Luke 7:41

Luke 7:41, in plain English

Jesus said, 'Two people owed money to a lender. One owed five hundred silver coins, the other fifty.'

Why it's here

It's a simple story with a devastating point. Jesus is about to show Simon something about himself he never saw coming.

Who's speaking

Jesus begins a parable that will reshape how Simon sees the woman — and himself.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus meets people where they are. Simon was a thinker, so Jesus gave him a story to think about. But the conclusion would hit closer to home than Simon expected.

The scholarly reading

Jesus tells a parable: two debtors owed a danistē ("moneylender/creditor") — one pentakosia dēnaria ("five hundred denarii," roughly 500 days' wages) and the other pentēkonta ("fifty denarii"). The disproportion is ten to one.

Language and setting

The parable's financial framework was immediately relatable. The denarius was a day's wage for common laborers, making the debts equivalent to roughly 20 months and 2 months of wages respectively.

Voice

Jesus begins a parable directly addressing Simon's spiritual blindness.

Significance

The parable reframes the entire scene: the woman and Simon are both debtors before God. The question is not whether they are sinners but how much they recognize their debt — and therefore how much they love.

39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied.

Read all of Luke 7 — A Roman centurion's faith astonishes Jesus, a widow's dead son is raised, and a sinful woman's tears become an act of worship.