This probably is not a parable. It is more like a “What if I told you that…?” Initially, our intent was to omit this episode since it seems clearly not to fit the definition of a parable as explained in our introduction to this book. In essence, there is no story here! Jesus just sets up a “What if?” situation in order to address the skepticism of a Pharisee. The “story” (the “What if?” situation) is this:

A man had a large and small debtor; he forgave them both.

Clearly this is almost not a story. It is only a statement; but Jesus seems to use it to stimulate an important lesson about which debtor will likely have more gratitude.

We are entertaining this passage because it is good to see what kinds of things we are omitting. We also cannot help but note a peculiarity here —

The Pharisee says the greater debtor will have more gratitude. Jesus says, “You have judged correctly.” Many of us might not reason this way. Many of us might reason that equal gratitude should come from those with much or those with little. It is clear, of course, that when we personally feel great relief from the lifting of a burden so large that we thought it might never go away, we have a deeper-felt gratitude. But under the Law, all breakers of the Law (“debtors” to the Law) were equal in the sense that breaking a large or small commandment was breaking the entire Law, and was evidence that the breaker was not worthy of life.

Brother Russell reacted to this also. His response was that “the ratio [500 denarii versus 50 denarii] does not represent Jesus’ view of the situation, but illustrates the sentiments of Mary [the woman] and Simon [the Pharisee].” This seems correct. Jesus was not saying that little infractions are less important than large ones. He was wanting the Pharisee to understand that, by the Pharisee’s own judgment, the sinful woman had enormously more gratitude than did the Pharisee. Thus the Pharisee, hopefully, understood that Jesus’ eating with sinners had a purpose: it was to turn them toward righteousness (because they felt much gratitude).

The context of this so-called “parable” is imperative to its success. It cannot stand alone. We should read at least verses 36-50. Perhaps this makes the point that an illustration DEMANDS its context; a parable ENHANCES its context.