TWO DEBTORS
LUKE 7:36-50
Introduction:
The Pharisee here is called Simon. He had invited the Lord to his house to eat with him. There were three sects at the time: the Essenes, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees. I’ll not take time to describe the first two, but concentrate on the Pharisees.
The Pharisees were undisputed enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the time of our Lord they were the popular party (John 7:48, “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?”). They were extremely accurate and minute in all matters appertaining to the Law of Moses (Matthew 9:14; 23:15; Luke 11:39; 18:12, “I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.”). There was much that was sound in their creed, yet their system of religion was a form and nothing more. Their morals were a very lax as noted in Matthew 15:4, 8, “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 8This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
This Pharisees’ invitation to the Lord was made hoping to obtain material for judgment, v. 39.
I. THE TWO DEBTORS
A. The Woman, vs. 37-38;
1. A sinner in deep humiliation for sin, v. 38a, “And stood at his feet behind him weeping.”
a. She was sorry for her sin, Psalm 38:18, “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”
b. She had a broken spirit, Psalm 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
2. She had no peace, Romans 3:17, “And the way of peace have they not known:”
a. She traveled on a crooked path, Isaiah 59:8, “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
b. Her way was the broad way, Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
B. The Pharisee
1. Religious, “yet their system of religion was a form and nothing more.” —Eaton’s Bible Dict.
2. Looking for evidence against the Lord, v. 39, “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.”
II. THE THINGS DONE AND LEFT UNDONE
A. The Pharisee
1. Washing of the feet, “Thou didst not so much as order a basin of water to be brought, to wash my feet in, when I came in, wearied and dirtied with my walk, which would have been some refreshment to me;” v. 44.
2. A Kiss “was a usual expression of a hearty and affectionate welcome to a friend.” v. 45.
3. Anointing of the head with oil, 46a, “My head with oil thou didst not anoint:”
B. The Woman
1. She stood behind the Lord weeping.
2. Washing His feet with her tears, v. 44, “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.”
3. Wiping His feet with her long hair, v. 44.
4. Kissing His feet, v.45, “Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.”
5. Anointing His feet with an ointment, v. 46, “My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.”
III. THE RESULTS OF THE DEBTORS FORGIVENESS
A. The Woman
1. Her many sins are forgiven, vs. 47-48; Matthew 9:22, “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
2. She loved much, v. 47a, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:”
a. She loved in deed, 1 John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
b. Her love abounded more than the Pharisee’s, Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”
B. The Pharisee
1. He was the lesser sinner as men judge sin, v. 41, “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.”
2. His forgiveness was small in comparison to woman’s forgiveness, v. 42a, “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.”
3. His love was therefore less, v. 47b, “but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”
CONCLUSION
Both of these people were forgiven, however, the woman knew that her forgiveness was great for her sins were great. Her love for the Lord was greater because of her forgiveness.
How about you has the Lord forgiven your sins or are you still without peace toward God?