Luke 7:36-50
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 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.
39 When 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.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then 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. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
When a Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him, Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table...Jesus ate and taught much around the dinner table...A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume....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...
Now I do not even think that this woman was invited...This is because the Pharisee who invited Jesus said, “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.”...This woman was a sinner, and she sought Jesus' company...She somehow knew He could help her...She must have had many things that needed forgiving...The more people have sinned, the more the need for Jesus...This woman had a great need for Jesus...She felt badly, and anointed and kissed His feet...So she stood behind Him at His feet...She had this great need for Him, because she felt so badly...And He obliged her by telling her that her sins were forgiven, her faith had saved her, she could now go in peace...The worse we feel, the more we need Him...This is the Way He works, this is the Way life works...