Olney Hymns · Chapter
The Two Debtors explained
The poem retells the story of the sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet, contrasting her loving repentance with Simon the Pharisee's self-righteous scorn.
What happens
The poem retells the story of the sinful woman who anoints Jesus' feet, contrasting her loving repentance with Simon the Pharisee's self-righteous scorn. Jesus uses the parable of two debtors to teach that those forgiven much love much, and the narrator applies this to himself, lamenting his own lack of love despite great forgiveness.
Themes in this chapter
Grace and Unmerited Favor
The woman receives forgiveness not because of her merit but because of Jesus' gracious pardon, illustrating unmerited favor.
Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The woman's past sinfulness and the narrator's 'heart of steel' highlight the depth of human depravity and need for forgiveness.
Characters to notice
- Jesus Christ
Receives the woman's devotion, forgives her sins, and teaches Simon through the parable of the two debtors.
- Simon
The Pharisee who doubts Jesus' prophetic discernment and is reproved for his pride.
- The Harlot
The unnamed woman who washes Jesus' feet with her tears and is forgiven much, demonstrating great love.
- The Narrator
Reflects on the woman's case and confesses his own heart's hardness despite having been forgiven much.
Key passages
“If two men in debt were bound, One less, the other more, Fifty, or five hundred pound, And both alike were poor; Should the lender both forgive When he saw them both distress’d, Which of them would you believe Engaged to love him best?”
Jesus asks Simon which debtor would love the lender more after both debts are forgiven, illustrating that greater forgiveness leads to greater love.
This is the central parable of the chapter, teaching the principle that love is proportionate to forgiveness received.
“Simon, if like her you knew How much you forgiveness need, You like her had acted too, And welcomed me indeed.”
Jesus tells Simon that if he recognized his own need for forgiveness, he would have shown the same loving hospitality as the woman.
This reproof challenges self-righteousness and emphasizes the need for humility.
“Much has been forgiven to me, Jesus paid my heavy score; What a creature must I be, That I can love no more!”
The narrator acknowledges that Jesus has forgiven his great debt and laments that his love is so small in response.
This personal application underscores the theme of gratitude and love in response to grace.