Luke 7:40–43

7:40 So142 Jesus answered him,143 “Simon, I have something to say to you.” He replied,144 “Say it, Teacher.” 7:41 “A certain creditor145 had two debtors; one owed him146 five hundred silver coins,147 and the other fifty. 7:42 When they could not pay, he canceled148 the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 7:43 Simon answered,149 “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”150 Jesus151 said to him, “You have judged rightly.”

142	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the connection with the preceding statement recording the Pharisee’s thoughts.
143	tn Grk “answering, said to him.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered him.” sn Jesus answered him. Note that as the Pharisee is denying to himself that Jesus is a prophet, Jesus is reading his thoughts.
144	tn Grk “he said.”
145	sn A creditor was a moneylender, whose business was to lend money to others at a fixed rate of interest.
146	tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
147	tn Grk “five hundred denarii.” sn The silver coins were denarii. The denarius was worth about a day’s wage for a laborer; this would be an amount worth not quite two years’ pay. The debts were significant: They represented two months’ pay and one and three quarter years’ pay (20 months) based on a six day work week.
148	tn The verb ἐχαρίσατο (echarisato) 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).
149	tn Grk “answering, said.” This is redundant in contemporary English and has been simplified to “answered.”
150	tn Grk “the one to whom he forgave more” (see v. 42).
151	tn Grk “He”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.