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One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/nlt/luke/7.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. <a href="/esv/luke/7.htm">English Standard Version</a> “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/bsb/luke/7.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/blb/luke/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> "There were two debtors to a certain creditor. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/kjv/luke/7.htm">King James Bible</a> There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. <a href="/nkjv/luke/7.htm">New King James Version</a> “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/nasb_/luke/7.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “A moneylender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other, fifty. <a href="/nasb/luke/7.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/nasb77/luke/7.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/lsb/luke/7.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/amp/luke/7.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/csb/luke/7.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “A creditor had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/hcsb/luke/7.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220A creditor had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50. <a href="/asv/luke/7.htm">American Standard Version</a> A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty. <a href="/cev/luke/7.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Jesus told him, "Two people were in debt to a moneylender. One of them owed him 500 silver coins, and the other owed him 50. <a href="/erv/luke/7.htm">English Revised Version</a> A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. <a href="/gwt/luke/7.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> [So Jesus said,] "Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. <a href="/gnt/luke/7.htm">Good News Translation</a> "There were two men who owed money to a moneylender," Jesus began. "One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. <a href="/isv/luke/7.htm">International Standard Version</a> "Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. <a href="/msb/luke/7.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/net/luke/7.htm">NET Bible</a> "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty. <a href="/nheb/luke/7.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/wbt/luke/7.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> There was a certain creditor, who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. <a href="/wey/luke/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "There were once two men in debt to one money-lender," said Jesus; "one owed him five hundred shillings and the other fifty. <a href="/web/luke/7.htm">World English Bible</a> “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/luke/7.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> “Two debtors were to a certain creditor; one was owing five hundred denarii, and the other fifty; <a href="/blb/luke/7.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> "There were two debtors to a certain creditor. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/ylt/luke/7.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Two debtors were to a certain creditor; the one was owing five hundred denaries, and the other fifty; <a href="/slt/luke/7.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Two debtors were to a certain money-lender: one owed five hundred drachmas, and the other fifty.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/luke/7.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. <a href="/cpdv/luke/7.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> “A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/nabre/luke/7.htm">New American Bible</a> “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. <a href="/nrsvce/luke/7.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/luke/7.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> There were two men who were debtors to a creditor; one of them owed him five hundred pence, and the other one fifty pence. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/luke/7.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And Yeshua said to him, “One landowner had two debtors; one debtor owed him 500 denarii and the other 50 denarii.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/luke/7.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed him five hundred denarii, the other, fifty. <a href="/godbey/luke/7.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>There were two debtors to a certain creditor: the one owed him five hundred denaria, and the other fifty.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/luke/7.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. <a href="/mace/luke/7.htm">Mace New Testament</a> A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred denarys, and the other fifty. <a href="/wey/luke/7.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "There were once two men in debt to one money-lender," said Jesus; "one owed him five hundred shillings and the other fifty. <a href="/worrell/luke/7.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"There were two debtors to a certain money-lender. The one owed five hundred denaries; and the other, fifty.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/luke/7.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed <Fr>him<FR> five hundred denaries, and the other fifty:<Fr> <a href="/parallel/luke/7-41.