The First Parable To Simon

(Luke 7:40-43 KJV) And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. [41] There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. [42] And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? [43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Usually when our Lord spoke Parables (spiritual truths taught through earthly events), He spoke to crowds.

– The Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) was to a crowd.

– The Parable of the Two Sons was spoken to a crowd, but addressed to chief priests and Pharisees (Matthew 21:28-32).

To my knowledge there were only four times that Jesus spoke a parable directed to just one person. I may be wrong – if I am, let me know. I’m always learning, too.

The are two parables addressed to someone named “Simon”. Tonight we’ll look at the parable addressed to a seeking Simon. Next Wednesday we’ll look at a parable addressed to a saved Simon. Both parables deal with forgiveness and self righteousness, both very important concepts in the Bible.

The Parable To A Seeking Simon:
Parable Of Two Debtors

In Luke Chapter 7 Jesus has been very busy traveling and sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus entered Capernaum, a primarily Jewish town. Both Jews and Gentiles got along well in Capernaum, mainly because the Roman Centurion who oversaw the town built the Synagogue and was kind to the Jews there (Luke 7:5). When Jesus came, the elders of the Jews asked Jesus to heal the Centurion’s servant. The man was a seeker of God. Recognizing Who Jesus was, Jesus said of the Centurion:

(Luke 7:9 KJV) … I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

Jesus traveled southwest to Nain (lower Galilee), about 30 miles. So a day probably passed depending on the route He walked. Entering Nain, Jesus saw “a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her” (Luke 7:12). Jesus resurrected this dead man, which caused the people all around to talk about Him. At this point, John the Baptists disciples question Jesus,

(Luke 7:20 KJV) {saying} John Baptist hath sent us unto Thee, saying, Art Thou He that should come? or look we for another?

Jesus answered their question by His works. He “cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight”(7:21). The works did not make Jesus the Messiah, but they proved He was the Messiah. In the same way, works do not make the Christian – but they PROVE that you are a genuine Christian.

At this point Jesus began to preach about John the Baptist, and about the Kingdom of God. He chastised the Pharisees for “rejecting the counsel of God” (Luke 7:30), and called the religious leaders of Israel “children sitting in the marketplace pleasing themselves” (Luke 7:32-35). Jesus’ sermon got to one of the Pharisees that were in the crowd of Galileans.

Simon the Pharisee

We don’t know much about Simon the Pharisee other than he had a home in Galilee. The closest towns to Nain in Galilee were Endor (2 miles north) and Nazareth (7 miles northwest). Simon had to be aware of Jesus raising the dead, as well as healing others. So He invited Jesus to eat with him.

(Luke 7:36 KJV) And one of the Pharisees DESIRED {erōtaō} him that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

Word Study: The word translated “DESIRED” is the Greek erōtaō, which means “to ask”. This is in the Imperfect Active Indicative, which refers to continuous or repeated action in past time. The best way to translate this is “one of the Pharisees KEPT URGING {Jesus} to eat with him”.

He didn’t just ask Jesus. Simon was intrigued by Jesus. He was seeking to know Jesus better, so he in effect pled with Jesus repeatedly “Come eat with me”. And Jesus went. Why? Jesus just lambasted the Pharisees and Scribes for their self righteousness and fickle approach to the Kingdom of God. It would be like making a guest appearance on “The View”. The Pharisees hated Jesus. There were exceptions, but very few. Some like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea supported Jesus and His ministry. But most despised Jesus because He told them the truth. When you tell the truth, you’ll be hated by those who love lying and darkness. So why did Jesus go? Because God loves His creation, and wants no one to enter damnation. Jesus said,

John 6:37 whoever comes to Me I will in no wise cast out

So Jesus went, though He knew He was in enemy territory. The Bible says …

went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat

Simon Was A Poor Host To The Son Of God

Normally when invited to someone’s home, the host would at least offer you water to wash your feet with. Jesus has traveled a lot of miles the last two days, serving the Kingdom of God. He isn’t riding a horse or a donkey. He’s walking in more than likely open toed sandals. So Jesus, exhausted and ready to eat supper, comes to Simon’s home. He takes off His shoes, and Simon offers no water nor towel for his Guest.

But God the Holy Spirit has provided a servant of the Kingdom to minister to the King of Kings. That honored servant is a “sinner”.

