Luke 7,36-50
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
(Luke 7:36–50)
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 had lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came with an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 Standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he thought 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 say to you.”
“Say it, Teacher,” he replied.
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 gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You gave me no kiss, but from the moment I entered, she 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.”
Kiki’s Introduction
Hello everyone, I’m Kiki. The Chinese name for the second phase of our program is “读经大讲堂,” which means “Bible Study.”
We will use a relaxed and enjoyable learning style to introduce you to a new world of studying Scripture. Each time, I will present a personal summary and analysis from a learner’s perspective, and then Sister Ingrid will help us go deeper with insights and discussion.
I hope this interactive and engaging process will bring you a fresh learning experience. The following is my conversation with Sister Ingrid on today’s topic. This is our sixteenth lecture on the Gospel of Luke. Everyone is welcome to leave a comment for discussion!
My Summary of Today’s Study
One evening, Jesus went to the house of a Pharisee named Simon for dinner. While they were eating, a woman known in the town for living a sinful life came in with an expensive jar of perfume.
She stood behind Jesus at his feet and began to weep. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them with her hair, kissed them repeatedly, and poured perfume on them.
Simon thought to himself, “If Jesus were truly a prophet, he would know what kind of woman this is and wouldn’t let her touch him.”
Jesus knew what Simon was thinking and told him a parable about two people who owed money to the same lender—one a large amount, the other a small amount. Neither could pay, and both debts were forgiven. Jesus asked which debtor would love the lender more, and Simon replied, “The one who had the larger debt forgiven.”
Jesus then pointed out that Simon had not offered him the usual signs of hospitality: no water for his feet, no greeting kiss, no oil for his head. Yet the woman had done all these things with great love. Jesus explained that her many sins were forgiven because she loved much. Finally, he told her, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you—go in peace.”
Sister Ingrid’s Comment
First, we should notice the intentions of both the Pharisee and the woman. The Pharisee may have invited Jesus partly out of curiosity and perhaps with a critical attitude. The woman, however, came because she had repented of her sins and longed for peace with God and forgiveness.
In the parable, one debtor owed much and the other little, yet neither could pay. This shows that even people who appear righteous in the eyes of others are still sinners before God and cannot save themselves. Those who have been forgiven much often love Jesus more deeply than those who think they need little forgiveness.
Jesus also revealed that Simon had not welcomed him warmly at all—he had neglected even the basic acts of hospitality. By contrast, the woman showed her deep love and humility through her actions, seeking forgiveness with a sincere heart.
Q&A Based on Today’s Study
- Why did the sinful woman bring an alabaster jar of perfume to Jesus?
She loved Jesus deeply and wanted to offer him the most valuable thing she owned. - How did the woman show her love and respect for Jesus?
She poured perfume on his feet, wept over them, and wiped them with her hair. - Why was Simon, the Pharisee, upset when he saw the woman touching Jesus?
He thought Jesus couldn’t be a prophet, since he didn’t seem to know she was a sinner. - What was the main point of Jesus’ parable about the two debtors?
Those who are forgiven much will love much. - How did Simon answer Jesus’ question about which debtor would love the lender more?
He said it would be the one who had the greater debt forgiven. - In what three ways did Simon fail to show hospitality to Jesus?
He gave no water for Jesus’ feet, no greeting kiss, and no oil for his head. - How did the woman’s actions contrast with Simon’s behavior?
She cried on Jesus’ feet, wiped them with her hair, and poured perfume on them. - What reason did Jesus give for forgiving the woman’s sins?
Her faith and great love showed her repentance, so he forgave her. - Why did the other guests wonder, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
They may have thought only God could forgive sins and questioned Jesus’ authority. - What did Jesus mean when he said, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”?
He meant her trust in him had brought her forgiveness and peace with God, changing her future regardless of her past.
