Luke 7:43
New International Version
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

New Living Translation
Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said.

English Standard Version
Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

Berean Standard Bible
“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Berean Literal Bible
Simon answering, said, "I take it that he to whom he forgave the most." And He said to him, "You have judged rightly."

King James Bible
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

New King James Version
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.”

New American Standard Bible
Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

NASB 1995
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

NASB 1977
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he graciously forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

Amplified Bible
Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave more.” Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.”

Christian Standard Bible
Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” “You have judged correctly,” he told him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Simon answered, “I suppose the one he forgave more.” “You have judged correctly,” He told him.

American Standard Version
Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Contemporary English Version
Simon answered, "I suppose it would be the one who had owed more and didn't have to pay it back." "You are right," Jesus said.

English Revised Version
Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You're right!"

Good News Translation
"I suppose," answered Simon, "that it would be the one who was forgiven more." "You are right," said Jesus.

International Standard Version
Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled." Jesus told him, "You have answered correctly."

Majority Standard Bible
?I suppose the one who was forgiven more,? Simon replied. ?You have judged correctly,? Jesus said.

NET Bible
Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."

New Heart English Bible
Simon answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most." He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

Webster's Bible Translation
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said to him, Thou hast rightly judged.

Weymouth New Testament
"I suppose," replied Simon, "the one to whom he forgave most." "You have judged rightly," Jesus rejoined.

World English Bible
Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Simon answering said, “I suppose that to whom he forgave the more”; and He said to him, “You judged correctly.”

Berean Literal Bible
Simon answering, said, "I take it that he to whom he forgave the most." And He said to him, "You have judged rightly."

Young's Literal Translation
And Simon answering said, 'I suppose that to whom he forgave the more;' and he said to him, 'Rightly thou didst judge.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Simon, having answered, said, I suppose, that to whom he bestowed more favor. And he said to him, Thou hast judged rightly,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In response, Simon said, “I suppose that it is he to whom he forgave the most.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

New American Bible
Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

New Revised Standard Version
Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Simon answered and said, I think the one to whom he forgave more. Jesus said to him, You have judged truly.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Shimeon answered and he said, “I suppose that he who was forgiven most.” Yeshua said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Simon answered and said: I suppose he to whom he forgave the more. He said to him: You have decided correctly.

Godbey New Testament
Simon responding said, I perceive, that he, to whom he forgave the more. And He said to him, You answered correctly.

Haweis New Testament
And Simon answering said, I suppose, he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast judged rightly.

Mace New Testament
I think, said Simon, he that had the greatest debt remitted to him, you are in the right, said Jesus.

Weymouth New Testament
"I suppose," replied Simon, "the one to whom he forgave most." "You have judged rightly," Jesus rejoined.

Worrell New Testament
Simon, answering, said, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the more." And He said to him, "Rightly did you judge."

Worsley New Testament
And Simon answered, I suppose he to whom he forgave most. And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus
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. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.…

Cross References
Matthew 18:23-35
Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. / As he began the settlements, a debtor owing ten thousand talents was brought to him. / Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. ...

Matthew 21:28-32
But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ / ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. / Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go. ...

Matthew 26:6-13
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, / a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table. / When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? ...

Mark 12:41-44
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. / Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. / Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. ...

Luke 15:11-32
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. / The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. / After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living. ...

Luke 18:9-14
To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: / “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. / The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ...

John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, the hometown of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. / So they hosted a dinner for Jesus there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with Him. / Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ...

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

Romans 13:8
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. / And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.


Treasury of Scripture

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said to him, You have rightly judged.

I.

Luke 7:47
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

1 Corinthians 15:9,10
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God…

2 Corinthians 5:14,15
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: …

Thou.

Luke 10:38
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

Psalm 116:16-18
O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds…

Mark 12:34
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

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Luke 7
1. Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
10. heals his servant, being absent;
11. raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
18. answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
24. testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
31. compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
36. and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
44. he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance.














I suppose the one who was forgiven more,
This phrase is part of a parable Jesus tells to Simon the Pharisee, illustrating the concept of forgiveness and gratitude. The parable involves two debtors, one owing much more than the other, both forgiven by their creditor. The cultural context of debt in ancient Israel was significant, as debt could lead to slavery or imprisonment. The larger debt represents a greater awareness of sin and the need for forgiveness, aligning with the biblical theme that those who recognize their sinfulness and receive forgiveness are often more grateful and devoted. This echoes the teachings in Matthew 18:21-35, where Jesus speaks of the unmerciful servant, emphasizing the importance of forgiveness.

