Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman(A)(B)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A 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. 38 As 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.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,(C) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus 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,[a] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then 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,(D) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss,(E) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,(F) but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(G)

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;(H) go in peace.”(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).

Jesus Forgives a Sinful Woman

36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus[a] to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s home and took his place at the table. 37 There was a woman who was a notorious[b] sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus[c] was eating at the Pharisee’s home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair.[d] Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.

39 Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus[e] saw this and told himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She’s a sinner!”

40 Jesus told him, “Simon, I have something to ask you.”

“Teacher,” he replied, “ask it.”

41 “Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii,[f] and the other 50. 42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.”

Jesus[g] told him, “You have answered correctly.”

44 Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t give me a kiss,[h] but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 So I’m telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”

48 Then Jesus[i] told her, “Your sins are forgiven!”

49 Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

50 But Jesus[j] told the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:36 Lit. him
  2. Luke 7:37 The Gk. lacks notorious
  3. Luke 7:37 Lit. he
  4. Luke 7:38 Lit. the hair of her head
  5. Luke 7:39 Lit. him
  6. Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual day’s wage for a laborer.
  7. Luke 7:43 Lit. He
  8. Luke 7:45 People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.
  9. Luke 7:48 Lit. he
  10. Luke 7:50 Lit. he

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.

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