MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE CREDITOR AND TWO DEBTORS
Read Luke 7:36-50
Jesus told the parable of the creditor and two debtors in order to illustrate the truth that one who is forgiven a great debt of sin will have more love for His Lord and Savior than the one who is forgiven little. If one does not see his great debt of sins and appreciate the redemptive work of Christ--the fact that Jesus Christ shed His holy, precious blood to redeem us sinners from the eternal wrath and punishment of God which we deserve (I Peter 1:18-19)--he will have little love for the Lord Jesus and little desire to serve Him. The woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and then anointed them with ointment knew she was an unworthy sinner; but she also believed that Jesus forgave her great debt of sin. Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, did not see the greatness of his sins or believe that Jesus was God's Son and his Savior. As a result, he did not love the Lord Jesus or serve Him as this woman had done.
Before we can truly love the Lord and serve
Him, we too must see our great debt of sin and know the grace and mercy of God
in forgiving our sins for Jesus' sake. We were not redeemed with gold or
silver, but with the holy and precious blood of Jesus Christ which He shed for
us when He suffered and died upon the cross for our sins (I Peter
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me no thought can reach, no tongue declare; unite my thankful heart with Thee and reign without a rival there. To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live; myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #349, Verse 1)