Two Debtors: Grace, Forgiveness, and Love

The sermon opens by establishing the historical and cultural context of ancient Greek, Roman, and Jewish societies, all of which deeply despised women. Philosophers such as Socrates and Aristotle taught that women were inferior to men, and in Jewish society, women were excluded from public worship and study of the Torah. The sermon demonstrates that in this context, Jesus' attitude and treatment of women was utterly revolutionary, as He listened to, honored, and affirmed the dignity of women in stark contrast to the social standards of His time.

The central figure of the account is a sinful woman who came to the Pharisee Simon's house to anoint Jesus' feet with precious oil, her tears, and her hair. Simon silently reasoned within himself that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would know that this woman was a sinner and would never allow her to touch Him. Jesus addressed Simon's unspoken judgment by teaching a parable of two debtors: a creditor had two debtors, one owing five hundred denarii and one fifty. Since neither could pay, the creditor forgave both. Jesus asked Simon: "Which of them will love him more?" Simon correctly answered that the one forgiven much will love much.

Jesus then applies this lesson to the specific situation, contrasting Simon's coldness with the woman's passionate love. Simon gave no water for His feet, no kiss, no oil for His head, yet the woman has done all these things with great devotion. Jesus declares: "Her sins, which are many, have been forgiven—because she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Forgiveness is not the result of her love; rather, her love is the natural result of receiving forgiveness. The woman's faith—her trust in God's mercy—is the foundation of her salvation.

The sermon emphasizes that forgiveness and love are inevitable responses to grace received from God. Jesus teaches in Matthew that the great commandment is to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself, and this love arises from understanding that you yourself have been forgiven much. The sermon warns against the Pharisaic attitude of self-righteousness and judgment of others, without recognizing one's own need for forgiveness. Jesus states that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of such proud Pharisees, because they rest under God's grace more fully.

The sermon's conclusion is a call to action: if we wish to be forgiven by our Father in heaven, we must forgive others. Mutual forgiveness is a sign that we have truly received the grace of salvation. The sinful woman in the account becomes a model of true faith and genuine love, virtues that spring from the deep recognition that we are great debtors who have been completely forgiven by God's grace.