Bible Strands
Luke 7:41
“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Simon while telling him a parable about a moneylender and two debtors. The narrative occurs during a meal at Simon’s house, immediately before Jesus explains the woman’s actions.
The words — χρεοφειλέται (chreopheiletai) translates literally as “debtors” or “owing,” and ὤφειλεν (ōpheilen) means “was owing.” These terms establish the financial obligation that the parable hinges upon.
The thread — The motif of debt and forgiveness appears in Matthew 6:12 and Matthew 18:28, where owed amounts and cancellation are central to Jesus’ teaching. Luke 7:47 later connects forgiven debt to the measure of love shown.
Why it lands — The text presents a factual comparison of debt amounts to frame a question about gratitude. It requires the reader to evaluate how the size of forgiven obligation dictates the intensity of love owed.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
Cross-references
- Luke 7:47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
- Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
- Matthew 18:28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
- Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
- Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
- Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Numbers 27:3 “Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.
- Isaiah 50:1 This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
- Jeremiah 3:11 And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.