Study Bible
Luke
Chapter 7

Celebrating Sabbath with a Pharisee and a Sinner

Luke 7:36-50Luke: List of Major Bible Charts, Maps, & PicturesJesus' Ministry in Galilee

Luke 7:36-50NIV11-EN

³⁶When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷A 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. ³⁸As 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. ³⁹When 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.” ⁴⁰Jesus 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. ⁴²Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. ⁴⁴Then 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. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

New International Version · Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Celebrating Sabbath with a Pharisee and a Sinner

Luke 7:36-50 forms a chiastic structure (a writing style that uses a unique repetition pattern for clarification and emphasis) focusing upon divine love:

A. eat . . . him [Jesus] . . . table (Luke 7:36)
B. a woman . . . a sinner (Luke 7:37)
C. brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment (Luke 7:37-38)
D. saw (Luke 7:39)
E. cancelled the debt (Luke 7:40-42)
F. Now which of them will love him more? (Luke 7:42)
E'. cancelled the . . . debt (Luke 7:43)
D'. see (Luke 7:44)
C'. (Luke 7:44-46)
i. you gave me no water for my feet (Luke 7:44)
ii. but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:44)
i'. You gave me no kiss (Luke 7:45)
ii'. but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet (Luke 7:45)
ix2'. You did not anoint my head with oil (Luke 7:46)
iix2'. but she has anointed my feet with ointment (Luke 7:46)
B'. her sins (Luke 7:47)
i. [sins] many, are forgiven (Luke 7:47)
ii. loved much (Luke 7:47)
i'. who is forgiven little (Luke 7:47)
ii'. loves little (Luke 7:47)
A'. (Luke 7:48-50)
i. Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7:48)

ii. table (Luke 7:49)
iii. Who is this, who even forgives sins? (Luke 7:49)
iii'. he [Jesus] (Luke 7:50)
i'. Your faith has saved you (Luke 7:50)

In contrast to the majority of Jews, but similar to the centurion and widow (Luke 7:1-16), this prostitute was praised for her humility and faith. Luke speaks of a dinner (Luke 7:37-38). At a dinner like this, the house would have been left open, and bystanders would have come in to observe. A sinful woman (probably a prostitute) would not have been welcome; it took courage for her to come in. Diners reclined on couches, with their heads toward the table. They leaned on their left arms and used their right hands to pick up food.

In Luke 7:37 we see that there was an alabaster box. A translucent stone was used to make containers for costly perfumes. The woman's tears and her act of anointing Jesus' feet demonstrated her penitence and humility (Luke 7:38). Such a woman as this was not normally permitted such contact with a prophet. A Pharisee would have no contact with "sinful" people and believed that no prophet would do so either (Luke 7:39). Because Jesus did not dismiss the woman, Simon assumed that Jesus either did not know or did not care that she was sinful. In either case, in Simon's view Jesus could not have been a prophet.

However, Jesus pointed out that Simon had omitted the courtesies normally accorded to guests (Luke 7:44-46), but the woman made up for his lack of hospitality.

In Luke 7:47 we observe the evidence "of," not the reason "for" her forgiveness. It was faith that brought forgiveness (Luke 7:50), not love, but her love demonstrated that she had been forgiven. In Luke 7:48-50 Jesus once again authoritatively declared sins to be forgiven, an act that aroused comment. But his concern was for the woman.

A touching scene where a woman who was forgiven showed loving worship for Jesus. This event is similar to an encounter in John 12:1-8 (see Matt. 26:6-13 // Mark 14:3-9). However, these events are not the same. The locations (v. 1; John 12:1) and complaints against the women (v. 39; John 12:5) are different. Mary is explicitly named in the other account (John 12:3). Perhaps she heard of the woman Luke presented in this passage and later followed her example.

Luke 7:36

This was likely a banquet in Jesus's honor as a prophet, or a Sabbath meal offered as Jesus taught (see Mark 1:29-31). Such special meals were open for people to come and go, making it likely. reclined. Typical position for eating at the time. People gathered in circles around the food. They leaned on pillows with their feet tucked behind them or at their side.

Luke 7:37

woman. Apparently someone well-known as a sinner. Many suppose she was a prostitute (see Matt. 21:31-32). However, this is not clear from the text. perfumed oil. Typically used for anointing. The glass or stone jar preserved the expensive oil.

Luke 7:38

Given her devotion, it appears she had previously encountered Jesus and found forgiveness for her many sins (v. 47). She brought the perfume to anoint him in worship (Ps. 2:11-12). But the grace of forgiveness provided tears to first wash his feet. She is deeply thankful for the salvation Jesus brings (vv. 47-48). hair of her head. Women letting down their hair in public was considered improper and grounds for divorce. However, no indecency should be seen in woman's action. Instead, the depth of her worship led her to ignore societal convention (see 2 Sam. 6:14-16).

Luke 7:39

Simon misunderstood the woman's act of devotion. He only saw her sin and questioned Jesus's character for allowing it.

Luke 7:40-43

Jesus offered a short parable to highlight the contrast between Simon and the sinful woman.

Luke 7:41

five hundred denarii. A denarius was about a day's wage. Five hundred would be about two years' worth of wages. fifty denarii. About two months of wages.

Luke 7:44-46

Simon failed to act like a respectful host, not even offering to greet Jesus with a kiss (see Gen. 33:4; Exod. 18:7; 2 Sam. 15:5). Yet, this woman had no hesitation in acting as both hostess and servant for Jesus (see note on 3:16).

Luke 7:47

forgiven . . . she loved much. The woman was not forgiven because she loved Jesus. Instead, she loved Jesus because she had already been forgiven (vv. 41-43). We see this by the contrast at the end of the verse: the one who is forgiven little, loves little. Jesus is clear that faith, not love brings salvation (v. 50).

Luke 7:48-49

sins are forgiven. See note on 5:21.

Luke 7:50

faith. A key part of entering God's salvation (5:20; 7:9; 8:25, 48; 17:19; 18:42); the forgiveness she received motivated her to act. saved you. Forgiveness of sins (v. 48) is connected to salvation in Luke's writings (Acts 3:19, 26; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38; 22:16; 26:18). peace. The blessing experienced by all who trust Jesus to save them from their sins.

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