Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."

40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you.""Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.""You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Footnotes:
Luke 7:41 A denarius was a coin worth about a day's wages.


A familiar story, no? Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee when a woman, publicly known by all to be a sinner, treats Jesus with the utmost respect, respect reserved for an honored guest. Yet while this is occurring, the host is thinking how Jesus could not be a prophet as he did not even know how evil this woman was.

Christ sets the Pharisee in his place by pointing out all of the things the woman did to honor him that the Pharisee should have done for his guest (verses 44-46). Concerning the feet: In Biblical times people wore sandals or went barefooted and the roads were dirt. A host would always provide water and a servant to clean the feet of the guests, yet it was the sinful woman who did this, not the host. And she not only cleaned his feet but did so with her tears and hair. Social goof number two: It is customary in Middle Eastern cultures to greet visitors with a kiss. Again our host is outshone by the sinner. Not only does she kiss him but she kisses his feet, the part of the body that servants would care for, never the host. Finally, it was also customary to anoint a guest with some olive oil. Strike three as the sinner once more out does the host.

Just so we are not confused in all of this, Christ tells the woman she is forgiven, not because of the things she did for him, but because of her faith (verse 50). The loving service was an outward sign of her repentance, not the basis for it. He is very clear on this. You see, the woman understood clearly that serving Christ in such a loving manner is the result of his presence in our lives. Likewise we are called to serve those around us.

Mark

New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society