Simon replied.
Simon the Pharisee is a key figure in this narrative, representing the religious leaders of the time who often struggled to understand Jesus' message of grace and forgiveness. His response indicates a logical deduction rather than a heartfelt understanding, reflecting the Pharisees' tendency to focus on the letter of the law rather than its spirit. This interaction highlights the tension between Jesus and the Pharisees, who often questioned His authority and teachings, as seen throughout the Gospels.

You have judged correctly,
Jesus affirms Simon's answer, using it as a teaching moment. This acknowledgment serves to validate the logical conclusion while setting the stage for a deeper spiritual lesson. The phrase "judged correctly" suggests a moment of clarity or insight, which is a recurring theme in Jesus' interactions with others, where He often uses parables to reveal deeper truths. This moment is reminiscent of other instances where Jesus commends individuals for their understanding, such as in Matthew 16:17, when Peter recognizes Jesus as the Messiah.

Jesus said.
Jesus' response is authoritative, underscoring His role as a teacher and prophet. His words often carry weight and finality, reflecting His divine wisdom and insight. In this context, Jesus uses the parable to reveal the nature of God's forgiveness and the appropriate human response to it. This teaching moment is consistent with Jesus' mission to reveal the Kingdom of God and challenge existing religious norms, as seen throughout His ministry.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching through a parable to convey a deeper spiritual truth about forgiveness and love.

2. Simon the Pharisee
A Pharisee who invited Jesus to his house. He represents the religious elite who often struggled to understand Jesus' message of grace and forgiveness.

3. The Debtors
Although not physically present, they are part of Jesus' parable. They represent humanity's varying degrees of sin and the need for forgiveness.

4. The Woman
Earlier in the chapter, a sinful woman anoints Jesus' feet, demonstrating her love and gratitude for forgiveness. Her actions set the stage for this teaching moment.

5. The House of Simon
The setting for this event, where Jesus uses the opportunity to teach about forgiveness and love.
Teaching Points
Understanding Forgiveness
Recognize that forgiveness is a gift from God, not based on the magnitude of our sins but on His grace.

Gratitude and Love
Our response to God's forgiveness should be one of deep gratitude and love, as demonstrated by the woman who anointed Jesus' feet.

Judging Correctly
Like Simon, we are called to discern and understand the depth of God's forgiveness, which should lead us to humility and compassion.

The Weight of Sin
Acknowledge that all sin separates us from God, but His forgiveness is available to all, regardless of the "size" of our debt.

Reflecting God's Grace
As recipients of God's grace, we are called to extend forgiveness to others, reflecting the love and mercy we have received.(43) I suppose that he. . . .--The same word occurs in the same sense as Acts 2:15. As used here, it seems to carry with it a tone partly of indifference, partly of uneasiness and perplexity as to what the drift of the parable might be.

Verse 43. - Thou hast rightly judged. "Come, now, I will show thee what I meant by my little story, in thine answer. Thou hast judged thyself. Thou art the man with the little debt of sin, as thou thinkest, and the little love given in return for the cancelled debt; for see how thou hast treated me thy Guest, and how she has made up for thy lack of friendship and courtesy." The following contrasts are adduced by the Master: "Thou didst not provide me with that which is so usual to offer guests - I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet" (in those hot dusty countries, after walking, water to wash the feet was scarcely a luxury, it was rather a necessity); "in thy house the only water which has touched my feet was the warm rain of this sad woman's tears."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“I suppose
Ὑπολαμβάνω (Hypolambanō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 5274: (a) I take up, (b) I welcome, entertain, (c) I answer, (d) I suppose, imagine.

the [one who]
(hō)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

was forgiven
ἐχαρίσατο (echarisato)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5483: (a) To show favor to, (b) To pardon, forgive, (c) To show kindness.

more,”
πλεῖον (pleion)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative
Strong's 4119: Or neuter pleion, or pleon comparative of polus; more in quantity, number, or quality; also the major portion.

Simon
Σίμων (Simōn)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4613: Simon. Of Hebrew origin; Simon, the name of nine Israelites.

replied.
Ἀποκριθεὶς (Apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

“You have judged
ἔκρινας (ekrinas)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2919: Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide; by implication, to try, condemn, punish.

correctly.”
Ὀρθῶς (Orthōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3723: Rightly. Adverb from orthos; in a straight manner, i.e. correctly.

[Jesus] said.
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.


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