A Sinful Woman Forgiven

36 (A)Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, (B)“This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred (C)denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no (D)water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no (E)kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 (F)You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 (G)Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, (H)“Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, (I)“Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, (J)“Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

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36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and [a]sat down to meat. 37 And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was [b]sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought [c]an alabaster cruse of ointment, 38 and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and [d]kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were [e]a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on. 41 A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred [f]shillings, and the other fifty. 42 When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to [g]kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she 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 [h]sat at meat with him began to say [i]within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins? 50 And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:36 Or, reclined at table
  2. Luke 7:37 Or, reclining at table
  3. Luke 7:37 Or, a flask
  4. Luke 7:38 Greek kissed much.
  5. Luke 7:39 Some ancient authorities read the prophet. See Jn. 1:21, 25.
  6. Luke 7:41 The word in the Greek denotes a coin worth about eight pence half-penny, or nearly seventeen cents.
  7. Luke 7:45 Greek kiss much.
  8. Luke 7:49 Greek reclined.
  9. Luke 7:49 Or, among