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3-5_0Jtd9Lc?start=2888" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/luke/7.htm">A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus</a> 40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said. 41<a href="/greek/1417.htm" title="1417: Dyo (Adj-NMP) -- Two. A primary numeral; two.">“Two men</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: ēsan (V-IIA-3P) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">were</a> <a href="/greek/5533.htm" title="5533: chreopheiletai (N-NMP) -- A debtor. From a derivative of chrao and opheiletes; a loan-ower, i.e. Indebted person.">debtors</a> <a href="/greek/5100.htm" title="5100: tini (IPro-DMS) -- Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object."></a> <a href="/greek/1157.htm" title="1157: danistē (N-DMS) -- A money-lender, creditor. From daneizo; a lender.">to a certain moneylender.</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: heis (Adj-NMS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.">One</a> <a href="/greek/3784.htm" title="3784: ōpheilen (V-IIA-3S) -- Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty.">owed him</a> <a href="/greek/4001.htm" title="4001: pentakosia (Adj-ANP) -- Five hundred. From pente and hekaton; five hundred.">five hundred</a> <a href="/greek/1220.htm" title="1220: dēnaria (N-ANP) -- A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius.">denarii,</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc.">and</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/2087.htm" title="2087: heteros (Adj-NMS) -- (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.">other</a> <a href="/greek/4004.htm" title="4004: pentēkonta (Adj-ANP) -- Fifty. Multiplicative of pente; fifty.">fifty.</a> 42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/18-23.htm">Matthew 18:23-35</a> Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ... <a href="/matthew/6-12.htm">Matthew 6:12</a> And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. <a href="/matthew/18-21.htm">Matthew 18:21-22</a> Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” / Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! <a href="/romans/13-8.htm">Romans 13:8</a> Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. <a href="/colossians/3-13.htm">Colossians 3:13</a> Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. <a href="/ephesians/4-32.htm">Ephesians 4:32</a> Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. <a href="/matthew/5-7.htm">Matthew 5:7</a> Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. <a href="/james/2-13.htm">James 2:13</a> For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. <a href="/matthew/7-1.htm">Matthew 7:1-2</a> “Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. <a href="/1_john/4-11.htm">1 John 4:11</a> Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. <a href="/2_corinthians/2-7.htm">2 Corinthians 2:7</a> So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. <a href="/proverbs/19-17.htm">Proverbs 19:17</a> Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender. <a href="/proverbs/28-13.htm">Proverbs 28:13</a> He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. <a href="/psalms/32-1.htm">Psalm 32:1-2</a> Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit. <a href="/isaiah/1-18.htm">Isaiah 1:18</a> “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.a certain.<a href="/luke/11-4.htm">Luke 11:4</a> And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.<a href="/luke/13-4.htm">Luke 13:4</a> Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?<a href="/isaiah/50-1.htm">Isaiah 50:1</a> Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.the one.<a href="/luke/7-47.htm">Luke 7:47</a> 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.<a href="/romans/5-20.htm">Romans 5:20</a> Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:<a href="/1_timothy/1-15.htm">1 Timothy 1:15,16</a> This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief… pence.<a href="/matthew/18-28.htm">Matthew 18:28</a> But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.the other.<a href="/luke/12-48.htm">Luke 12:48</a> But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.<a href="/numbers/27-3.htm">Numbers 27:3</a> Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.<a href="/jeremiah/3-11.htm">Jeremiah 3:11</a> And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/5-28.htm">Business</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-2.htm">Creditor</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/matthew/6-12.htm">Debtors</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Denaries</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Denarii</a> <a href="/haggai/2-16.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/luke/1-24.htm">Five</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/luke/7-40.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/isaiah/24-2.htm">Lender</a> <a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Money</a> <a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Moneylender</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Owed</a> <a href="/matthew/18-34.htm">Owing</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Pence</a> <a href="/luke/5-6.htm">Rabbi</a> <a href="/mark/14-5.htm">Shillings</a> <a href="/luke/7-40.htm">Simon</a> <a href="/luke/6-9.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/luke/7-18.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/luke/8-28.htm">Business</a> <a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Creditor</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Debt</a> <a href="/luke/13-4.htm">Debtors</a> <a href="/john/12-5.htm">Denaries</a> <a href="/luke/10-35.htm">Denarii</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Fifty</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Five</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Hundred</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Jesus</a> <a href="/proverbs/22-7.htm">Lender</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Money</a> <a href="/exodus/22-25.htm">Moneylender</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Owed</a> <a href="/philemon/1-19.htm">Owing</a> <a href="/luke/10-35.htm">Pence</a> <a href="/luke/8-24.htm">Rabbi</a> <a href="/luke/7-42.htm">Shillings</a> <a href="/luke/7-43.htm">Simon</a> <a href="/luke/9-47.htm">Thoughts</a> <a href="/luke/8-11.