Luke 7 42

Luke 7:42 kjv

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Luke 7:42 nkjv

And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"

Luke 7:42 niv

Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Luke 7:42 esv

When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Luke 7:42 nlt

But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?"

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 42 Meaning

Luke 7:42 presents the core revelation from Jesus' parable of the two debtors: when a person is utterly unable to repay a debt, the gracious act of complete forgiveness profoundly elicits greater love. The verse illustrates that understanding the magnitude of one's indebtedness—spiritual or financial—and then receiving unmerited forgiveness is the catalyst for a deeper, more fervent love and devotion towards the forgiver. It underscores the principle that God's forgiveness is not earned, but freely given, leading to a grateful and loving response from the one who truly perceives their profound need for grace.

Luke 7 42 Context

Luke 7:42 is embedded within Jesus' interaction at the house of Simon, a Pharisee (Lk 7:36-50). Simon had invited Jesus to eat, yet demonstrated minimal customary hospitality. Crucially, a woman identified as a "sinner" (Lk 7:37) enters and washes Jesus' feet with her tears, dries them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with costly perfume. Simon inwardly judges Jesus for allowing such a "sinner" to touch Him (Lk 7:39). Jesus, perceiving Simon's thoughts, then tells the parable of the two debtors. One debtor owed 500 denarii, the other 50 denarii; both had no means to pay, and both were freely forgiven by their creditor. Verse 42 concludes the narrative part of this parable and sets up Jesus' direct question to Simon, forcing him to consider the implications for the woman and himself. The broader context of Luke's Gospel highlights Jesus' compassion for outcasts, sinners, and the marginalized, often contrasting them with the self-righteous religious leaders. This specific episode challenges the Pharisees' merit-based theology, which downplayed personal sinfulness and focused on external adherence to the law, thereby limiting their capacity to receive God's unmerited grace or understand the profound love it engenders.

Luke 7 42 Word analysis

• And when they had nothing to pay:

  • Greek: mē echontōn eis to apodounai (μὴ ἐχόντων εἰς τὸ ἀποδοῦναι) - literally, "not having (means) to pay back/return."
  • Significance: This emphasizes complete and utter insolvency. It's not just a large debt, but an absolute inability to fulfill the obligation through any effort or resource of their own. Spiritually, it highlights humanity's total inability to earn forgiveness or merit salvation from God through works, rituals, or self-righteousness. There is no partial payment or earning credit; one is entirely dependent on the creditor's grace. This contrasts sharply with the common ancient Near Eastern practices of debt servitude or repayment, stressing an uncommon act of total release.

• he freely forgave them both.

  • Greek: echarisato autois (ἐχαρίσατο αὐτοῖς) - Aorist indicative middle of charizomai (χαρίζομαι).
  • Meaning of charizomai: Derived from charis (grace, favor, gift). It means to grant graciously, to show favor, to give freely without demand, to forgive as a favor or gift. It inherently conveys an act of unmerited grace.
  • Significance: This is the theological heart of the verse. The forgiveness is not contingent on any prior action or worthiness of the debtors; it is a spontaneous, undeserved gift. It underscores God's character as a gracious Giver, not a strict Accountant seeking repayment. "Freely" here translates the inherent meaning of charizomai, signifying an act of pure generosity and mercy, bypassing any concept of earned merit. "Them both" highlights the common human condition of sinfulness before God, irrespective of perceived 'degree' of sin—both great and lesser debtors (sinners) require the same absolute, unmerited forgiveness.

• Tell me therefore,

  • Greek: eipon oun moi (εἰπὲ οὖν μοι) - "Speak therefore to me."
  • Significance: Jesus directly engages Simon the Pharisee, turning the abstract parable into a personal question that demands an answer and, implicitly, self-reflection. The "therefore" (oun) links the parable's conclusion directly to the personal application he is about to reveal. It compels Simon to use his own reason and judgment to affirm the principle, rather than simply being told it.

• which of them will love him most?

  • Greek: tis auton pleion agapēsei (τίς αὐτῶν πλεῖον ἀγαπήσει) - "who of them more will love him?"
  • Meaning of agapēsei (from agapaō): This refers to unconditional, self-giving love, a deep affection and commitment.
  • Significance: This is Jesus' punchline. It establishes a direct, proportional relationship between the perceived magnitude of forgiveness received and the depth of love demonstrated. The "most" (pleion) is comparative, suggesting that a profound understanding of one's significant sin-debt, when met with equally significant, free forgiveness, cultivates a love far surpassing that of one who perceives their sin as minimal. It implicitly critiques Simon's likely perception of his own (minor) indebtedness and therefore his (lesser) love for God, in contrast to the woman's profound love stemming from a deeper awareness of her many forgiven sins.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when they had nothing to pay, he freely forgave them both.": This phrase encapsulates the foundational truth of the gospel: human bankruptcy before God met with God's lavish, unearned grace. It establishes the prerequisite for divine action (human inability) and the nature of that action (unmerited forgiveness). It emphasizes that grace is bestowed because we cannot repay, not after we try to repay.

• "he freely forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?": This two-part phrase connects the cause (freely given forgiveness) with the effect (greater love) and structures it as an invitational question. It frames the relationship between grace and response: love is the natural outflow and evidence of truly grasping the depths of God's forgiveness. The question to Simon serves as a crucial point of self-reflection and spiritual diagnostic.

Luke 7 42 Bonus section

The question in Luke 7:42, "which of them will love him most?", served as a direct challenge to the prevalent pharisaic theology of merit. Pharisees often measured righteousness by outward adherence to the law and rituals, implying a debt owed to God that could be paid or at least reduced by good works. This approach led to a self-righteous spirit where individuals, like Simon, might believe their "debt" was minimal or already settled, leading to a reduced sense of gratitude and therefore a colder love for God.

This verse subtly refutes any notion of human ability to repay God or earn His favor. It highlights that everyone, regardless of the outward appearance of their lives, stands utterly dependent on God's grace for the forgiveness of sins. It underlines that genuine devotion stems not from a proud list of accomplishments, but from a humble awareness of spiritual indebtedness and a joyous embrace of divine mercy. This truth leads not to complacency, but to an overflowing love and eagerness to serve the One who "freely forgave."

Luke 7 42 Commentary

Luke 7:42 is a pivot point in the narrative of the sinful woman, revealing the profound spiritual logic behind her extravagant love for Jesus and implicitly critiquing Simon's restrained and judgmental attitude. Jesus' parable, culminating in this verse, articulates a fundamental truth of God's interaction with humanity: divine forgiveness is completely gratuitous. It is not something earned or merited, but extended out of pure grace (charizomai). This unmerited forgiveness becomes the basis for genuine, deep, and passionate love for the Forgiver.

The "nothing to pay" aspect is crucial; it underscores humanity's spiritual insolvency. No one, regardless of how "good" they might perceive themselves to be, can pay off their sin-debt to God. All are utterly dependent on God's gracious cancellation of that debt. This recognition of utter bankruptcy—whether for great sins or seemingly "small" ones—is essential for truly appreciating the boundless generosity of divine pardon. The greater one perceives their sinfulness and the more deeply they grasp the magnitude of the forgiveness bestowed upon them, the more fervent their love for God will be. Conversely, those who minimize their sin, like Simon, will likewise minimize their appreciation for God's mercy and thus their love for Him will be comparably diminished. The verse provides the key to understanding that true love for God is a response to having received His lavish, unmerited grace and forgiveness. It shifts the focus from human performance to divine compassion, emphasizing gratitude as the wellspring of devotion.