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Luk 7:47. Αἱ πολλαὶ, the many, [Engl. Vers. not so well, which are many]) the many sins, which thou, Simon, dost bring forward as objections against her. The article is to be referred to Luk 7:39.-ὃτι, because, seeing that) That is to say, the forgiveness of her sins, which was not thought of by Simon, is proved by the fruit, Luk 7:42 [where the love of the forgiven debtor is the proof that he has been indeed forgiven], which is evident, and forces itself upon the eyes of all present [is obvious to be seen], even though the forgiveness be hidden [is not to be seen with the eyes]. Add the antithesis which follows in the text, But to whom, etc. In order to refute Simon, there is cited by the Lord that which is “the fulfilling of the law,” namely, love, as being the criterion of sins being forgiven which was suited to the comprehension of the Pharisee: whereas to the woman herself, her faith (Luk 7:50) is said to have saved her. The former expression has more of an enigmatical character in it: the latter is more strictly literal. The more weight that each assigns to love in this matter above faith, the more like to Simon he is, and the more removed is he from the feeling of the woman, and of the Lord Himself. Love is the criterion of forgiveness, even though he who loves does not so think as to forgiveness.[78]-ᾧ δὲ, but to whom) mildly expressed; not actually saying, though meaning, thou, to whom, as the force of the antithesis implies; otherwise there are not wanting persons who “love much,” even though great transgressions have not been committed by them previous to their forgiveness.-ὀλίγον, little) Speaking comparatively, and after the manner of men, he loves tenfold less; Luk 7:41 [as the debtor who was forgiven fifty pence, a tenfold less debt than five hundred, loved proportionally less].-ἀγαπᾷ, loves) but yet he loves, provided only he has obtained forgiveness. The multitude of sins forgiven will exceedingly stimulate in the elect their eternal love towards God.
[78] He does not so dwell in thought on his own acts of love as the pledges of his forgiveness. He dwells rather by faith on what Christ has done, than on what he himself has done.-ED. and TRANSL.