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?
• 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?”
• New Living Translation (NLT)But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”

Context of Luke 7:42

40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 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?” 43Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped 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 redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—
• Matthew 18:25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
• Romans 5:6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
• Galatians 3:10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
• Psalms 32:1Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
• Psalms 103:3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
• Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
• Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Jeremiah 31:33“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Daniel 9:18Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
• Matthew 6:12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
• Acts 13:38“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
• Romans 3:24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
• Romans 4:5However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

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