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

40Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.” “Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. 41Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 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?” 43Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. 44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them 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 49:7Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.
• Matthew 18:25He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.
• Romans 5:6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
• Galatians 3:10But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”
• Psalms 32:1Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!
• Psalms 51:1Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
• Psalms 103:3He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
• Isaiah 43:25“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
• Isaiah 44:22I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.”
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
• Daniel 9:18“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.
• Micah 7:18Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.
• Matthew 6:12and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
• Acts 13:38“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
• Romans 3:24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
• Romans 4:5But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

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