“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.”—Luke 7:41-4341There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. (Luke 7:41‑43).
This parable had been called forth by the remark of the Pharisee in whose house our Lord sat at meat. A woman, who had been forgiven much, came and washed His feet, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with ointment. This led the Pharisee to say within himself, “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.”
Yes, she was a sinner, and our Lord knew it well; but the love and attention she bestowed upon Him was more precious in His eyes than all the cold hospitality of the Pharisee. And it was a lesson the Pharisee had yet to learn, that, though sin abounded, there was grace that much more abounded, and that could freely forgive the debtor that owed the five hundred pence, as much as the one that owed but fifty.
Our Lord goes on to explain the parable. It was quite right to suppose that he who had been forgiven the more, should love the more. The Pharisee had then to hear what he had not done, placed in comparison with what the sinful woman had done. One short sentence explained it all: “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.” She was not forgiven because she loved much, but, as is clearly stated, she loved much because she was forgiven much.
This brings out the power and value of grace in a wonderful manner; it exalts the forgiven one into a loving one, and the one who feels more deeply the many sins he has been forgiven, is given to love the more. Like Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Jesus: His disciples had gone away to their own homes, but her love binds her to the spot; she would take His dead body, rather than be without Him she loved.
There is one sentence we must not overlook. There was something that equally characterized the two debtors: whether they owed much or little, they had nothing wherewith to pay. What a bringing down of the proud Pharisee to the level of the poor sinful woman! For him to have nothing, when he thought he had so much that he could despise the woman as a sinner. Ah, this is one of the hardest lessons men have to learn, especially those who cannot take the place of lost ones, so well satisfied with themselves and their own righteousness, as to despise others—a lesson that we all need to learn—that the grace of God can cleanse the vilest, and can raise him up into a loving one now, and who shall by-and-by be a “jewel” in the Redeemer’s crown to all eternity.
The Unjust Judge.
“There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”—Luke 18:2-82Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:2‑8).
The context tells us that this parable was given to the intent that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” And this is an important lesson, in more respects than one. There is force in the word always. Some can pray, and be at peace, when things are smooth and easy-going, but who are disconcerted when troubles arise—it is then that they faint. Others are too apt to neglect prayer when things are easy; they become indifferent and slothful, but are roused unto prayer when dangers arise. The parable was related, that men might learn to pray always, and never faint.
The parable is enforced by contrast, rather than by example. An unjust judge, one who fears not God, nor has respect for his fellow men, will listen to an importunate widow, rather than be worried by her perpetual appeal. And then comes the conclusion. If an unjust judge can be thus moved, what may we not expect from a just and merciful God? He will avenge His elect speedily, though He bears long with them.
But who are the “elect”? Israel was of old God’s elect nation (Isa. 14:44That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! (Isaiah 14:4)); and then there are those chosen of God to eternal life, as we see plainly in Rom. 8; Col. 3:1212Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12); 2 Timothy ii. 10; Titus 1:11Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; (Titus 1:1). And this brings out the contrast still stronger. There was no relationship between the widow and the unjust judge, and still she got what she required. But God has chosen His elect, brought them into relationship with Himself; how much more, then, will He hear and answer their cry? Yea, in Rom. 8, He asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”... “Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Neither can anything separate us from the love of God. Then we see that God loves those He chooses, and He will surely answer those He loves, and will do it “speedily,” in His own time.
Still, we doubt not that the “elect” in the parable refers primarily to Israel, as well the sentence that follows: “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Here our Lord is referring to His earthly people. The church will have been taken up, but His elect nation will still be on the earth. Will He find them exercising faith in their God, and at peace; or will there rather be a cry of distress, when their Messiah appears? Many passages point out the distress of God’s ancient people at that time (Zech. 12:1010And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)), and it will be only such as can by faith enter into the spirit of this parable that can be at peace. What power will these words have then—”Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him?”
“How long, Ο Lord?” will be one of their bitter cries (see Psalm 79:55How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (Psalm 79:5), &c). Though He bears long with them, I tell you “He will avenge them speedily.” Though sore judgments await unbelieving Israel, God’s chosen remnant will be heard, and be avenged.
And as surely will He hear us. The parable speaks of a widow, and in the East none are more forlorn and despised than a widow. It reminds-one of our Lord’s words: “The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” (Matt. 9:1515And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Matthew 9:15).) She had an adversary, too, and so have we—a subtle and dangerous foe. Let us, then, pray always, and faint not, for we have One who can deliver us from our adversaries, and who is more ready to answer than we are to ask, and who bid& us open our mouths wide, and He will fill them.