Pardon Requires Increased Care for the Future
Luke 7:42-43
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?…


And, to conclude, be careful that we lay up safe our discharge and pardon, having once obtained it. How careful men are to lock up a general discharge from some pecuniary debts, we know well enough; but no discharge to this, so lay it up, that you may not have it to seek in the hour of temptations and trial. Such times you must expect, and then your acquittance, sealed with Christ's blood, will stand you in much stead. Our carelessness this way often causeth God to hide from us the comfort of it, to the end that we may seek it up and keep it better. Thus we lay some piece of plate aside for a while to teach a careless child or servant to be more careful of it after it is returned. And thus much of the fulness of God's pardoning. Come we now to the freeness of it. He frankly forgave them both. Whence observe we — Remission is of free grace and mercy; whom God forgives He forgives gratis. The pope indeed sells pardons; God sells none — what God doth this way He doth freely.

(N. Rogers.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

WEB: When they couldn't pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?"




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