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Free Forgiveness Sermon – The Parable of the Two Debtors

Parable of the Two Debtors

TITLE: Parable of the Two Debtors

SUBJECT: Jesus’ Parables:

PROPOSITION: To set forth the parable of the two debtors as it describes ourselves.

OBJECTIVE: To help us more clearly define our own position in relation to God’s forgiveness and the necessity for it, and to love God and others more.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Because the Pharisee who invited Jesus to supper was thinking badly of Jesus, the Lord told this parable.

2. A certain sinful woman had washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried his feet with her hair, anointed them with perfume and, above all, she had touched Jesus.

3. Simon, the Pharisee, thought to himself that if Jesus were a prophet he would know what an evil woman this was and would refuse to let her touch him.

4. Jesus told this parable to teach one basic lesson which is: before God we all need forgiveness as sinners so the only real difference is that someone who really has been wicked and is forgiven will appreciate God and forgiveness more and will be less likely to be self-righteous.

5. The truly constant and great sin of the Pharisees was self-righteousness, Romans 10:3.

6. Read: Luke 7:41-43.

7. Reference to S.T.P.O.

DISCUSSION: In this parable we see –

I.   The money-lender.

II.  The two debtors.

III. The debts.

1. Different people have different sins.

2. Not everyone is even tempted alike.

3. Different people have different abilities to cope with temptation.

4. The significant thing here is that, while one debt was large and the other was small, neither could pay the debt.

1) They could not trade debts. (Perhaps the person with the large debt could have paid the small one.)

2) The one with the small debt could obviously not pay the large debt. NOTE: The exception to this parable is Jesus alone who simply had no debt, so could pay the price for everyone else: the money-lender himself.

IV.  Forgiveness.

1. Ephesians 1:7.

2. Acts 2:38.

V.   The Important Question.

1. Jesus asked, “Which of them therefore will love him more?”

1) This question is pertinent because it focuses the thought on self.

2) Picture yourself as Simon, the Pharisee:

a. Always kept the Sabbath holy.

b. Always tithed everything three times each year as well as offering free-will offerings,

c. Never guilty of murder, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, nor even of coveting, at least willfully, He says, “I am a good man.

3) Now consider some ignorant, itinerant preacher from a most despised village, Nazareth, comparing you to an adulteress, saying both NEED forgiveness.

2. Simon’s answer is also very important for several reasons.

1) Custom demanded that the feet of guest be washed, but Simon had not washed Jesus’ feet.

2) Custom demanded a greeting kiss, but Simon gave none to Jesus.

3) In fact Simon had overlooked every common courtesy.

4) Such action had to be deliberate: Simon insulted Jesus.

5) Jesus reprimanded Simon because hospitality was an Old Testament command.

6) Simon answered Jesus truthfully,

a. He tried to blunt the truth with “I suppose.”

b. The truth came through, however, “The one whom he forgave more.”

c. Simon was humbled by all of this.

3. Jesus lovingly asserted that Simon’s answer was correct.

VI.  An epilogue of teaching, 44-50.

VII. The lesson.

1. Several lessons: from God’s point of view and from man’s.

2. Man’s point of view:

1) “I am so good, God has so little to forgive that I am not appreciated enough for my goodness.”

2) I should love others ONLY so far as I feel I have been loved (This ignores John 3:16).

3. God’s point of view:

1) All who are forgiven are equally forgiven for all sins are the same before God.

2) Men make distinctions God does not:

a. Galatians 5:19-21; and

b. Revelation 21:8, all of which teach the equality of sin and the necessity of the blood of Christ to forgive it.

3) God judges our love for him, among other ways, in proportion to the love we show to each other, 1 John 4:20-21.

4) God judges us by what we have, never by what we do not have. NOTE: Simon had much and gave little. The woman had little and gave much.

5) God forgives those who serve him for nothing and they appreciate it more than those who suppose that godliness is a way of gain, 1 Timothy 6:5-6.

4. The one lesson that we must receive from this parable is: A Christian has been forgiven much and MUST, therefore, love much and forgive much!

CONCLUSION:

1. As is usual with Jesus’ parables, this one is very potent.

1) It provides no room for the self-righteous.

2) It is full of room for humble loving, submissive obedience.

2. This parable teaches us that we who are genuine Christians HAVE been forgiven MUCH!!!!!!!

3. Let us, therefore, love much and forgive much!