Luke 7:42-43 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?… There is a possibility for a stoner to have his debts pardoned and remitted (Acts 3:19; Acts 10:43; Acts 26:18). 1. The sacrifices under the law prefigured as much (Hebrews 5.). 2. The grounds are two:(1) Mercy in God, who "desireth not the death of a sinner" (Ezekiel 33:11). It is His name to be merciful; an attribute as infinite as Himself, it suits with His nature. (2) Merit in Christ. By His sacrifice He satisfied God's justice, and paid the debt of sin (1 Corinthians 15:9; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 3:5; Hebrews 9:26). But whence is it that men are so careless in seeking after this one thing necessary?Divers reasons may be rendered of this great neglect. 1. An erroneous judgment about the thing itself. Some think it is that which cannot be had, or if it be feasable, yet it is not so necessary as other blessings, which lies them more in hand to seek after. The error of which opinions what hath been said before, discovers. 2. This great neglect ariseth from want of due consideration of men's present states, they spend no thoughts this way; like bankrupts, they love not to cast up their accounts. 3. This ariseth in some through a bold presumption of God's mercy, conceiting that God will forgive us our sins, though we take no pains about it. 4. God in forgiving sin, fully forgives it, no part of the debt is reserved to be exacted of us. (N. Rogers.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?WEB: When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" |
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