What is the Parable of the Two Debtors?

Understanding Luke 7:47

The Parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:41-43) is one of Jesus' shortest parables — just three verses — but its setting makes it one of the most emotionally powerful scenes in the Gospels.

The Setting: Luke 7:36-39

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dinner. During the meal, an uninvited woman entered — 'a woman in that town who lived a sinful life' (7:37), almost certainly a prostitute. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume and 'stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them' (7:38).

Simon thought: 'If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is' (7:39). Simon was wrong on every count. Jesus knew exactly who she was — and welcomed her anyway.

The Parable: Luke 7:41-43

Jesus said: 'Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?'

Simon answered correctly: 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.'

The Application: Luke 7:44-47

Jesus listed three failures of hospitality on Simon's part: no water for feet, no kiss of greeting, no oil for the head. The woman had provided everything Simon had not — and exceeded it exponentially. Where Simon gave no water, she gave tears. Where Simon gave no kiss, she gave continuous kisses. Where Simon gave no oil, she gave expensive perfume.

Then the verdict: 'Her many sins have been forgiven — as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little' (7:47). Her love was evidence she had already been forgiven. The forgiveness came first; the love was the response.

Simon, who considered himself relatively righteous, felt little need for forgiveness — and therefore showed little love. The woman, who knew the depth of her sin, understood the magnitude of her forgiveness.

Jesus told the woman: 'Your faith has saved you; go in peace' (7:50). Not her tears, not her perfume, not her love — her faith. The love was the expression; the faith was the root.

Theological Significance

Self-righteousness kills gratitude — Simon did not think he needed much forgiveness, so he felt little love. Awareness of sin produces depth of love — the deepest worship comes from those who know most clearly what they have been rescued from. Forgiveness precedes love — God forgives first, and love responds. And there is no sin too great for forgiveness — the greater the debt forgiven, the greater the gratitude.