What does Luke 7:50 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus concluded the incident by giving the woman a further word of encouragement and clarification. It was her faith, not her love, that had resulted in her salvation, of which her forgiveness was a part. Consequently she could depart at peace about her condition even though others might continue to regard her as a "sinner" (cf. Luke 8:48; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42). Here salvation has the larger meaning of spiritual deliverance. This is clear because of Jesus" previous comments about forgiveness and the lack of reference to physical deliverance (i.e, healing). Likewise the common Jewish farewell, "May God"s peace be yours" ( Judges 18:6; 1 Samuel 1:17; 2 Samuel 15:9; 1 Kings 22:17; Acts 16:36; James 2:16), assumes a larger meaning when connected with spiritual salvation. This woman was able to go into a lasting condition of peace because of her faith (cf. Romans 5:1). [source][source]

[source]

". . . Luke 7:36-50 is the first of three reported occasions (see Luke 11:37-54; Luke 14:1-24) on which Jesus is invited to dine at a Pharisee"s house, and each of the three is a comparatively lengthy scene. This type-scene repetition suggests that this is a characteristic situation during Jesus" ministry and one of special interest to the narrator. Each of these scenes is an occasion of conflict." ^[1] [source]

"Jesus" parable of the two debtors and His comments to Simon and the woman teach a number of lessons: (a) Salvation is the result of God"s gracious work received by faith. (b) God graciously forgives the debt of sin that no one can repay. (c) Peace with God is possible because of the forgiveness of sins. (d) The more one understands forgiveness, the more love he will have for Christ. (e) Humble service stems from a heart of gratitude for God"s grace." ^[2] [source]

Context Summary

What a trio! Christ stands here as a manifestation of the divine love, as it comes among sinners. The love of God is not dependent on our merits; frankly, Luke 7:42, is "freely." It is not turned away by our sins: she is a sinner. It ever manifests itself as the clearing of debts. But it demands recognition and service: thou gavest me no kiss.

The woman represents those who penitently and lovingly recognize the divine love. She was not forgiven because of her love; but her love was the sign that she had been forgiven and recognized it. What will not God's love do! The tropical sun produces rare fruit. What Jesus did for her He can do for your many sins. Pardon will lead to much love, and love becomes the gate of knowledge and the source of obedience.

Simon, the Pharisee, stands for the unloving and self-righteous, who are ignorant of the love of God. They may be respectable in life, rigid in morality, unquestioned in orthodoxy, but what are these without love? See 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Note the contrasts between thou and she, thy and her. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 7

¹  Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
¹⁰  heals his servant, being absent;
¹¹  raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
¹⁸  answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
²⁴  testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
³¹  compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
³⁶  and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
⁴⁴  he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance