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She had heard about the dinner
- “reclining at table” - picked up her alabaster vial and
went to the party. According to the culture, the small vial of perfume
would have hung around her neck by a cord. For us today her arrival at
the dinner party would appear to be rude and inappropriate. How many
people today invite themselves to a private party? But it was acceptable
in Jesus’ day for people to come to a party to watch and listen
to the conversation. They were not allowed to eat, but they could observe.
She was not interested in eating. She came with one purpose and only
one purpose. She came to anoint Jesus’ feet.
She Began To Cry. As Jesus was eating ,the woman
stood at His feet. Contrary to that depicted in much of the medieval art,
He would have been reclining with His head near the food and His feet would
have been outward. How long was she there? We do not know, but at some point
she started to cry. As she listened to the conversation she may have heard
Him say, “Blessed are those who are poor in heart” or “Blessed
are the those who mourn.” Or, she could have heard something that
she had heard Him teach before. She could have been one among the many people
who had heard Him during the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 4:23-5:1) or watched
Him heal the leper (Matthew 8:1). She might have been there when Jesus spoke
about John the Baptist (Matt. 11:7) or been one of those who came seeking
to be healed (Luke 4:42). The crowds were constantly seeking Jesus, and so
was she.
At some point during the conversation she finally broke down and began to
cry. Was there something that Jesus said that caused her to cry? Or, was
she so overwhelmed with His love and grace that her tears just came? The
Greek word translated as “weeping” in verse 38 comes from the
word KLAIO. It is a present participle which means that she was crying and
crying. We are also told that she cried so much that her tears were BRECHO.
That is, her tears were drenching His feet. This woman was crying uncontrollably!
She was beside herself. She could not stop!
So she started wiping her tears off His feet, anointing His feet with perfume
from her alabaster vial, and repeatedly kissing His feet. The Greek text
once again reveals an important point. She was continuously wiping the
tears off His feet, kissing His feet and anointing His feet. This woman
was worshipping Jesus. She loved Him with all her heart, soul, and mind.
She did not care that she was embarrassing herself.
Reading Your Mind. When Simon saw this he was upset,
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” (NASB) Luke 7:39 He did not have compassion for this very emotional, crying woman. He
was disturbed that she was touching Jesus. It is important to note that
the Pharisees of Jesus’ day did not want to be touched by one they
considered to be a “sinner.” It was defilement. The fact
that she was called a sinner suggests that she was a prostitute. Some
have claimed that this woman is Mary Magdalene, but there is no objective
evidence in this passage to support that view. In fact, it is unlikely
that she is Mary Magdalene, since Mary Magdalene is specifically mentioned
in the following section of Luke (Luke 8:1-3). Why give her name in one
passage and not in the other? Also, we are told that Mary Magdalene had
been demon possessed. The term “sinner” was used by the Jews
to refer to a prostitute.
Luke 7:39 is amazing. God tells us Simon’s thoughts. Simon thought
to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know . . . she
was a sinner.” There are four types of “if” statements
or conditional clauses in the Greek language. This one is a second class
conditional statement which means that Simon did not believe that Jesus
was a prophet. That is, Simon’s thought went like this, “If
this man were a prophet, and He is not, then He would have known . .
. she was a sinner.” He did not use an “if” of uncertainty,
he used an “if” that indicates he already did not believe.
Simon did not believe Jesus was a prophet. Simon did not believe that
Jesus was God. This dinner party was not a friendly one. It was a religious
business meeting.
Have you ever wondered if God knows your thoughts? The next verse reveals
that Jesus knew Simon’s thoughts and responded with a question
and a parable.
And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” (NASB) Luke 7:40-42 Jesus’ parable was about a moneylender who had two men who owed
him money. One owed him 500 denarii and the other owed him 50 denarii.
Later, when they were unable to pay the moneylender, he cancelled their
debts. When Jesus finished the parable, He asked Simon which one would
love the moneylender more? Here is Simon’s response,
Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” (NASB) Luke 7:43 He answered correctly. He was a wise man even though he
was spiritually blind.
Jesus’ Stunning Comment. How did Simon feel now that he realized
Jesus knew His thoughts? It would have been a great question to have
asked him later. Did he change his opinion about Jesus now? Was Jesus
a prophet? If he was not reconsidering his opinion yet, maybe he did
after Jesus made the following statements.
Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “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. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.” (NASB) Luke 7:44-46 Forgiveness Given. After Jesus agreed that Simon had answered correctly,
He turned around and looked at the woman and continued looking at her
while He spoke to Simon who was now behind Him. “Do you see this
woman?” What a picture! Jesus is looking at the woman while He
speaks to Simon who is behind Him. Do you wonder how Simon felt? Then
Jesus rebuked Simon for not following the custom of the day. Simon did
not give Him water for His feet, greet Him with a kiss or anoint His
head, but this woman - a prostitute - did.
Then Jesus made a stunning statement,
For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” (NASB) Luke 7:47-48
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