³² For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,^(A) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors^(B) and the prostitutes^(C) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent^(D) and believe him.

²⁹ (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.^{(A) 30} But the Pharisees and the experts in the law^(B) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

²⁵ John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

²¹ It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.^(A)

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,^(A) 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,^(B) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss,^(C) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head,^(D) 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.”^(E)

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;^(F) go in peace.”^(G)

¹¹ “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly^(A) they turned their backs^(B) and covered their ears.^{(C) 12} They made their hearts as hard as flint^(D) and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets.^(E) So the Lord Almighty was very angry.^(F)

⁶ and who have fallen^[a] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(A) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(B) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(C) In the end it will be burned.

¹² See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.^(A)