Context No. 4259 of 4322 · Luke

Luke 7:36-40: in context

36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”

At a Pharisee's dinner, an unexpected guest appears: a woman known in the town as a sinner. Uninvited, she comes to Jesus, weeping, wetting his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing them, and anointing them with costly ointment. It is an act of extravagant, humble love. And the Pharisee who invited Jesus watches with cold disapproval, thinking that a true prophet would never let such a woman touch him.

Two hearts are on display, and they could not be more different. The woman, aware of her sin, pours out lavish love and gratitude, holding nothing back, humbling herself at Jesus' feet. The Pharisee, secure in his own respectability, looks on with judgment and contempt, both for the woman and, quietly, for Jesus. One knows she is forgiven much and loves much; the other, feeling no need, offers no love at all.

Those who know how much they have been forgiven respond with deep, humble love; those who imagine they have little to be forgiven remain cold, respectable, and judgmental. Jesus received the sinful woman's extravagant love and defended her, while the self-righteous host stood aloof. The question the scene presses is which heart is ours.

Which heart is mine at Jesus' feet: the grateful, humble, extravagant love of the woman who knew she was forgiven much, or the cold, respectable, judging heart of the Pharisee who felt no need and so offered no love?

Sources

Luke 7:38: "Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."
Luke 7:39: "This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner."
Luke 7:47: "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."