Who Loves More? A Parable That Shifts Everything

Jesus was a master storyteller. His parables weren’t just engaging — they cut to the heart, challenging every listener to rethink what they thought they knew about God, grace, and themselves.

Take this moment from Luke 7:41–43. Jesus is sitting at a Pharisee’s house — Simon — a man who prided himself on religious knowledge and outward righteousness. But Jesus, never one to let a teachable moment slip by, shares a story:

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

It’s simple — yet so profound.

In just three verses, Jesus flips the script on religious performance. He shows that love isn’t born out of rule-following or image management. It grows in the soil of forgiveness.

Both debtors were unable to repay. That’s us — all of us. Some of us have lived lives that look cleaner, more put-together. Others have wandered far, made mistakes that seem unforgivable. But in God’s eyes, none of us could pay the debt of sin. We all need grace.

And here’s the twist: those who recognize the depth of their need often love Jesus more deeply.

This isn’t about comparing sins or glorifying brokenness. It’s about awareness. When you truly grasp what you’ve been forgiven of, when you stop trying to earn love and simply receive it — that’s when your heart begins to overflow with gratitude.

That’s when love grows.

If you’ve lived through addiction, heartbreak, failure — you’re not disqualified. You’re in a prime position to experience the kind of forgiveness that fuels passionate love for Christ.

And if your story feels “safe,” the invitation is the same: don’t minimize your need for grace. Every one of us stands in the same place — utterly dependent on the mercy of Jesus.

So today, ask yourself: how aware am I of what I’ve been forgiven of?

Because the one who’s been forgiven much — loves much.

And that love? That’s what changes everything.