The Freeing Power Of Forgiveness
Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both.
Luke 7:42
In Luke 7 Jesus likened the forgiveness of sins to the forgiveness of a large debt. A large debt freely forgiven prompted the debtor’s great gratitude for the creditor’s great kindness.
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Jesus’ parables of the two forgiven debtors points to every person’s need of forgiveness, as Albert Barnes explains.
WALK WITH ALBERT BARNES
“If it was a mere debt which we owed to God, he might forgive—as this creditor did—without any equivalent. But it is a crime he forgives.
“So our sins against God are called ‘debts’ figuratively. God cannot forgive us without maintaining his word, the honor of his government, and law—that is, without an atonement.
“It is clear that by the creditor here our Savior meant God, and by the debtors, sinners and the woman present. Simon, whose life had been comparatively upright, was denoted by the one owing fifty denarii; the woman, who had been a shameless sinner, was represented by the one owing five hundred. Yet neither could pay. Both must be forgiven or perish.
“So, however much difference there is among people, all need the pardoning mercy of God, and all, without that, must perish.”
WALK CLOSER TO GOD
Imagine the heartache of the one who owes an enormous debt he can never hope to repay but that may come due at any moment. Such is the fate of every individual without the forgiveness offered by Christ.
Who could refuse the offer of one to pay such a debt? Jesus’ parable makes clear the freeing power of forgiveness, and the only proper response: love.
The apostle Paul would later give this instruction: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another” (Romans 13:8). If you are in Christ, then you are freely forgiven. Will you follow yet further by owing only a debt of loving service?
