The parable of the two debtors

Some Pharisee invited Jesus to his house. Jesus accepted the invitation. While they were sitting at the table, a woman came here, known in the city as a great sinner, and sat down at his feet. Tears soaked his feet, wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed them, and smeared with fragrant oil (Luke 7: 36-38). This was seen by the Pharisee Simon, who invited him, thinking in his mind: “If he were a prophet, he would know who and what the woman who touched him was a sinner” (Luke 7: 39). Jesus knew his thoughts, for he was one of those Pharisees who had always been looking for faults on him. For this reason, he said this parable: “A certain creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred diaries, the other fifty. Since they were not supposed to repay the debt, he forgave it both. Which one will prefer him? ”(Luke 7: 41-42). It was already a question for Simon to properly assess, answer, and so actually testified against himself. He said, “I think he whom he forgave more” (Luke 7: 43).

Jesus confirmed his answer. But in the next interview there was talk about him. Simon received Jesus into his house very coldly and did not preserve the customs that were then provided to the guest at the entrance to the house. So, he said, “Do you see this woman? I walked into your house, and you didn’t put water on my feet. But she teared my feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t kiss me. But she hadn’t stopped kissing my feet since I walked in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil. She rubbed my feet with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you, many sins are forgiven because she loves very much. Who is less forgiven, fewer loves ”(Luke 7: 44-47). Then he turned to the woman and said to her, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7: 48).

The parable of the two debtors as well as the interpretation of Jesus himself says that the woman was a great sinner. She turned and was forgiven. In a way, she expresses love to the one who forgives her. It is a sincere gratitude and thank you for your adventure, for she has been much forgiven. So, Jesus said to her, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace! ” (Luke 7: 50). The greater the guilt, the greater the gratitude for forgiveness. Simon was cool to Jesus because he felt righteous. He had no desire for forgiveness because he thought he didn’t need it … But this woman will be an example for us to be misguided as these Pharisees. They could appreciate the love of God, which has also forgiven us many and often.

Writer Donn Pearce in Cool Hand Luka, filmed in 1967 in America, writes about how drunken Luke Jackson maliciously damages a public facility and is serving his crime in a prison camp for two years, where he has escaped several times, but where he must always be instructed . Finally, he turns to God, whose life he has often offended. He sees and admits that nothing will help him and there is no way to acknowledge God’s authority and ask for forgiveness. He begins the path of repentance like a rogue on the cross. Someone funny said that we all belong to bars. If not for iron, at least for wooden – confessional. That’s for all of us! Let no one think much of himself as this Pharisee Simon. We are all the same. Everyone needs repentance and the grace of forgiveness. The greater our guilt is, the greater the repentance and the greater the gratitude for forgiveness.