(Luke 7:37-38 KJV) And, behold, a woman in the city, which WAS A SINNER, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, [38] And stood at His feet BEHIND HIM weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.

The Bible doesn’t tell us what this woman’s “sin” was. Most commentators believe that she was a prostitute. Prostitution was both legal, and common in the Roman empire.

Some prostitutes were forced as slaves to do what they did. Others were women who lost their homes, and used prostitution as a means of getting an income.

God told His people in (Deuteronomy 23:17-18 LSB) None of the daughters of Israel shall be A CULT PROSTITUTE, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be A CULT PROSTITUTE. [18] You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of Yahweh your God for any votive offering, for BOTH OF THESE ARE AN ABOMINATION TO YAHWEH YOUR GOD.

This woman “WAS A SINNER”. Her identity was known to Simon. He had seen her on the street. When she began to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears, and dry His feet with her hair, she was supplying what she had to honor our Lord. Simon gave neither basin or towel. She gave her all. The woman stood “BEHIND HIM”. She didn’t want to intrude, but to honor the Lord. She took an “alabaster box of ointment” and once His feet were washed and dried, she “anointed His feet with the ointment”. What was Simon doing while this was going on?

(Luke 7:39 KJV) Now when the Pharisee which had bidden Him saw [it], He spake within himself, saying, This Man, IF HE WERE A PROPHET, WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHO AND WHAT MANNER OF WOMAN THIS IS THAT TOUCHETH HIM: for SHE IS A SINNER.

This is the way that Pharisees always are. The man begged Jesus repeatedly “come and eat with Me”, then when Jesus relented and came he mistreated the Lord. He was not a good host. He didn’t see to the comfort of Jesus – he could have cared less. He was curious about Jesus. He was, in a way, a seeker. But like most seekers he was all about HIMSELF, not about the Kingdom of God. It is God’s will that:

(John 5:23 NKJV) that ALL SHOULD HONOR THE SON AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER. He who DOES NOT HONOR THE SON DOES NOT HONOR THE FATHER who sent Him.

God the Son came to dine with Simon, and he treated the Lord like He was nothing. But this woman, this sinner, she put aside her pride. She knelt at the feet of Jesus and gave Him the honor that Simon denied Him. Why?

The Parable Of Two Debtors

Simon “SPAKE WITHIN HIMSELF”. He didn’t speak out loud, but in his own thoughts he dismissed Jesus as being even a Prophet, much less the Messiah. Simon is like so many “Christians” today who look right at the assembly of the Church, but who hide their sinful thoughts. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 94:11 The LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS of man

We are also told in Matthew 9:4, “Jesus knows our thoughts”. Simon has dismissed Jesus as not even being a Prophet. But Jesus is MORE than a Prophet. He is the Son of God, God in the flesh.

(Luke 7:40 KJV) Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, MASTER {didaskalos}, say on.

Simon has relegated Jesus to the position of didaskalos, which means “a master teacher”. And Jesus is going to use a parable to teach Simon. Jesus says:

(Luke 7:41-43 KJV) There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed FIVE HUNDRED PENCE {dēnarion}, and the other FIFTY. [42] And when THEY HAD NOTHING TO PAY, he FRANKLY {charizomai} FORGAVE THEM BOTH. Tell me therefore, WHICH OF THEM WILL LOVE HIM MOST? [43] Simon answered and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he FORGAVE {charizomai} most. And he said unto him, THOU HAST RIGHTLY JUDGED.

Word Study: In this parable Jesus only has three people: the Forgiver, and two debtors. Of the two debtors, one owed fifty days PENCE {Greek dēnarion}. A dēnarion or denarius was the ordinary day’s pay for an unskilled worker (see Matthew 20:2-13). So one debtor owed the equivalent to fifty days of labor – over a month and a half of wages. But the other debtor owed 500 denarius, equivalent to nearly a year and a half of wages. A year and a half wages versus a month and a half wages. Neither person had the means to pay the Owner back, so “he frankly FORGAVE THEM BOTH”. The word translated “FRANKLY” is the Greek charizomai, which means “to freely and without strings attached, to graciously grant forgiveness”.

In the parable, Jesus means the one who owes 50 days labor to be the Pharisee. The one who owes 500 days labor is the woman who was a sinner. These two people are a picture of every seeker of Jesus.

