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Luke 7:36-50
The sinful woman and forgiveness 36 And 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. 37 And, 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, 38 And 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. 39 Now 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. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And 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. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore 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. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. |
Margin Notes:
"One of the Pharisees." (7:36) - The Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner was Simon (7:40; 43-44) "Sat down to meat." (7:36) - "Sat down to eat." "Alabaster box." (7:37) - Actually, they were jars. "Stood at his feet behind him weeping." (7:38) - In Jesus' day, people ate while reclining on pillows on the floor. They rested on one elbow with their legs extended out behind them and the food spread before them on low tables inches off the floor. "When the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it." (7:39) - "When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it." "He spake within himself." (7:39) - "He said (thought) to himself." In verse 7:40, we'll see that Jesus can read minds. "What manner of woman this is that toucheth him." (7:39) - The Pharisees' held sinners in contempt. "I have somewhat to say unto thee." (7:40) - "I have something to say to you." "Thou gavest me no water for my feet." (7:44) - Helping a houseguest wash the dust from their feet was an old custom going back to Genesis 18:4. For the Pharisee not to do this for Jesus was an enormous oversight. "For she loved much." (7:47) - "For she showed her love." "Who is this that forgiveth sins also?" (7:49) - Since only God can forgive sins, the Pharisees' considered this blasphemy (Luke 5:20-21). |