John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 41. There was a certain creditor , etc.] All the Oriental versions premise something to this. The Syriac version reads, Jesus said unto him. The Arabic version, then he said. The Persic version, Jesus said; and the Ethiopic version, and he said to him; and something of this kind is understood, and to be supplied in the text: which had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty ; these were, as the word shows, Roman denarii or pence; the former of these sums, reckoning a Roman penny at seven pence halfpenny of our money, amounted to fifteen pounds and twelve shillings and six pence; and the latter, to one pound eleven shillings and three pence; the one of these sums was ten times larger, than the other. This is a parable: by the creditor, God is meant, to whom men owe their beings, and the preservation of them, and all the mercies of life; and are under obligation to obedience and thankfulness: hence: no man can merit any thing of God, or pay off any old debt, by a new act of obedience, since all is due to him: by the two debtors are meant, greater and lesser sinners: all sins are debts, and all sinners are debtors; not debtors to sin, for then it would not be criminal, but lawful to commit sin, and God must be pleased with it, which he is not, and men might promise themselves impunity, which they cannot; but they are debtors to fulfil the law, and in case of failure, are bound to the debt of punishment: and of these debtors and debts, some are greater, and others less; not but that they, are all equally sinners in Adam, and equally guilty and corrupted by his transgression; and the same seeds of sin are in the hearts of all men, and all sin is committed against God, and is a breach of his law, and is mortal, or deserving of death, even death eternal; but then as some commands are greater, and others less, so must their transgressions be: sin more immediately committed against God, is greater than that which is committed against our neighbour; and besides, the circumstances of persons and things differ, which more or less aggravate the offence.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 gospe encourages such repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicin in the tokens of the woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to he former bad character. But without free forgiveness none of us can escape the wrath to come; this our gracious Saviour has purchased with his blood, that he may freely bestow it on every one that believes in him. Christ, by a parable, forced Simon to acknowledge that the greate sinner this woman had been, the greater love she ought to show to Hi when her sins were pardoned. Learn here, that sin is a debt; and all are sinners, are debtors to Almighty God. Some sinners are greate debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we ar able to pay. God is ready to forgive; and his Son having purchase pardon for those who believe in him, his gospel promises it to them and his Spirit seals it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let us keep far from the proud spirit of the Pharisee, simpl depending upon and rejoicing in Christ alone, and so be prepared to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to recommend him unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the forgiveness of our sins What a wonderful change does grace make upon a sinner's heart and life as well as upon his state before God, by the full remission of all his sins through faith in the Lord Jesus __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
δυο 1417 A-NUI χρεωφειλεται 5533 N-NPM ησαν 2258 5713 V-IXI-3P δανειστη 1157 N-DSM τινι 5100 X-DSM ο 3588 T-NSM εις 1520 A-NSM ωφειλεν 3784 5707 V-IAI-3S δηναρια 1220 N-APN πεντακοσια 4001 A-APN ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ετερος 2087 A-NSM πεντηκοντα 4004 A-NUI
Vincent's NT Word Studies
41. Creditor (daneisth). From daneion, a loan. Properly a lender of money at interest. Rev., lender. See on ch. vi. 34.Pence (dhnaria). See on Matt. xx. 2.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:41 {A certain lender} (danistei tini). A lender of money with interest. Here alone in the N.T. though a common word. {Debtors} (creofiletai). From crew (debt, obligation) and ofeilw, to owe. Only here and #16:5 in the N.T., though common in late Greek writers. {Owed} (wfeilen). Imperfect active and so unpaid. Five hundred denaria and fifty like two hundred and fifty dollars and twenty-five dollars.