There is the seeking Pharisee. In his eyes he’s not done anything wrong. He is the moral person, the Judge on the bench, the citizen that never openly violates the Law. He is the regular Church goer. He dresses up to go to “The House of the Lord”, watches his language, and tithes regularly. This person would invite Jesus to his home for lunch after Church, but he wouldn’t go out of his way for Jesus. He has a somewhat respect for Jesus, but to him Jesus is not God, nor does Jesus need to forgive him. Yet Jesus forgave this Pharisee. He was part of the party that continually attacked Him, accusing Him of being a child of Satan and a bastard born of fornication. He saw the miracles that Jesus did, heard of the resurrection of the widow of Nain’s son, and attributed it to gossip and black magic.

The Pharisee would attend Church services, but never feels tears coming to his eyes when he thinks of the crucifixion of Christ. You see, the Pharisee feels like he’s just not that bad. Had Jesus not died on the Cross, the Pharisee feels that when he stands before God and his lot is weighed against other people (like this sinning woman), then he will be God’s first choice to go into Heaven. The Pharisee has never done anything offensive to God in his mind. The Pharisee never judges himself, but spends his days judging others again what he thinks is a standard that he emulates, a sainthood secured by his own works.

What the Pharisee doesn’t know and will never get is that God measures us not by our fellow man, but by our relationship to Christ His Son. Do we honor Him?

When the Pharisee begged Jesus to come eat supper with him, Jesus was exercising charizomai, undeserved Grace. The fact that the man invited Jesus was a small repentance, because no other Pharisees would allow Jesus in their homes. Like Nicodemus who visited Jesus by night this man would take a social hit by inviting Jesus. This is perhaps why when he invited Jesus, he played the poor host. He gave Jesus the minimum he could at the visit. But he forgot something.

Both Simon and the woman are debtors that need forgiveness.
Everyone falls short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
We all need Jesus desperately to come and dine with us.

Preach! Jesus tells the the sinners at the Church of Laodicea, a Church that no longer washed Jesus’ feet with their tears and dried his feet with the hair of their head. He tells these assembled saved ones, all those who feel that they only owed 50 denarius, that they have lost their path. Jesus tells the Church:

(Revelation 3:15-21 NKJV) I KNOW YOUR WORKS, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. [16] So then, because YOU ARE LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I WILL VOMIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH. [17] Because you say, ‘I AM RICH, have BECOME WEALTHY, and HAVE NEED OF NOTHING’–and DO NOT KNOW that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– [18] I counsel you to BUY FROM ME gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. [19] AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN. Therefore be zealous and REPENT. [20] Behold, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK. If anyone HEARS MY VOICE and OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND DINE WITH HIM, and HE WITH ME. [21] To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

I have often heard verse 20 preached as if it were to sinners like that woman. But Jesus is speaking to the lukewarm Church.

Like Simon the Pharisee, the Church of Laodicea invites Jesus to come and dine – but then plays the poor host to the Son of God. When we come together we should cherish Jesus, and magnify Him in all we do. We, like that woman sinner, should fall at His feet, and minister to Him Who alone is worthy.

Yes, the moral person who was only forgiven 50 denarius because “he wasn’t as bad” as another – well, he wasn’t as bad as the one who owed 500 denarius. But both were forgiven by Grace. That’s what we must all remember, is that salvation is all of Grace. It has been my experience that the greatest workers in the Kingdom of God are not those who were raised in the Church, but those who were forgiven the most. Listen to me:

I think it’s wonderful that you were raised by godly parents. I think it’s a great joy that you willingly work for Jesus. This Church, this Kingdom needs workers for Jesus. I’m not trying to take away from those who faithfully serve. But I have seen those raised in the Church, and those raised in the fire of hell. Of the two, those who were in the deepest pits of sin and the devil’s quicksand, these are the ones who will give the most. Let’s think about this “IS A SINNER” for a moment.

No Pharisee would touch her, no more than he would touch a leper. She was unclean! But Jesus, Who is God the Son, WILL touch the sinner, just as He will touch the leper. Right after Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount the Bible tells us:

(Matthew 8:1-3 NKJV) When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. [2] And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” [3] Then Jesus PUT OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED HIM, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately HIS LEPROSY WAS CLEANSED.

