Luke 7:43 Commentary and Bible Study

The question cannot be answered any other way, and Simon responds with the obvious answer. Release from debt is a tremendous relief. The debtor is in the power of creditor, and the willingness of the creditor to freely forgive the debt is something totally outside the control of the debtor. Therefore when the creditor chooses to act in compassion, the debtor can only rejoice and love the creditor for his kindness. The same is true when it comes to the debt of sin. What power do we have to influence God to show mercy to us? None at all. He is free to act, and he consults only his own mercy, and the mercy of God is entirely at his discretion. We cannot argue that we are more deserving than others to be forgiven; we cannot promise to make up the debt later; we cannot give anything in exchange for pardon. We can only acknowledge our total dependence on the Lord, and appeal to mercy as our only hope. But having been forgiven, we must reflect on the grace and mercy of God. The greater our sense of sin, the more we understand the benefit we have received. This woman’s sins were obvious to everyone, but they were especially obvious to her. She had felt her uncleanness, and the corruption of her character, and she had grasped how impossible it was for her to release herself from this debt to God. She measured the kindness of God towards her by looking at the shame and the aggravation of her sin. What had it cost God to pardon her? Again, this passage does not tell us. It does not explain the way in which sin is pardoned, but only that pardon is possible and that it is free. The preacher of the gospel must add the Bible’s explanation in passages that do not emphasise Calvary, because the seeker must be helped to understand how God has removed our sin, as well as to know that he has done it.