Word@Work Luke113 - Luke 7:41-43
Published: Fri, 05/28/10
Word@Work from BeaconLight
CANCELLING THE DEBT
Luke 7:41-43 "Two men owed money to a certain money-lender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt cancelled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. (NIV)
What would you most want if you owed a lot of money but had no funds to pay it back? Another loan to pay off the first debt would only delay the moment of crisis; and make it even worse by adding more interest payments. But if the creditor chose to write off the debt, no more payment would be demanded. That is called, 'forgiving the debt'.
When Jesus was teaching the Pharisee about forgiveness, He used the best example: financial debt. His story about two men whose debts were cancelled speaks about the response to forgiveness. With a ten-fold difference in the amount owed, it was easy for Simon to see that when more is forgiven, the more people are grateful.
Sinners certainly find great relief when their guilt is removed because of the blood of Jesus. But there is more. They also find a great joy as a new confident future opens up. That joy is brought by the Holy Spirit who inhabits the people who trust in the sacrifice of Jesus and are forgiven by God. So the difference is very great. Before being forgiven, the person is locked into the grief of a guilty past with no future hope; but afterwards there is a hope, and future and joy to go with it. And the greater the guilt forgiven, the greater the joy! So, paradoxically the worst sinners who have most forgiven, are therefore most grateful and joyful. If you know what it is to be forgiven because of Jesus, please tell others - it will change their lives for ever!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your willingness to forgive all who confess their sins. Thank You that Jesus has already paid for my sins by His sufferings on the cross. Please help me to make this wonderful news known to my friends and all those who I find suffering under a load of sin and guilt. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
What would you most want if you owed a lot of money but had no funds to pay it back? Another loan to pay off the first debt would only delay the moment of crisis; and make it even worse by adding more interest payments. But if the creditor chose to write off the debt, no more payment would be demanded. That is called, 'forgiving the debt'.
When Jesus was teaching the Pharisee about forgiveness, He used the best example: financial debt. His story about two men whose debts were cancelled speaks about the response to forgiveness. With a ten-fold difference in the amount owed, it was easy for Simon to see that when more is forgiven, the more people are grateful.
Sinners certainly find great relief when their guilt is removed because of the blood of Jesus. But there is more. They also find a great joy as a new confident future opens up. That joy is brought by the Holy Spirit who inhabits the people who trust in the sacrifice of Jesus and are forgiven by God. So the difference is very great. Before being forgiven, the person is locked into the grief of a guilty past with no future hope; but afterwards there is a hope, and future and joy to go with it. And the greater the guilt forgiven, the greater the joy! So, paradoxically the worst sinners who have most forgiven, are therefore most grateful and joyful. If you know what it is to be forgiven because of Jesus, please tell others - it will change their lives for ever!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your willingness to forgive all who confess their sins. Thank You that Jesus has already paid for my sins by His sufferings on the cross. Please help me to make this wonderful news known to my friends and all those who I find suffering under a load of sin and guilt. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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