Parable
Parable Of The Two Debtors’ Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord Jesus, You told about two people who owed money. One owed a large debt. One owed a small debt. You canceled them both. You asked which one would love more. The answer is clear. The one forgiven more loves more. That is how Your love works.
Lord, my problem is that I have treated my debt as if it were small. I have made my sins seem tiny. I have acted like I did not need much grace at all. But that is not true. There are hundreds of unkindnesses I have brushed aside. There are years I ruled my own life and called it fine. There is a long list I have not even looked at. These are real.
Show me the real ledger. Show me what You have forgiven. When I see the size of my debt, the size of Your love will break me open. I would rather be the woman crying at Your feet than the man sitting at the table doing math.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
Luke 7:42
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the two debtors’ prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Luke 7:42. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.