Luke 7:43

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

Simon {G4613} answered {G611} and {G1161} said {G2036}, I suppose {G5274} that {G3754} he, to whom {G3739} he forgave {G5483} most {G4119}. And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Thou hast {G2919} rightly {G3723} judged {G2919}.

Shim`on answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." "Your judgment is right," Yeshua said to him.

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

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

Luke 7:43 KJV is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jesus' encounter with Simon the Pharisee and a woman identified as a sinner. This verse records Simon's correct answer to Jesus' question following the parable of the two debtors, and Jesus' affirmation of his judgment.

Context of Luke 7:43

This verse is situated within a remarkable account (Luke 7:36-50) where Jesus is invited to dine at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. During the meal, a woman "who was a sinner" enters and, with deep remorse and love, anoints Jesus' feet with tears, kisses, and costly ointment. Simon, observing this, silently judges both the woman and Jesus, thinking that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would know what kind of woman was touching Him. Knowing Simon's thoughts, Jesus tells him a parable about a creditor who forgave two debtors, one owing a large sum and another a small sum. Jesus then asks Simon which of the two would love the creditor more. Luke 7:43 is Simon's logical response to this question, setting the stage for Jesus' teaching on the link between forgiveness and love.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Forgiveness and Love: The central theme is the direct correlation between the magnitude of forgiveness received and the depth of love expressed in return. Simon's answer, "I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most," perfectly captures this divine principle.
  • Divine Insight: Jesus demonstrates His profound knowledge of human hearts and thoughts, revealing Simon's inner judgment without being told. This highlights Jesus' divine nature and authority.
  • Challenging Self-Righteousness: Simon, as a Pharisee, likely saw himself as righteous and needing little forgiveness, unlike the sinful woman. Jesus' parable and subsequent conversation challenge this self-perception, emphasizing that all stand in need of God's grace, and a greater awareness of one's sin leads to a greater appreciation of that grace.
  • Grace and Response: The passage underscores that genuine love for God is not merely a duty but a spontaneous, overflowing response to the liberating experience of His forgiveness. The woman's extravagant actions stemmed from her profound awareness of her sin and the immense grace she received.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Thou hast rightly judged" translates the Greek `ὀρθῶς ἔκρινας` (orthōs ekrinas). The word `ὀρθῶς` (orthōs) means "rightly, correctly, truly," emphasizing the accuracy of Simon's deduction. While Simon's logical conclusion was correct, his spiritual understanding and application of the truth to himself were lacking, which Jesus then addresses in the subsequent verses by contrasting Simon's lack of hospitality with the woman's lavish devotion.

Related Scriptures

This powerful exchange sets the stage for Jesus' declaration in 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." This doesn't mean her love earned forgiveness, but rather her great love was evidence of the great forgiveness she had received. The parable also echoes principles of grace found throughout the New Testament, such as the idea that we love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Practical Application

Luke 7:43 encourages us to reflect on our own understanding of God's forgiveness. Do we, like Simon, subtly minimize our need for grace, or do we, like the woman, fully acknowledge our spiritual debt and respond with overflowing love and gratitude? The verse reminds us that a deeper appreciation for the magnitude of God's grace in our lives leads to a more profound and passionate devotion to Him. It challenges us to move beyond intellectual assent to a transformative experience of divine love and forgiveness.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 116:16

    O LORD, truly I [am] thy servant; I [am] thy servant, [and] the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.

  • Psalms 116:18

    I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,

  • 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.

  • 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].

  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

  • 2 Corinthians 5:15

    And [that] he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:9

    For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

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