City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

⁴⁰ And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

⁴¹ “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 

Luke 7:40-43

Reflection

I think of this parable as a knowledge lesson.  When it comes to being forgiven, we all are so deep in debt that we should immediately identify with the woman.  However, if you have ever been called a nice person, considered a “good guy,” or been well regarded, you are in danger of believing it.  And having believed it, you now will have difficulty thinking of yourself as someone who desperately needs help.  And one never calls an ambulance for a person that is not hurt very badly.

“Yeah, emergency?  I need paramedics at Paul’s house.  He’s feeling a little low today, but he’ll probably be up to it again later this afternoon.  So, you’d better send them over to take care of this.”  If they were to come and see my true state, they would have some work do to.  But if I don’t think I’m in bad shape, the call is never made.

I would like to focus on Jesus’ question and the answer that Simon gives.  Jesus asks, “…which of them will love him more?”  Notice that it is assumed that both will love the master, and that the question is comparative.  Typically, we aren’t supposed to compare our salvation with others.  As C. S. Lewis points out, it’s not how well one behaves vs another.  It is how well one behaves with Christ as opposed to without Christ.  As the lesson continues Jesus lists several things that the woman does that Simon doesn’t.  But these are an appeal to a standard of love.  One is meeting the standard and the other isn’t.

However, Simon has a wonderful answer.  He doesn’t say, “the one that was forgiven five hundred denarii.”  Instead, he refers to the forgiven debt.  The forgiven debt isn’t a dollar amount, it is a perceived amount.  It is with the heart that one perceives, and it is within the heart that one is set free.  No debt or burden has ever set on one’s shoulder that didn’t weigh much heavier on one’s heart.  This parable is about forgiving debts, knowing that you are forgiven and being set free.

Application

Jesus uses two different characters, but He is giving you a choice.  Are you one who doesn’t have much of a debt to God, so you only need a little bit of forgiveness?  Or are you one who has broken all of the law and are in desperate need of full forgiveness?  How do you know which of these you are?  Draw near to God and your debts to God will become clear.  The Lord’s holiness will reveal your short comings.  Then pray for healing and forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You for Your grace and faithfulness.  I am glad that I am free to come to You to confess my sins and that I am forgiven.  While Your holiness is strange to me, You provide a way for me to draw close to You to learn it.  You are no farther away than the reach of my hand, my heart, and my soul.

I pray that You teach this sinner obedience, love, mercy, and Your holiness.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.