Luke 7:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

NIV: Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.' 'You have judged correctly,' Jesus said.

NASB: Simon answered and said, 'I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.' And He said to him, 'You have judged correctly.'

CSB: Simon answered, "I suppose the one he forgave more.""You have judged correctly," he told him.

NLT: Simon answered, 'I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.' 'That’s right,' Jesus said.

KJV: Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

NKJV: Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

A Pharisee named Simon had his banquet interrupted by a woman with an immoral reputation. She started washing his guest's feet with her tears and hair and anointing them with perfume. The guest was thought to be a prophet of some kind but made no move to dismiss the woman. According to Simon's way of thinking, if the guest doesn't even know what kind of woman this is, He must not be much of a prophet (Luke 7:36–39).

The guest, of course, is Jesus. He knows exactly who the woman is and what she has done (Luke 7:47). He also knows why the woman is acting this way. At some point, she heard Jesus' message and accepted forgiveness for those many sins. In response, she wants to extravagantly show love and gratitude. A banquet, where the door is open to those who want to listen in on the conversation, is much more convenient than trying to push through the crowds that follow Jesus wherever He goes.

Simon doesn't see things this way, of course. Rather than being confrontational, Jesus tells him a parable (Luke 7:40–42). Two men owe a moneylender. One man owes two months' worth of wages while the other owes two years' worth. The moneylender forgives both debts. Jesus asks Simon to deduce which debtor will love the moneylender more.

Roman culture relied on the patronage system. A wealthy and/or powerful man would do favors for those who needed help, often by loaning money. The client would in turn do the bidding of the patron. The system worked on honor and trust. Jesus, however, adds another element: sacrificial love that wants the best for another. Simon has likely never considered that a client would love a patron. And yet, the Mosaic law, which Simon is devoted to, says, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). Simon's perspective doesn't allow for the idea that a sinful woman could obey the most important part of the Law better than a Pharisee.

Simon gives a half-hearted response. He may be grudgingly conceding the point. Or, perhaps rabbinical training, which values vague answers, is kicking in. Jesus approves as far as it goes: Simon correctly judged the human response to charity and forgiveness. However, he misjudged God's eagerness to give charity and forgiveness.

Luke 7:39–50 places Simon the Pharisee at center stage. Unlike the centurion (Luke 7:1–10), Simon misreads his standing in comparison to the greatness of Jesus. He's somewhere between the humble who accept Jesus and the arrogant who flatly reject Him (Luke 7:29–34). Simon has invited Jesus to dinner, given Him the minimum hospitality, and silently judged Him. This contrasts with the repentant woman who interrupts dinner to bless Jesus (Luke 7:36–38). Jesus goes where Simon doesn't expect: Simon understands neither forgiveness nor love.

Luke 7 presents a chiasm: a set of themes mirrored around a reflection point. The humble centurion (Luke 7:1–10) contrasts the legalistic Pharisee (Luke 7:39–50). The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and the sinful women (Luke 7:36–38) have nothing to offer but gratitude for Jesus' blessings. In the center are John the Baptist and his disciples who struggle to trust that Jesus is worth following (Luke 7:18–23), then the sinners who do choose to follow Jesus and the religious leaders who refuse (Luke 7:24–35).

Luke 7 continues Jesus' mission primarily to the people of Galilee expressed as a series of pointed events and teachings punctuated by calls to follow Him. He has finished teaching the rigors of discipleship (Luke 6:17–45) and invited the crowd to place their faith in Him (Luke 6:46–49). Here, Luke describes different reactions to Jesus' miracles and message. Next, Jesus will reveal the mechanics of and reactions to His call (Luke 8:4–21) before showing His great authority over nature, demons, sickness, and worldly powers (Luke 8:22—9:17). After a final call to the disciples to deepen their faith (Luke 9:18–50), Jesus will turn toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.