Forgive us Our Debts

“…to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” (Luke 7:47)

These words were spoken by our Savior in the house of Simon, the Pharisee. Jesus is Simon’s guest and a woman in the city, which was a sinner, came in and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and anointed His feet with ointment.

Simon never said anything aloud but thought, “If this man were a prophet he would have known this woman was a sinner.”

Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts and told Simon a story of a creditor which had two debtors. One owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. Neither of the debtors had anything to pay so the creditor forgave both their debts. Then Jesus asked, “Which one will love the creditor the most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.”

The point of the story is that Simon, like many people today, never saw himself as a sinner. Simon exemplified little affection for Jesus just as the people who perhaps have some knowledge of Jesus but, not admitting their sinfulness and consequently no need of forgiveness, feel that they have had little for which to be forgiven and therefore love Jesus very little.

The woman was a sinner and knew it. Simon was a sinner and would not admit it. It has been said that one who will not admit he is a sinner will not admit he needs Jesus’ forgiveness.