Luke 7:36-50

Luke 7:36-50

[36] And  one  of the Pharisees  desired  him  that  he would eat  with  him.  And  he went  into  the Pharisee's  [37] And,  behold,  a woman  in  the city,  which  a sinner,  when she knew  that  in  the Pharisee's  house,  brought  an alabaster box  of ointment,  [38] And  stood  at  his  feet  behind  him weeping,  and began  to wash  his  feet  with tears,  and  did wipe  them with the hairs  of her  head,  and  kissed  his  feet,  and  anointed  them with the ointment.  [39] Now  when the Pharisee  which  had bidden  him  it, he spake  within  himself,  saying,  This man,  if  a prophet,  would have known  who  and  what manner  of woman  this is that  toucheth  him:  for  a sinner.  [40] And  Jesus  answering  said  unto  him,  Simon,  I have  somewhat  to say  And  he saith,  Master,  say on.  [41] a certain  creditor  which had two  debtors:  the one  owed  five hundred  pence,  and  the other  fifty.  [42] when they  had  nothing  to pay,  he frankly forgave  them both.  therefore,  which  of them  will love  him  most?  [43] Simon  answered  and  said,  I suppose  that  he, to whom  he forgave  most.  And  he said  unto him,  rightly  judged.  [44] And  he turned  to  the woman,  and said  unto Simon,  Seest thou  woman?  I entered  into  house,  thou gavest me  no  water  for  feet:  but  she  hath washed  feet  with tears,  and  wiped  them with the hairs  of her  [45] Thou gavest  no  kiss:  but  this woman  since  the time  I came in  not  ceased  to kiss  feet.  [46] head  with oil  not  anoint:  but  this woman  hath anointed  feet  with ointment.  [47] Wherefore  I say  Her  sins,  which  are many,  are forgiven;  for  she loved  much:  but  to whom  little  is forgiven,  the same loveth  little.  [48] And  he said  unto her,  sins  are forgiven.  [49] And  they that sat at meat with him  began  to say  within  themselves,  Who  this  that  forgiveth  sins  also?  [50] And  he said  to  the woman,  faith  hath saved  go  in  peace. 

What does Luke 7:36-50 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This incident, appearing only in Luke"s Gospel, illustrates the truth just expressed in Luke 7:35. Here is a case in point of what Jesus had just described happening ( Luke 7:34). Jesus reached out to a sinner only to receive criticism from a fastidious Pharisee. The love that the woman lavished on Jesus contrasts with Simon the Pharisee"s lack of love for Him. The motif of Jesus" identity is also significant in this story since Jesus had forgiven the woman"s sins, and this raised a question about His authority. Again Luke featured a woman in his narrative showing Jesus" concern for women. There are some similarities between this story and the one about Mary anointing Jesus" feet in Simon the leper"s house, but that was a different incident (cf. Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8).
". . . the story of the sinful woman in the Pharisee"s house reminds us of the previous conflict over Jesus" authority to release sins, suggesting that this is a continuing conflict. This reminder may also help readers to recall Jesus" basic claim of authority to release sins in Luke 5:24." [1]