Luke 7:40-43

7:40 So ¹  Jesus answered him, ²  “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied, ³  “Say it, Teacher.” 7:41 “A certain creditor ⁴  had two debtors; one owed him ⁵  five hundred silver coins, ⁶  and the other fifty. 7:42 When they could not pay, he canceled ⁷  the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 7:43 Simon answered, ⁸  “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” ⁹  Jesus ¹⁰  said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the connection with the preceding statement recording the Pharisee’s thoughts.

² tn Grk “answering, said to him.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered him.”

³ tn Grk “he said.”

⁴ sn A creditor was a moneylender, whose business was to lend money to others at a fixed rate of interest.

⁵ tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

⁶ tn Grk “five hundred denarii.”

⁷ tn The verb ἐχαρίσατο (ecarisato) could be translated as “forgave.” Of course this pictures the forgiveness of God’s grace, which is not earned but bestowed with faith (see v. 49).

⁸ tn Grk “answering, said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered.”

⁹ tn Grk “the one to whom he forgave more” (see v. 42).

¹⁰ tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.