Luke 7:36-5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And 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. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:36‑50)
A man named Simon invited Jesus to come to his house for a meal. While they were eating, a woman came in and stood behind Jesus weeping.
The woman had not been invited, but had heard that Jesus was there, and she wanted so much to come to Him, that she seems not to have thought she was intruding, or of anything but of Him. Her tears fell on His feet and she wiped them with her hair and put on the ointment she had brought.
Why did she weep? It seems to have been because she was so grateful for something Jesus had done for her. And when she had heard He was there, she brought the best she could to honor Him.
It was a custom in that land, because of the warm, dusty streets, to remove the sandals at the door, and to bathe a guest’s feet, sometimes oil was then put on, and it was a mark of special honor to put oil on the head of a guest, also for the host to give a kiss of friendship.
Simon had not done any of those favors for Jesus, but the woman did much more, she wiped the dust from His feet with her own hair, and kissed His feet and put the oil on them. It was as though she did not feel worthy to place the oil on His head. It must have been the best ointment she could procure, as it was in an alabaster box, or flask, which are said to have come from Egypt, being used for expensive oil and perfumes.
But all she did was as a lowly servant, grateful to Jesus, and He was honored. But Simon was not so pleased; he thought to himself that if Jesus were a prophet He would have known this woman was a sinner, not fit to touch anyone.
Simon had heard Jesus talk to the people, and no doubt knew His great miracles, yet he doubted He was even great as a prophet. But Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts, and answered him, which should have made him realize that Jesus was even greater than any prophet. Jesus knew that the woman had sinned, for He said her sins were “many,” but He also knew she wept because of them, and notice what else He said of her sins, “They are forgiven.”
She had come humbly to the One who could forgive her all her sins, she loved and honored Him, and how His words before all must have comforted her! She had not even waited for what others might think a suitable time, she had come at once when she knew where Jesus was.
Some have thought this is the same woman as when the woman annointed Jesus a few days before His death, written of in Matthew 26; Mark 14, John 12, and both annointings were in the house of men named Simon, but this Simon is called, “a Pharisee,” and lived in Galilee.
That Simon is spoken of only as a leper, and lived in Bethany of Judea. This woman is not named; that woman was Mary of Bethany. The Lord said to Simon,
“Her sins, which are many, are forgiven.”
ML 03/18/1945