The Two Debtors

(The actual parable is in bold italics. I wanted to include the rest of the scriptures to remind us of the scene that took place.)

  Luke 7:36-50

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him.  And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee, And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.



Classification: Forgiveness and the Love of God

Narrative: Jesus was invited to dine with a Pharisee. This Pharisee, named Simon, should have provided Jesus with at least water to wash his feet upon entering, as dictated by the social customs of the time. Simon didn't offer him water or a kiss (also a social custom of the time). So when this woman, a known woman of sin, came along and washed his feet with her tears the Pharisee wanted to see how Jesus would react.

Interpretation: When forgiveness is granted for a large debt versus a small debt, greater love and gratitude is given in return.

Application: I don't think any of us can ever truly appreciate how much we are in debt to the Savior. I don't think it's humanly possible to understand the depth to which he went through to pay for each of our sins individually. Some of us feel it a little deeper than others because we understand the severity of our sins. Elder David A. Bednar talked about this last April in his talk "We Believe in Being Chaste". He said: "the extent and intensity of your repentance must match the nature and severity of your sins..." This woman understood her sins, her repentance matched it, and she understood very clearly what the Savior's role meant for all of us. Bednar says, "The Savior is often referred to as the Great Physician, and this title has both symbolic and literal significance. All of us have experienced the pain associated with a physical injury or wound. When we are in pain, we typically seek relief and are grateful for the medication and treatments that help to alleviate our suffering. Consider sin as a spiritual wound that causes guilt or, as described by Alma to his son, Corianton, "remorse of conscience". (Alma 42:18) Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body -a warning of danger and a protection from additional damage. From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent obedience. The results of sincere repentance are peace of conscience, comfort, and spiritual healing and renewal."

Unlike the woman who showed up at the Pharisee's home, we cannot wash His feet with our tears because He does not walk among us. But we can take that love and gratitude and do what he has asked us to do with our time and energy - feed His sheep, keep His commandments, do the work required of a disciple of Christ today.

"To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you."
 -C.S. Lewis

17th Century Anointing of Jesus, Painting at the High Altar, Ballum Church, Denmark

 "Repent..That I May Heal You" Neil L. Anderson