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Parables · 3 of 45

The Two Debtors

In Galilee

Luke 7:47

Luke 7:36–50

36One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dinner. So Jesus went to his house and took his place at the table. 37A woman in that town who had lived a sinful life found out that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfumed ointment 38and stood behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them with her hair, kissing his feet over and over and pouring the ointment on them. 39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he thought to himself, "If this man were really a prophet, he'd know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner." 40Jesus spoke up. "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied. 41A moneylender had two people who owed him money. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other owed fifty. 42Neither of them could pay him back, so he forgave both debts. Now, which of them do you think will love him more?" 43Simon answered, "I'd guess the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." Jesus said, "You're exactly right." 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you didn't offer me water to wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the moment I walked in, she hasn't stopped kissing my feet. 46You didn't anoint my head with oil, but she has poured ointment on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much. But whoever is forgiven little loves little. 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?' 50But Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Read Luke 7

About this passage

What the parable says

At dinner in a Pharisee's house, a woman known as a sinner washed Jesus' feet with her tears. Jesus told of two men who owed a lender money, one a large amount and one a small amount. The lender forgave them both. Jesus asked which would love him more. He said the woman's many sins were forgiven, for she loved much, and that whoever is forgiven little loves little.

Where this fits

One of 45 passages in Jesus' Parables, in the group “In Galilee.”

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