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Luke 7</div>1. <a href="/luke/7-1.htm">Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;</a> 10. <a href="/luke/7-10.htm">heals his servant, being absent;</a> 11. <a href="/luke/7-11.htm">raises from death the widow's son at Nain;</a> 18. <a href="/luke/7-18.htm">answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;</a> 24. <a href="/luke/7-24.htm">testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;</a> 31. <a href="/luke/7-31.htm">compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,</a> 36. <a href="/luke/7-36.htm">and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner, </a> 44. <a href="/luke/7-44.htm">he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/7.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/luke/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/luke/7.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. In this parable, Jesus introduces two debtors, symbolizing humanity's spiritual indebtedness to God due to sin. The "certain moneylender" represents God, who is owed a debt of righteousness. The concept of debt in the ancient world was serious, often leading to slavery or imprisonment if unpaid. This reflects the gravity of sin and the need for divine forgiveness. The parable is set within a cultural context where lending and borrowing were common, and debt was a familiar concept to Jesus' audience. This introduction sets the stage for illustrating the magnitude of God's grace and forgiveness.One owed him five hundred denarii, A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer, making five hundred denarii a substantial debt, equivalent to over a year and a half of work. This large debt represents a significant burden, symbolizing those who are deeply aware of their sinfulness and need for forgiveness. The use of specific amounts highlights the varying degrees of awareness and acknowledgment of sin among individuals. This phrase connects to the broader biblical theme of sin's weight and the human inability to repay God through personal effort, emphasizing the need for grace.and the other fifty. The second debtor owes fifty denarii, a much smaller amount, representing those who may not perceive their sin as severely or who may be less aware of their need for forgiveness. This contrast between the two debtors illustrates the varying degrees of sin and guilt perceived by individuals. It also underscores the idea that regardless of the perceived size of one's debt (sin), forgiveness is necessary for all. This aligns with other scriptural teachings that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (<a href="/romans/3-23.htm">Romans 3:23</a>), and that forgiveness is available to all through Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/two_debtors.htm">Two Debtors</a> These individuals represent people with varying degrees of sin or debt. The larger debt signifies a greater awareness of sin, while the smaller debt represents lesser awareness. 2. <a href="/topical/m/moneylender.htm">Moneylender</a> Symbolizes God or Jesus, who has the authority to forgive debts (sins) and extend grace. 3. <a href="/topical/s/simon_the_pharisee.htm">Simon the Pharisee</a> The host of the dinner where Jesus tells this parable. He represents those who are self-righteous and unaware of their own need for forgiveness. 4. <a href="/topical/j/jesus.htm">Jesus</a> The teacher and accountteller of the parable, illustrating the nature of forgiveness and grace. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman</a> Although not directly mentioned in this verse, she is central to the context. Her actions of love and repentance contrast with Simon's lack of hospitality and self-righteousness.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/u/understanding_our_debt.htm">Understanding Our Debt</a> Recognize that all people are debtors to God due to sin, regardless of the perceived size of their debt. This awareness should lead to humility and gratitude. <a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_forgiveness.htm">The Nature of Forgiveness</a> God's forgiveness is not based on the size of our debt but on His grace. We should extend the same grace to others. <a href="/topical/s/self-righteousness_vs._repentance.htm">Self-Righteousness vs. Repentance</a> Like Simon, we can be blind to our own need for forgiveness. True repentance, as shown by the woman, leads to love and gratitude. <a href="/topical/l/love_as_a_response_to_forgiveness.htm">Love as a Response to Forgiveness</a> The greater our awareness of forgiveness, the greater our love and devotion to God should be. <a href="/topical/h/hospitality_and_acceptance.htm">Hospitality and Acceptance</a> Jesus' acceptance of the woman contrasts with Simon's judgment. We are called to welcome and love those who seek forgiveness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_luke_7.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Luke 7</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_concept_of_millennialism.htm">Why did Simon doubt Jesus' acceptance of the sinful woman?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_hell_appear.htm">How does hell appear?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_order_of_melchizedek.htm">What is the meaning of the Lord's Prayer?</a> <a href="/q/why_did_simon_doubt_jesus'_acceptance.htm">Why did Simon doubt Jesus' acceptance of the sinful woman?