📖 Biblical Definition
Christ's parable to Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7:41-43, prompted by the sinful woman anointing His feet with tears, hair, and ointment. Two debtors: one owes 500 pence, the other 50; both forgiven. Christ asks: "which of them will love him most?" Simon answers: "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave most." Christ applies it: the woman's much love is evidence of much forgiveness; Simon's little love is evidence of little perceived need.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Luke 7: Christ's parable to Simon Pharisee; much-forgiven loves much.
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Christ's parable to Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7:36-50. A sinful woman of the city brings an alabaster box of ointment, weeps at Christ's feet, washes them with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, anoints them with the ointment. Simon (silently) judges Christ for letting her touch Him. Christ tells the parable: a creditor has two debtors — one owes 500 pence (Greek denaria, ~500 days' wages); the other 50. Neither can pay. He frankly forgives both. "Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?" Simon answers: "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave most." Christ applies it — comparing Simon's neglected hospitality with the woman's lavish devotion: "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." The parable's punch: those who recognize the size of their forgiveness love most; those who think themselves owing little love little.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 7:41-43 — "There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged."
Luke 7:47 — "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
1 Timothy 1:15 — "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Read as encouragement to sin more (so you can be forgiven more); Christ's actual point is recognition of debt-size, not increasing it.
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A misreading: "sin more so you can be forgiven more and love more." Paul addresses this directly in Romans 6:1-2 ("Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid"). Christ's point is not to sin more but to recognize the debt-size we already have. The Pharisee's mistake is not lacking sin; it is failing to recognize his sin. His debt of 50 was real, but he didn't reckon with it; her debt of 500 was real, and she did. Recognition produces love.
Recover the diagnostic: are you the 50 or the 500? Wrong answer is "50." Right answer is honest acknowledgment that you, like Paul, are chief of sinners.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek dyo chreōpheiletai.
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['Greek', 'G1416', 'chreōpheiletēs', 'debtor']
['Greek', 'G1209', 'dechomai', 'to receive']
Usage
"Much-forgiven loves much."
"Recognition of debt produces love."
"Pharisee's failure is unrecognized debt, not small debt."