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 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

40And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” 41“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

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 49:7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—
• Matthew 18:25But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
• Romans 5:6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
• Galatians 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”
• Psalms 32:1Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
• Psalms 103:3Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
• Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
• Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
• Jeremiah 31:33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Daniel 9:18O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
• Micah 7:18Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.
• Matthew 6:12And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
• Acts 13:38Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
• Romans 3:24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
• Romans 4:5But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for 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