The Law of Moses required the leper to live apart from others (Leviticus 13:45-46). When the leper came into public he was to cry out “Unclean, Unclean”. The Law did not say that you could not touch the leper, but it did say “whoever touches the leper shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and BE UNCLEAN until evening” (Leviticus 15:7). This is the rule among ordinary humans. This is the rule among the Pharisees. But this is not the rule for the Son of God. Jesus TOUCHED THE LEPER and IMMEDIATELY HEALED THE LEPER.

When Simon saw the woman touch Jesus, he assumed that the sin of the woman now tainted our Lord. He was wrong. This woman came repenting. This woman came humble. This woman owed 500 denarius, and Jesus forgave her just as He forgave Simon the 50n denarius. One of Great Britain’s most famous preachers Alexander Maclaren put it this way:

“You must recognize your insolvency if you expect to be forgiven. God does not accept dividends, so much in the pound, and let you off the rest on consideration thereof. If you are going to pay, you have to pay all; if He is going to forgive, you have to let Him forgive all. It must be one thing or the other. ”

Jesus Brings It Home To Simon The Pharisee

(Luke 7:44-47 KJV) {Jesus} turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I ENTERED INTO THINE HOUSE, thou GAVEST ME NO WATER FOR MY FEET: but SHE HATH WASHED MY FEET WITH TEARS, and WIPED THEM WITH THE HAIRS OF HER HEAD. [45] THOU GAVEST ME NO KISS: but THIS WOMAN since the time I came in HATH NOT CEASED TO KISS MY FEET. [46] MY HEAD WITH OIL THOU DIDST NOT ANOINT: but THIS WOMAN HATH ANOINTED MY FEET WITH OINTMENT. [47] Wherefore I say unto thee, HER SINS, WHICH ARE MANY, ARE FORGIVEN; for SHE LOVED MUCH: but TO WHOM LITTLE IS FORGIVEN, THE SAME LOVETH LITTLE.

Jesus never tells Simon that his sins are forgiven – though in the parable he is represented by the man who owed 50 denarius. Why was the woman forgiven, even though “HER SINS … ARE MANY”? Look at what Jesus said:

HER SINS, WHICH ARE MANY, ARE FORGIVEN; for SHE LOVED MUCH

She loved Jesus more than she loved herself. She was drowning in a sea of sin, swam to Jesus, and gave her life to Him. He lifted her up. She loved Him, but more importantly He loved her. Simon loved Jesus like many American Christians do today – just enough to be respectable. This woman put aside every ounce of pride, humbled herself, and fell at the feet of Jesus. And Jesus forgave her. The Bible says:

(James 4:8-10 LSB) DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, you SINNERS, and PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, you double-minded. [9] BE MISERABLE AND MOURN AND CRY. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] HUMBLE YOURSELVES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, and HE WILL EXALT YOU.

There is no such thing as a joyful, giggling salvation. The one who repents, repents with bitter tears. We previously studied the Parable Of The Four Soils (Of The Sower), and saw that the one who receives the Gospel on rocky ground:

(Matthew 13:20-21 ESV) As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the ONE WHO HEARS THE WORD and IMMEDIATELY RECEIVES IT WITH JOY, [21] yet he HAS NO ROOT IN HIMSELF, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, IMMEDIATELY HE FALLS AWAY.

Simon the Pharisee received Jesus with joy. He begged the Master to come to his home and eat with him. But once the Master came, Simon spent his time with Jesus judging the Lord and judging the sinner. He was a seeker of Christ, but he never wept bitter tears. Beloved, I want you to know this, for it is all of Scripture and all of the Holy Spirit. If your repentance did not include tears. If you giggled your way down the altar, or considered God to be blessed in saving you,

then you are yet dead in your sins.

The one who is saved grieves that Jesus had to suffer and die as He did for us. The one who is saved hates sin, but wants other sinners like themselves to be saved. The one who is saved does not spend their days judging the unfortunate. But like Jesus, we are not ashamed to reach out and touch the leper.

(Luke 7:48-50 KJV) {Jesus} said unto her, THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN. [49] And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? [50] And he said to the woman, THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE; GO IN PEACE.

Are you a seeking Simon, or a saved Simon? May God the Holy Spirit convict you and assure you of your salvation this very day. Amen.