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/luke/7.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(41, 42) There was a certain creditor . . .--The parable has some points of resemblance to that of the Two Debtors in <a href="/matthew/18-23.htm" title="Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, which would take account of his servants.">Matthew 18:23</a>. Here, however, the debts, though different, are not separated by so wide an interval as are the ten thousand talents and the hundred pence. The debts are both within the range of common human experience. The "pence "are, of course, the Roman denarii, worth about sevenpence-halfpenny each. The application of the parable treats the woman as a greater debtor than the Pharisee. She had committed greater sins. Each was equally powerless to pay the debt--i.e., to make atonement for his or her sins. Whatever hope either had lay in the fact that pardon was offered to both as a matter of free gift and bounty.Frankly.--Better, freely-i.e., gratuitously, as an act of bounty. So Shakespeare--"I do beseech your grace. . . .. . . . now to forgive me frankly."Henry VIII., Act ii., Scene 1.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/luke/7.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 41, 42. - 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. The illustration was from the everyday life of the people. This lending and borrowing was ever a prominent feature in the common life of the Jews. Pointed warnings against greed and covetousness, and the habit of usury, and the love of perpetual trafficking, we find in all the Old Testament books, notably in Deuteronomy, and then centuries later in the Proverbs, besides repeated instances in the prophetic writings and historical books. The character of the Jews in this respect has never changed from the days of their nomad life - from the times of their slavery under the Pharaohs to our own day. In this particular instance the two debtors were of the common folk, the sums in question being comparatively small; but in both cases the debtors could never hope to pay their creditors. They were alike hopelessly insolvent, both helplessly bankrupt. The larger sum, considering' the relative value of money, has been computed only to have represented about £50 of our currency. And the two received from their creditor a free, generous acquittance of the debt which would have hopelessly ruined them. In the mind of Jesus the larger debt pictured the terrible catalogue of sins which the penitent woman acknowledged she had committed; the smaller, the few transgressions which even the Pharisee confessed to having been guilty cf. They were both sinners before God, both equally insolvent in his eyes; whether the debt was much or little was to the almighty Creditor a matter of comparative, indifference - he frankly forgave them both (better, "freely," the Greek word ἀχαρίσατο signifies "forgave of his generous bounty"). The Revisers simply translate "he forgave," but something more is needed to reproduce the beautiful word in the original. "Frankly," in the sense of "freely," is used by Shakespeare - "I do beseech your grace... ... now to forgive me frankly." (Henry VIII.,' act 2. sc. 1.) <a href="/commentaries/luke/7-41.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>“Two [men] Δύο (Dyo) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1417.htm">Strong's 1417: </a> Two. A primary numeral; 'two'. were ἦσαν (ēsan) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. debtors χρεοφειλέται (chreopheiletai) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5533.htm">Strong's 5533: </a> A debtor. From a derivative of chrao and opheiletes; a loan-ower, i.e. Indebted person. to a certain moneylender. δανιστῇ (danistē) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1157.htm">Strong's 1157: </a> A money-lender, creditor. From daneizo; a lender. One εἷς (heis) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1520.htm">Strong's 1520: </a> One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one. owed [him] ὤφειλεν (ōpheilen) Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3784.htm">Strong's 3784: </a> Or, its prolonged form opheileo probably from the base of ophelos; to owe; figuratively, to be under obligation; morally, to fail in duty. five hundred πεντακόσια (pentakosia) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4001.htm">Strong's 4001: </a> Five hundred. From pente and hekaton; five hundred. denarii, δηνάρια (dēnaria) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1220.htm">Strong's 1220: </a> A denarius, a small Roman silver coin. Of Latin origin; a denarius. and δὲ (de) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_1161.htm">Strong's 1161: </a> A primary particle; but, and, etc. the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. other ἕτερος (heteros) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2087.htm">Strong's 2087: </a> (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different. fifty. πεντήκοντα (pentēkonta) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4004.htm">Strong's 4004: </a> Fifty. Multiplicative of pente; fifty. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/luke/7-41.htm">Luke 7:41 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/luke/7-41.htm">NT Gospels: Luke 7:41 A certain lender had two debtors (Luke Lu Lk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/luke/7-40.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Luke 7:40"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Luke 7:40" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/luke/7-42.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Luke 7:42"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Luke 7:42" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>