The Parables of Jesus - The Two Debtors

The parable of the two debtors is a perfect example, for believers as well as for unbelievers; the understanding of the heart of how God has loved us.

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Pastor Karim

Transcript

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Okay, wonderful. So we have a series going on called the Parables of Jesus. So today is the parable number twelve. This parable is called the Two Daptors. So this morning we are going to look at the first message in this series. So we ended the first parables talking about the revelation of Jesus, the revelation of the heavenly kingdom. But now we are entering in a new season into the parables. The transformation coming when we want to receive the kingdom of God. So the parable of the two debtors is the perfect example for believers and also for unbelievers. That is not a deep knowledge of the word of God, nor the way we are involved in religious things or activities, but by the understanding of the heart of how God has loved us. The true conviction of the Spirit. So the heart of this parable, we see a comparison between two persons, two people, who both have a debt. Both. Our salvation cannot be earned or gained by our own strength. Because it depends on faith in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and by extension, God's grace. Salvation is granted to us not because we are good, intelligent, or religious, but only because God has chosen us. In his holy and sovereign will, he opens the gates of heaven for us. But this love begins in the understanding of what God has done to bring us back to him. We were all separated from him, from his presence because of our sin. We were separated, not because God is unjust, but because we have a sinful nature and we cannot approach God. God redeemed us from our sin sending his only and begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who died and took the death that we deserved. This is the penalty when we don't follow Christ. He took the death for us. And who rose again so that whoever believes in him may be justified before the Heavenly Father. And by this faith we become children of God. And we can say, Abba Father, you are my father. I belong to you because you died for me. Amen. In deep repentance, to fall in tears at the feet of Jesus. Her master and savior, for whom she will give all her faith and her strength. In order to what? To love him. Amen. So let's read the first passage. This is the context of the parable. One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisees' house and reclined a table. And behold, a woman of a city who was a sinner, when she learned and that he was reclining at a table in the Pharisee's house, bought an albased flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the anointment. Now, when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself in his thoughts, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him. For she is a sinner, and Jesus answered him. Simon, you have something to say, I have something to say to you. And he answered, say, teacher. So this is the introduction, the context of the parable before we talked about the parable. So the Pharisee invited Jesus to eat at his house. For what reason? For what? If we look at the context earlier in the chapter, Jesus was teaching in Galilee, especially in Capernaum, during the first part of his ministry. Jesus was teaching, performing miracles. He confronted the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. And he told the crowds about the baptism of John the Baptist and the message he was preaching. So Simon the Pharisee certainly invited him in order to understand what his teaching was and what was his authority. Who are you? However, an unexpected situation happened. Something unexpected. A sinful woman, certainly a woman of bad reputation, entered this house, and when she learned that Jesus was in the city, and more particularly in Simon's the Pharisee's house, she entered. She ran inside the house. The way she entered this house shows that nothing mattered more to her than to see Jesus. But even more to bring in something valuable while humbling yourself before Him. We have to understand that Albaster was considered extremely valuable. And it was a flask of ointment. A flask, we can say also a jar. It's not a small container like this. What is also striking is that this woman stood behind Jesus. But at his feet. Behind and at his feet. What could be more humble than that? To stand at the feet of Jesus and giving him the first place before ourselves. In order to submit to what? To his majesty. The fact that the woman was weeping shows the evidence of a deep and true repentance. She wept because she saw her condition as a sinner. And she wed the feet of Jesus with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the anointment. So she completely humbled herself before him. Isn't it beautiful? What is surprising to see is that Jesus knew the thoughts of Simon the Pharisee. Yes. He saw that Simon had no compassion toward this woman. And that what he told was only about the position. Jesus should have among the religious be just a teacher or a prophet. Who's this woman? Simon thought that Jesus was only a teacher. And initiated a doubt about Jesus being a prophet. But he should be a prophet. His religiosity blinded him. He was religious. But he had no compassion. He was blind in his heart, in his spirit. He put the law about the love of God manifested in Jesus Christ. So he was maybe fulfilling the law, knowing the law, but he was not fulfilling God's will. Because if we say that we love God and we don't love others, we are lying. Here we see clearly that both are sinners in the eyes of Jesus. However, the one who appears the most righteous in the eyes of man, because of this knowledge of the law, does not repent. And this sinful woman, known by everyone in the city, throws herself at Jesus' feet to love him in a sincere and true repentance. I was a sinner, but I want to follow you. So when Jesus says to his disciples, and by extension to every human being, in Matthew 18, verse 3, truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So he wants to make his disciple understand that to enter the kingdom of God it is an attitude of the heart, humility, openness to learn, simplicity in faith, I believe, dependence and trust in God. