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The Upper Register

Luke 7:36–50 — Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

V 36: A Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dine with him. Jesus accepts and reclines at the table in the Pharisee’s house.

Vv 37-38: A woman of the city, a notorious sinner, learns that Jesus is dining there. She brings a costly 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.”

V 39: Simon the Pharisee silently questions Jesus. He thinks to himself: If Jesus were truly a prophet, he would know the woman’s sinful reputation and would not permit her to touch him.

Vv 40-43: In response, Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Debtors

A moneylender had two debtors:

  • One owed 500 denarii (a large debt),
  • The other owed 50 denarii (a smaller debt).

Neither could repay. So the moneylender forgave both men’s debts.

  • Jesus: “Which of them will love him more?”
  • Simon: “The one who had the larger debt cancelled.”
  • Jesus: “You have judged rightly.”

Vv 44-50: “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. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven–for (ὅτι) she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

  • The ὅτι clause is not connected with “forgiven” but “I tell you,” and is not causal but inferential. It is not that she was forgiven because of her acts of love for Jesus, but that her acts of love are the fruit of her being forgiven by him. Paraphrase: “I can say with confidence that her sins are forgiven, because her love is evidence of it” (Moule, Idiom Book of NT Greek, 147).