The Two Debtors
A short parable told at a dinner party: whoever knows how much they have been forgiven loves much.
Read Luke 7:36–50 in the reader
Awaiting theological review
Before you read
Who Jesus was speaking to
Scripture
Jesus is a guest at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. A woman known in the city as a sinner comes in, weeps on his feet, wipes them with her hair, kisses and anoints them. Simon thinks to himself that a real prophet would know what kind of woman she is.
Interpretation
Jesus answers the thought Simon never spoke aloud — showing, in passing, that he is indeed a prophet — and he answers it with a story.
Luke 7:36–50
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition · Public Domain
At the Pharisee's table36And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. 37And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; 38And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. The two debtors40And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it. 41A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? 43Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly. Dost thou see this woman?44And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. 45Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet. 47Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. Go in peace48And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.
Two guests, one parable
The woman, Simon and the creditor
Loved much
The woman
Unnamed, known as a sinner, uninvited. She says nothing; her tears, her hair, her kisses and the ointment speak for her.
- 7:37–38 — Brings ointment, washes his feet with tears
- 7:47 — Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much
- 7:50 — Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace
Interpretation
The parable suggests that her love is the fruit of forgiveness she has received; Jesus' final word says it is her faith that has saved her. Interpreters weigh how love and faith relate in verse 47; both are present, and both are gifts.
Tradition & devotion
From Pope Gregory the Great onward, Western tradition often identified her with Mary Magdalene. Luke does not name her, and introduces Mary Magdalene a few verses later as someone new (Luke 8:2).
Think about it
She never says a word. What does her silence say?
The host who held back
Simon the Pharisee
He invites Jesus but offers no welcome, and judges both the woman and his guest in his heart.
- 7:39 — If he were a prophet, he would know
- 7:43 — Answers rightly: he to whom he forgave most
- 7:44–46 — Thou gavest me no water… no kiss… no oil
Interpretation
Simon judges correctly in the parable and wrongly at his own table. Jesus does not call him the righteous one who owes nothing; he is the debtor of fifty — also unable to pay.
Think about it
Do you think of yourself as owing God little? What would change if you saw it otherwise?
Forgives them both
The creditor
He forgives both debts, large and small, because neither could pay.
Church teaching
The Catechism presents Jesus inviting sinners to the table of the kingdom and revealing the Father's boundless mercy.
Scripture
The other guests ask, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?” — the same question raised when Jesus forgave the paralysed man (Luke 5:21).
Think about it
Neither debtor could pay. What does that say about whether anyone earns God's forgiveness?
What first hearers would have noticed
Context
Reclining at table
History & scholarship
At formal meals guests reclined on couches, leaning on one elbow, with their feet stretched away from the table. That is how the woman could stand behind him at his feet.
Water, a kiss and oil
Scripture
Jesus lists three things Simon did not offer — water for his feet, a kiss of greeting, oil for his head — and three things the woman did instead.
History & scholarship
Scholars debate how strictly such gestures were expected of a host. Whatever the custom, Jesus' point is the contrast: the host held back, the uninvited woman gave everything.
Five hundred pence and fifty
History & scholarship
A denarius was about a day's wage: one debtor owed well over a year's pay, the other about two months'. Neither could pay.
Look closer
Symbols
- Tears and hairLuke 7:38
Interpretation
She uses what she has — tears instead of water, her hair instead of a towel. Repentance here looks like love, not like a speech.- The alabaster boxLuke 7:37
History & scholarship
Perfumed ointment was kept in sealed jars of soft stone; it was costly. Luke's anointing is a different event from the anointing at Bethany before the Passion (John 12:1–8).- Go in peaceLuke 7:50
Scripture
Jesus sends her out with his own words of peace: “Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.”
Bible Lens
Look at Luke 7 through…
The heart of it in plain words
Explanation (AI-assisted)
Four scenes: a soldier trusts Jesus' word, a mother gets her son back, a prophet asks an honest question, and a woman everyone judged is forgiven. In each one Jesus goes beyond what people expected.
Remember
Quiz me
Question 1 of 5beginner
In whose house did this happen?