Luke 7:36-50
A Woman Who Loved Much
Read the passage
36Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
37When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.
38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, Teacher,” he said.
41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived.
46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.
47Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
One of the Pharisees asks Jesus to eat with him, and Jesus enters his house and reclines at the table. A woman known in the city as a sinner learns that Jesus is there. She brings an alabaster jar of perfume.
Standing behind Jesus, she weeps. Her tears wet His feet, and she wipes them with her hair, kisses His feet, and anoints them with perfume. The Pharisee thinks that if Jesus were a prophet, He would know what kind of woman is touching Him.
Jesus tells Simon a story about two debtors. One owes much and the other owes less, but neither can repay. The moneylender forgives both. Jesus asks which debtor will love him more, and Simon answers the one forgiven more.
Jesus contrasts the woman's welcome with Simon's failure to provide water, a kiss, or oil. He tells the woman her sins are forgiven and that her faith has saved her. Those at the table wonder who He is, but Jesus sends her away in peace.
In the story, the lender cancels the debts before the debtors respond with love. The woman's love shows what forgiveness means to her; it does not buy forgiveness. Jesus names her faith when he sends her away. Simon sees a sinner touching Jesus, while Jesus sees a woman whose forgiven debt has become grateful love.
How We Know
Luke's account of the sinful woman anointing Jesus is distinctive in its setting, characters, and parable of the two debtors. It should not be treated as the same event as the anointing at Bethany in Mark 14:3-9 or Matthew 26:6-13.
Questions
1 What does the woman do at Jesus' feet?
AnswerShe weeps, washes His feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with perfume.
2 What does Simon assume about Jesus?
AnswerSimon assumes Jesus cannot be a prophet if He allows a publicly known sinner to touch Him.
3 What does the debtors' story illustrate?
AnswerBoth debtors need forgiveness, but the one forgiven more responds with greater love. The story exposes the blindness of those who think they need little mercy.
4 What does Jesus say to the woman at the end?
AnswerHe says her sins are forgiven, her faith has saved her, and she should go in peace.
What This Means for Us
Neither debtor can pay. Remembering that detail changes how we look at the woman and at Simon—and at ourselves. Forgiveness is mercy we receive, not a prize for owing less than someone else.
When we pray together, we can name a wrong of our own before discussing someone else's failure. When a person turns to Jesus, we can welcome that response instead of keeping their old reputation in front of them. Gratitude for his mercy gives us a reason to do both.
Prayer
Jesus our Savior, keep us aware of the mercy we have received. Deliver us from proud judgment, make our welcome sincere, and teach us to love You with the grateful freedom of people who have been forgiven. Amen.