The Two Debtors: On Devotion

Luke 7:36–50

In Luke, the story of the two debtors teaches us an incredible lesson: how life-changing Jesus’ forgiveness can be, compared to staying distant and unbothered. The tale takes place at the house of Simon the Pharisee, where a woman who has made many mistakes washes Jesus’ feet with her tears. This leads to a powerful story about being forgiven for our debts. The core of the story is about recognizing our spiritual state, which is symbolized by Simon and the woman, and how we react to Jesus’ forgiveness.

1. The symptoms

Real Christianity is different from just following religious rules because it involves loving Jesus with all your heart, not just knowing about Him in your head. It’s important to connect with Jesus emotionally and spiritually, to surrender to Him and consider Him the most precious thing in life. This means truly committing to Jesus, not just using Him to get what we want.

2. The causes

Through the story of Simon and the woman, we see how understanding and accepting Jesus’ message of forgiveness can change our lives. Simon’s dissatisfaction is in stark contrast to the woman’s happiness and confidence, showing us how important it is to admit our mistakes and recognize our need for salvation. The story ends by stressing the need for repentance, celebrating God’s forgiveness, and building a personal relationship with Him.