Jan 28

In order to enlighten Simon the Pharisee to the true nature of his own heart, Jesus told him a story. Two men owed money: one, a little; the other, a lot. Neither could pay. The lender simply forgave them both their debts.

Jesus is not talking solely to Simon here, of course: He is talking to you and me. We do well to listen to what he has to say.

After telling Simon the story, Jesus asks Simon a question. What is it? Does he ask how much one is forgiven and how little the other? Is the question that matters to God how much or how little one sins?

God does not want us to sin at all, of course, but his forgiveness is comprehensive. He can and does forgive the repentant sinner all his sins, whether they be many or few. He made this clear in the parable of the laborers in the market place (Matt. 20:1-16).

But the real story here is not what a person is before coming to Christ but what that person becomes after Christ is in that person's life. Before Christ, all are sinners in God's eyes; afterwards, forgiven sinners--saints.

But there is a difference that can be seen after Christ: fruitfulness. Some produce 30-, some 60-, some 90-fold. Some return to give him thanks, while others, after being healed of the leprosy of sin, go on their way. It is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of love.

What matters is not the amount of sin before one comes to Christ for forgiveness but the amount of love for him afterwards. Love is what matters.

So Jesus did not ask Simon who had the most debt to pay in the story, but which of the debtors loved the one to whom they were indebted more. How differently God sees things from the way we tend to see them.


Scripture for today: 1 Samuel 16:7
Thought for today: God sees things differently than we do--and we should be glad that it is so.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to see things the way you do. I want to judge rightly, as Jesus commanded us to do, not to judge the way the human heart judges, by appearances.

JAN 28