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones writes in his book Preaching and Preachers, a beautiful quote. All men have to be converted and become little children. All they know and all they are, all they have, all they have done, is utterly useless in this realm. There is no hope for them until they become aware of their utter bankruptcy and become as little children. It's a beautiful quote. And this is exactly the situation of this sinful woman. She knew that she was spiritually bankrupt, and she had nothing to offer to Jesus except her repentance and her faith. We will now see how Jesus speaks to Simon, the Pharisee, about this heavenly reality. In the middle of this religious world, that is not by religion that we are saved, but by the grace of God received through faith in Jesus Christ with a repentant heart. Here is the parable. A certain moneylender had two debtors, one on 500 denari and the other 50, when they could not pay. He cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? He's asking Simon. And Simon answered, The one I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. It's a good story. Are we all debtors before God? Yes. This question is essential. Because without this, we consider ourselves righteous before Him. If we do not believe in God, then we cannot consider ourselves sinners before Him. And if we do not consider ourselves sinners, then we think that we do not need forgiveness. You see the sequence? When these two people had their debt cancelled, both of them had a debt. They could not repay. They couldn't. This is the problem of men before God. We all have a debt. But we cannot repay by our own will. Nor even by our own spiritual ability, because we are spiritually dead. So what did God come to do on this earth? What? This is the second open question. Why? God sent his only beloved son to restore this relationship. That man had broken through sin and disobedience. He came to redeem man from his sin that separated us from our Creator. Yes, it is about grace. This divine and undeserved, unmerited favor, a present, a gift that comes from God. The heart of the gospel is here. It is by grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by knowledge or by works that we are saved. The word of God also tells us that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So do we need a savior and the Lord? Do we need him? Amen. Or are we our own God, little G? Come on, I don't need a God. I have a good job, a good wife, a good situation. My bank account is full. I don't need God. So this is the explanation of the parable. Verse 44 to 47. Then Jesus, turning away, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet. But she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss. But from the time I came in, she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. See, there is a distinction between oil and anointment. See, oil is olive oil, anointment is perfume. It's not the same value. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, he knows our sins, are forgiven. For she loved much. This is interesting. But he who is forgiven little loves little. So Jesus now explains this parable to Simon the Pharisee, using this woman to make him understand that the attitude of this woman is the one that God accepts. The one that he loves above all. All the humility of recognizing one's sin and repenting with a sincere heart, recognizing that we need him. There are two attitudes. The religious attitude of Simon the Pharisee, who did not give water to wash Jesus' feet, did not give him a kiss, or did not pour oil on his head, which means that he did not welcome him with honor. And then this is the attitude of this woman who welcomed him like a king, worthy of being honored, from his feet to his head, all with love and adoration. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3, verse 5 to 8. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him. And He will make straight your path. Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing for your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Amen. Which means that if we rely on ourselves, on our own understanding, it would not be beneficial for us. Because it creates limited, distorted, and wrong ways, not straight. If turning away from evil, which is repentance, going in the opposite direction, produces healing in our hearts, in our lives, then why do we trust in ourselves? In our heart deceitful. Why? The Bible says in Jeremiah 17:9, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately seek. Who can understand? Who can understand the heart of men? This is why we cannot trust in ourselves, in our own understanding, in our own righteousness. We cannot. We are weak. We have to trust in the Lord. We have to humble ourselves. We have to repent. And we have to come to Jesus. Because He's the only one who can forgive sins. Save our souls and give us peace with God. To come to the feet of Jesus is to turn away from our ways that are opposed to the ways of God, totally opposed. To recognize that we were far from Him, rebellious in the darkness of this world, doing our own will with personal purposes, and without considering what God wants for us, that He may be glorified in our lives. Without this true and sincere repentance, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. Because who can claim to be righteous or good enough to be accepted by God and turning away from their sinful ways? It is impossible. Why does Jesus say, but he who is forgiven little loves little? This is interesting as well. Because if we consider ourselves righteous, there is a very little place for Jesus Christ. Very little. He cannot reign in our lives. The word of God clearly tells us that there is only one who is just and good. And that