Luke 7:42

Luke 7:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
• New International Version (NIV)Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

Context of Luke 7:42

40Jesus spoke up, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Simon replied, “Teacher, you’re free to speak.” 41⌞So Jesus said,⌟ “Two men owed a moneylender some money. One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. When they couldn’t pay it back, he was kind enough to cancel their debts. Now, who do you think will love him the most?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.” Jesus said to him, “You’re right!” 44Then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “You see this woman, don’t you? I came into your house. You didn’t wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

Luke 7:42 word by word

μὴ ἐχόντων αὐτῶν ἀποδοῦναι ἀμφοτέροις ἐχαρίσατο. τίς οὖν αὐτῶν πλεῖον ἀγαπήσει αὐτόν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• whenἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• nothingμήmē · notG3361
• to payἀποδίδωμιapodidōmi · to payG591
• he frankly forgaveχαρίζωcharizomai · to give graceG5483
• them bothἀμφότεροςamphoteros · bothG297
• Tell meλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• whichτίςtis · which?G5101
• will loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• mostπλείων, πλεῖονpleiōn pleion pleon · greaterG4119

Cross-references for Luke 7:42

• Psalms 49:7No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.
• Matthew 18:25Because he could not pay off the debt, the master ordered him, his wife, his children, and all that he had to be sold to pay off the account.
• Romans 5:6Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people.
• Galatians 3:10Certainly, there is a curse on all who rely on their own efforts because Scripture says, “Whoever doesn’t obey everything that is written in Moses’ Teachings is cursed.”
• Psalms 32:1Blessed is the person whose disobedience is forgiven and whose sin is pardoned.
• Psalms 51:1Have pity on me, O God, in keeping with your mercy. In keeping with your unlimited compassion, wipe out my rebellious acts.
• Psalms 103:3He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases,
• Isaiah 43:25I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious actions for my own sake. I will not remember your sins ⌞anymore⌟.
• Isaiah 44:22I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you.
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Daniel 9:18Open your ears and listen, my God. Open your eyes and look at our ruins and at the city called by your name. We are not requesting this from you because we are righteous, but because you are very compassionate.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.
• Matthew 6:12Forgive us as we forgive others.
• Acts 13:38“So, brothers, I’m telling you that through Jesus your sins can be forgiven. Sins kept you from receiving God’s approval through Moses’ Teachings.
• Romans 3:24They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ⌞from sin⌟.
• Romans 4:5However, when people don’t work but believe God, the one who approves ungodly people, their faith is regarded as the basis of God’s approval.

Commentaries on Luke 7:42

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42Which of them will love him most? - Which is under the greater obligation and should love him most?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42Frankly forgave - Freely forgave, or forgave entirely without any compensation. This is not designed to express anything about the way in which God forgives sinners. He forgives - forgives freely, but it is in connection with the “atonement” made by the Lord Jesus. If it was a mere “debt” which we owed to God, he might forgive, as this creditor did, without an equivalent. But it is “crime” which he forgives. He pardons as a moral governor. A parent might…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-50Verses 36-50 None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they feel they cannot enough express self-abhorrence on account of sin, and admiration of his mercy, the self-sufficient will be disgusted, because the gospel encourages such repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to her former bad character. But without…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36-50What Jesus said in 7:35 is shown in this story by one of “wisdom’s children” (see study note on 7:35). She is a repentant sinner (a person who turns away from sin). She shows deep gratitude for the forgiveness she has received.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 40-4340-43. Like Nathan with David, our Lord conceals His home thrust under the veil of a parable, and makes His host himself pronounce upon the case. The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of the one was ten times that of the other (in the proportion of "five hundred" to "fifty"); but both being equally insolvent, both are with equal frankness forgiven; and Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 7:42

• Creditor
• Faith
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Repentance
• Self-Righteousness
• Simon
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Apparel
• Delicately
• Eating
• Frankly
• Instantly
• Magdalene
• Meals
• Sit
• Wipe
• Bethany

Commentaries on Luke 7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings