Two Debtors

The sermon opens with the story of Fanny Crosby, a blind woman who could nevertheless see God's beauty through her soul and faith. The pastor emphasizes that we see not only with our eyes but also with our soul, intellect, and lived experience. He illustrates this by recounting how he and his wife came to Albuquerque 30 years ago and initially saw only a barren desert, but over time came to see development, hope, and a future. Similarly, parents looking at a child see not just a youngster but also a future and generations to come.

The second section analyzes how the Pharisee Simon saw the sinful woman. Simon looked only through the lens of Jewish law with its 613 commandments, seeing a law-breaker worthy of avoidance. The pastor explains the historical context in which women were despised in Jewish society, excluded from worship and study, and without rights except over slaves. Simon even suspected that if Jesus were a prophet, He would know this woman was sinful and should not allow her to touch His feet. Jesus responds with a parable about two debtors, one owing 500 denarii and the other 50, but both forgiven by their master. The pastor teaches that love is the language of the heart, while law is abstract reason, and the purpose of law is restoration, not mere punishment.

The third section explores how the woman saw herself and saw Jesus Christ. She wept in repentance over her sin, washed His feet with her tears and hair, and anointed His feet with perfume—an act expressing reverence, honor, and complete trust. The pastor explains that the perfume bottle may symbolize what a prostitute used to earn her living, which she now offers to Jesus. He applies this universally: each of us has a "perfume bottle around the neck"—beauty, intelligence, wealth, position—things we pour out for someone or some purpose. The great question is: who possesses our life and our heart?

The final section highlights how Jesus Christ saw both debtors. Jesus saw not only the outward tears and actions but looked through into the soul, knowing her genuine repentance and desire for change. Jesus declared, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." The pastor concludes that this peace does not depend on external circumstances but comes from knowing one has been forgiven by God. The church must be a place where sinners come to receive forgiveness and love, not just from God but from every member. The pastor urges the congregation to stop making things difficult for one another but to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.