those who believe in him are saved and justified before the Father. It is because we acknowledge that He is the just and not us that we are saved. So, what aptitude do we want to have toward our sin? What? Will we recognize it and humble ourselves before God? So that we may be saved and justified by Jesus Christ? Or are we our own righteousness asking God to bless our lives without belonging to Him? Many people are doing that. I believe in Jesus, but I do whatever I want. Lord, bless my job, bless my family. But do you hear my voice? Do you belong to me? The Lord says. Let's read now the manifestation of this parable. And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, thinking also. Not saying, but thinking. Who is this? Who even forgives sins? Even forgives sins. And he said to the woman, your faith has saved you. Go in peace. Your faith. Jesus now comes to the final part of the revelation of this redemption plan of God. More particularly salvation by faith. But it's not new, I can add. Because Abraham was saved by faith as well. Because he's the father of faith. The law was given to Moses, not to Abraham. So how Abraham was saved. And even with the law, they were saved by faith. You see? Showing who he is and what he came to accomplish as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, and the Savior of the nations. What Jesus says to this woman in Simon's house was considered as a blasphemy. It was very dangerous. Because they could not understand that Jesus was the savior of the world. Sent by the Father, God forgive the sins. They didn't understand. So that the law of God will be written in the hearts, not on roles. Because the law didn't work. That's why He came to save us. We cannot follow the law. The law came just to bring death, to understand that we need a savior. Because even the first command we cannot follow. Love your God with all your strength, all your might. Who can do that? Who? Sin was forgiven during the ceremonies at the temple through sacrifices and through the high priest. But this was temporary. And these sacrifices had been repeated continually because they could not completely remove sin but only cover it from the outside. So every week they had to go to the temple, sacrifice, and so on, so on, so on. But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you, go in peace. This is the main verse of all the passage. Because this is where the whole gospel of salvation takes its meaning. This is not the Apostle Paul's doctrine. The Apostle Paul just preached Christ and Christ crucified. It is about believing in Jesus. He alone gives the peace that the world cannot give. This peace that does not come from what we have or understand in this world, but from the grace of God when we are reconciled with Him. Faith in Jesus saves and gives peace with God, our Creator, that we no longer live under the power and the condemnation of sin. But we may live for the one who gave us his life and for eternity. So to conclude, Jesus showed us in this parable how two people can respond differently to Jesus and to his testimony through the Word of God. And this has been the case for centuries. Generations have passed, and religious people had a system in place, a way of approaching the knowledge of the scriptures, speaking about the Messiah, but not understanding when he was right in front of them. And this is still the image of today. The word is present, but it is not always understood in its fullness, its simplicity, and his love for us. The word of God is simple. This word, who is Christ, Christ is the manifested word of God, was manifested to save us from this world of perdition, to give us eternal life, and to reconcile us with the Heavenly Father. However, we sometimes ignore him, of course. Or we make him into what we want, forgetting his power to save, and turning him into a word without effect on the heart of men. When we read the Bible, the Bible, our living word. Yes, Christ by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us to guide us and to convince us of the truth of his word, is present today. Yes. It is for us to open our hearts to him, to let ourselves be convinced that we have sinned against God and to come to him in humility, with a deep and sincere repentance and with a faith in Jesus. And to the one who comes to him by faith, Jesus still saved today. Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, and go in peace. Let us take this woman's example. She came as a sinner and she left forgiven. She came broken and she left in peace. She came with tears and she left with salvation. This is the gospel in one story. Amen. So what can we learn and apply from this passage? Salvation comes from hearing the word of God. She heard about Jesus. She heard and she learned about Jesus. She understood that He was the way, the truth, and the life. And she even ran. Salvation comes through repentance toward God. She came in repentance. She wept in humility and gave everything she had with love to Him. Salvation comes by the grace of God. God forgave her by grace. She knew that she deserved nothing but judgment. Yet she received forgiveness. Salvation comes through faith in Jesus. Jesus saved her by faith. She knew that Jesus was her only way. And salvation brings peace with God. And she went in peace. She received the peace of God, the true shalom. And in this shalom we can rest. Amen. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly Father, Almighty and Sovereign God, we thank you for your word, for your grace that allows us to know you, worship you in the spirit and the truth. We thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and the head of this church. To God be the glory and the praise. For he loved us, he loved us first, and he gave his beloved son for us. We were sinners in our transgressions. We ask that you open our hearts and work in us by your Holy Spirit, that we may love your word, walk in your truth, and live for your glory. Keep us on your narrow path and continue to sanctify and transform us. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Praise God.