539. LUK 7:40, LUK 7:42. THE MERCIFUL CREDITOR

Luk_7:40, Luk_7:42. The Merciful Creditor

"And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty," &c.’97Luk_7:40, Luk_7:42.

The supercilious condition of the Pharisees was ever abhorrent to the spirit and feelings of the Lord Jesus. Yet he had to contend with it everywhere. Because he preached to the outcasts and perishing, he was stigmatized as the friend of publicans and sinners. And on the present occasion, because he permitted a penitential heartbroken woman to remain in his presence, and to wash his feet with her contrite tears, his very Messiahship was doubted. For Simon, the Pharisee, whose guest he was, concluded, that if he had been a prophet, be would have known the character of the wo man, Luk_7:39, and of course knowing it, would have repulsed her. The Saviour, with his characteristic wisdom, met these odious prejudices by desiring the attention of his host to me parable under consideration, and draws from him the inference by which his own merciful conduct is fully vindicated. We remark,

I. That all men are debtors to God.

(1.) From him all men have received innumerable blessings in trust. That whatever God confers, he confers to be occupied to his glory. That men are not the proprietors of the mercies they enjoy. At best only stewards. Among these mercies are Life,’97Health,’97Time,’97Daily Food,’97Reason. Our privileges through the redemption which is in Christ. The gospel. Our Sabbaths, &c. All have been given for our well-being and improvement.

(2.) A due return for their mercies none have rendered. The return has generally been neglect and ingratitude. Disregard to God’s claims. Disobedience. Perversion of our blessings, and an abuse of our mercies. Who has been faithful to the claims of God? Who is not a debtor to him?

II. That men are debtors to God in different degrees.

1. There is a difference as to the blessings intrusted. One has had two talents,’97another five,’97a third, ten. One much wealth, another little. One many gifts, another few. One has been the child of prosperity,’97another has been born for adversity. One has had his lot in the very midst of signal privileges,’97another has had few opportunities of improvement.

2. There is a difference in the degree of moral guilt contracted. One has been externally proper in his conduct. Like the young ruler who came to Christ. Another has been dissipated and abandoned. In the text one owed fifty pence, the other five hundred. Here was Simon and the woman who was a sinner.

III. That sinners of all degrees are incompetent to pay what God fully demands. "And when they had nothing." Now the best as well as the worst have nothing to pay. The most exemplary man is a sinner, and is justly condemned before God. The vilest of mankind are sinners too, but in a greater degree. Neither the one nor the other,

(1.) Can atone for their past sins.

(2.) Nor yield perfect obedience irrespective of divine grace for the future.

(3.) Nor avert the just consequences of their misdoings. The whole race are insolvent before God. No real merit to present. No inherent rights to plead. No ability to otter. Nothing to pay is the state of one and of all men by nature before God.

IV. That the only hope of moral debtors is in the mercy of God. "When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both." Observe,

1. God has revealed himself as the God of mercy. He has passed by and proclaimed his name, &c. He is rich in mercy. Delighteth in mercy. He will surely have mercy on such as seek him.

2. God has exhibited his mercy in Christ Jesus. In the Saviour it was embodied, lived, and it offered him up as the sacrifice for man’s redemption and eternal life. Christ was the mercy promised to the fathers.

3. This mercy is published and offered in the gospel. "Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you forgiveness of sins," &c. The gospel is full of the invitations and promises of mercy to each and every sinner.

4. By faith in the Lord Jesus this mercy is realized. He that believeth is justified freely, &c. Fully pardoned. Enjoys the entire remission of his sin. Is accepted of God, and adopted into the divine family. Be it remembered this forgiveness is "frank," gracious in principle, and in the spirit in which it is imparted.

V. That the sinner who is most forgiven will love the Saviour most. This we may reasonably conclude to be the rule, and facts bear out the conclusion. See Simon and the woman who had been a sinner, Luk_7:44. See the history of Saul of Tarsus, who fell because he had been a persecutor, &c., he was the chief of sinners. See the case of Bunyan, the converted blasphemer. And John Newton, the skeptical profligate, and many others.

Application

1. Have you been sensible of your guilt before God?

2. Have you felt your own insolvency,’97that you have nothing to pay with?

3. Have you had recourse to the free grace of God in Christ Jesus?

4. Have you evinced your gratitude and great love to Christ for his saving mercy?

5. The obstinate debtor will be finally and justly punished.

The poet has beautifully described this penitent woman:

"Drop, drop slow tears!

And bathe those beauteous feet,

Which brought from heaven,

The news and prince of peace.

Cease not wet eyes,

For mercy to entreat:

To cry for vengeance,

Sin doth never cease.

In your deep floods,

Drown all my faults and fears:

Nor let his eye

See sin, but through my tears."

Autor: JABEZ BURNS