A Sinful Woman and a Great Debt (Luke 7:36-50)

Luke 7:36-50

“One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, 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. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered 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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (ESV)

Notes on Luke 7:36-50

We are looking at this parable first because Jesus gives the application to the people he is speaking to.

The parable starts in v. 41, but starting in v. 36 gives us the context of the story. Jesus is at the home of a Pharisee. This was likely a gathering for wealthy or elite people in the community. Also, at this point Jesus would have been recognized by Simon as a potential threat to his authority and the authority of the religious leaders.

When this woman comes in there is an immediate contrast set up. Luke highlights the different ways that culture would have viewed these two – an important man, a Pharisee named Simon, and a woman, a sinner, not worth naming. The woman then weeps on Jesus’ feet, washes his feet with her tears and hair, and anoints him with expensive oil. She is clearly overwhelmed and emotional. Again, in contrast to the woman being overwhelmed by Jesus, Simon is casting judgment on this woman as a sinner and on Jesus for allowing this woman to touch him.

Jesus, knowing Simon’s thoughts, then tells the parable we will be looking at. The parable is quite simple. Two men were forgiven their debts; one owed about $2,500 the other $25,000 in today’s money. Jesus then asked Simon, “Now which one of them will love him more” (Luke 7:42)? Jesus does this often, especially with the religious leaders of the day; he makes them answer a question or form an opinion that will result in them casting judgment on themselves.

Simon answers correctly that the man with the larger debt would have been more grateful, and Jesus then applies the parable to their current situation. Remember the comparison about the different ways culture would view Simon and the sinful woman? It is about to get flipped on its head. Jesus now contrasts Simon and the sinful woman’s actions.

In short, Jesus says Simon did not welcome him, and this woman showed him great honor. Simon had no need of a savior; she knew that Jesus was her only hope. Simon thought himself to be righteous; she knew that she was sinful and in need of rescue. This unnamed woman saw Jesus, recognized who he was, and her great need. Simon, on the other hand, misunderstood everything. He didn’t understand who Jesus was, he misjudged the woman, and he supposed he didn’t need a savior.

The interpretation of this parable and the event surrounding it is quite simple.

Do we realize our need for Jesus? Do we see ourselves as someone who only needs a little forgiveness, or do we rightly realize that we are sinners in desperate need of a savior? Are we like Simon, assuming our self-righteousness can save us or are we like the unnamed, sinful woman, happy to embarrass ourselves if it means being at the feet of Jesus?

There is one last thing we must look at in this story. The woman dumps ointment on Jesus’ feet. This alabaster flask of ointment was worth about 1 year’s wages. We could throw around numbers as to how much that might be, but the point is that it was a ton of money! This was the equivalent to this woman giving away her whole inheritance, but the most beautiful thing about this action is not in what she gave, but in what she received. Yes, her gift was extravagant, but the gift Jesus gave to her was much more extravagant! Jesus tells her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus deserves everything we could possibly give him and more, and he will graciously give us back infinitely more than we could ever hope to give.

Reflection

Do you need a little forgiveness or a lot of forgiveness?
In what ways are you like Simon from this story?
In what ways are you like the unnamed woman in this story?
Is there anything in your life that you would have a hard time giving up to follow Jesus?

References

40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible – Robert Plummer

Harry McSween • December 30, 2024

A Sinful Woman and a Great Debt (Luke 7:36-50)

Luke 7:36-50

Notes on Luke 7:36-50

Reflection

Next in this Series

The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son (Luke 15:1-32)

Previously in this Series

How to Interpret Parables in the Bible

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