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.”

Text Luke 7:42 “And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?”

When Jesus told the story of the two debtors, it was not only for the benefit of Simon, but for us as well. There is an underlying truth that most fail to grasp; while the amounts may be different, both are debtors unable to pay and both will require the forgiveness of the master! Because Simon failed to see himself as a debtor, he failed to do his duty; no water, no kiss and no oil (see vs. 44-46). Because the sinner saw herself as a debtor, she expressed it in her devotion; she washed, kissed, and anointed the feet of Jesus! Simon failed to respect Jesus as his guest while this woman reverenced Jesus as her God! Why was there such a diverse difference in the manner in which Jesus was treated? Simon looked through the eyes of self and saw his saintly works and little debt, while the woman looked through the eyes of the Saviour and saw her sinful ways and much debt. Simon saw the need for minimal forgiveness and the sinner saw the need for monumental forgiveness! Simon thought, “Why shouldn’t He” and the woman thought, “How can He?” The good news is, “he frankly forgave them both.” The perception of debt determined the performance of devotion; “which of them will love him most? . . . he, to whom he forgave most” (vs.42-43). If you want to elevate your performance in duty; elevate your perception of debt and this begins by seeing self through the eyes of the Saviour!