinner.
The Setting
Simon, the Pharisee, was critical of the woman's actions. In his mind, if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would know that the woman was a sinner and would not allow her to touch Him. Perceiving Simon’s thoughts, Jesus addressed him with this parable, offering a lesson on forgiveness, gratitude, and love.
The Parable
Jesus said:
"A certain creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt."
And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."
Meaning and Interpretation
This parable draws on the common social practice of lending and debt collection to illustrate spiritual truths about sin, forgiveness, and love. In this context:
- The creditor represents God or Jesus.
- The two debtors represent people who have sinned but in varying degrees.
- The debts symbolize sin, and the inability to pay back the debt reflects humanity's inability to make up for their sins through their own efforts.
- The cancellation of the debt is a metaphor for forgiveness.
The two debtors in the story owed different amounts—one owed 500 denarii, a significant sum, and the other 50 denarii, a smaller amount. When neither of them could repay the debt, the creditor graciously forgave both. Jesus then asked Simon which debtor would be more grateful, and Simon correctly responded that the one forgiven of the larger debt would love the creditor more.
Application to the Situation
After telling the parable, Jesus applies it directly to the situation with the woman and Simon. The woman, known for her sinful life, represents the debtor who owed the larger sum. Her lavish display of affection toward Jesus—anointing His feet and showing deep repentance—demonstrated her profound gratitude for the forgiveness she had received.
Simon, on the other hand, represents the debtor who owed less. As a Pharisee, he considered himself righteous and in less need of forgiveness. However, his lack of hospitality toward Jesus and his judgmental attitude toward the woman revealed a failure to understand the depth of his own need for forgiveness. His “debt” may have been smaller, but his failure to recognize it led to a lack of love and gratitude.
The Core Message
The parable teaches several key spiritual lessons:
1. Everyone is a debtor: Whether one’s sins are many or few, all are in need of God's forgiveness.
2. God’s grace is freely given: Just as the creditor forgave the debts out of compassion, God offers forgiveness to all who turn to Him, regardless of the size of their sins.
3. Gratitude reflects understanding of forgiveness: The one who understands the depth of their forgiveness will naturally show more love and gratitude toward God.
4. Judgment and self-righteousness blind us: Like Simon, those who fail to see their own need for forgiveness may judge others harshly, missing the point of God's mercy.
Ultimately, Jesus uses this parable to contrast the woman's love and repentance with Simon's self-righteousness, reminding us that the greater our awareness of our sin and forgiveness, the greater our love for God.