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All are not alike indebted to the Lord. Some are more indebted to Him than others. This appeals by that parable (Luke 16:5); and by other express scripture (Matthew 11:21; Matthew 12:31; Matthew 23:14, 15, 24).

1. All have not received from the Lord a like number of pounds nor talents. He hath not given to all a like stock to trade with (Luke 19:14; Matthew 25:14).

2. Again, all are not alike deep in respect of actual transgressions. For albeit original sin be equally and alike extended unto all, it hath no degree nor parts in any child of Adam more than other: yet actual sins committed by us are of a thousand kinds, and every vice hath its latitude and degree. Some are bound up in folio, other some in quarto, others in octavo, and the sins of some other in a decimo sexto.

3. We have learned better, and accordingly we should examine of what kind our sins are, and how much our debt is; and as we find, let us put down in our account. To help us a little in this our search, take this for a general rule, the more directly any sin is done against God, the greater the sin is to be accounted of, and the more the debt. Thus the sin against the Holy Ghost is the greatest sin, because he who committeth that sin, sinneth of malice, purposely to despite the Spirit of grace. Hence it follows —

(1) The sins of the highest degree against the first table are greater than the sins of the highest degree against the second table.

(2) Those sins that are committed against the means which should keep us from sin are greater than other (Matthew 11:24). So sins against knowledge are greater than those that are committed out of simple ignorance (Luke 12:47; James 4:17). And as it is thus in the sins of omission, so also in the sins of commission (Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13). Paul found mercy, because he did it ignorantly. So sins against the gospel are greater than those against the law, for that they are committed against more light. "This is the condemnation," saith Christ, "that light is come into the world" (John 3:19). To commit sin in the clear light of the gospel is a reproach not much unlike that of Absolom. "He committed wickedness in the sight of the sun "(3) Sins often committed are greater than those but once committed by us, for that here is an abusing of God s patience and forbearance (Romans 2:4, 5; Jeremiah 5:6; 2 Peter 2:22). In arithmetic a figure, in the first place, stands for itself; in the second place, it stands for ten; and, in the third place, for a hundred, and so higher.

(N. Rogers.)

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KJV: There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

WEB: "A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.