This parable follows a well-known
event, although the woman’s name is not given and the sinful state is not described
at all. Leave it to the busy scholars to apply her name and describe the
sinfulness, even though the sinfulness and the parable following are general,
much more applicable to all people. In contrast, giving the woman’s name and
sin would make it easy for many to say, “I thank God I am not like her.” The Pharisee
who invited Jesus to dinner served that role well. Centuries have passed, offering
many ways to look down on her life, making the details and parable far more
significant.
KJV
Luke 7: 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.
The Pharisee’s inward
response was known to Jesus since nothing escapes God. The disdainful reaction
is with us today, whether responding to known sinners, or the disabled, or
those excluded for not belonging to the correct social class, race, denomination,
or grandparents.
The parable following the event becomes one about Simon,
or us. The Scriptures do not honor gifts to pay for past sins, current continuous
sins erased by the gratitude of synod officials, or other distortions of the
Gospel. Simon would go on to commit the greatest sin, denying Jesus Christ at
the worst of times, when his Teacher was on trial for his life, even though the
disciple said he would never desert Jesus. So Jesus asked Simon, if a money-lender
loaned 500 coins to one man and only 50 to another, which penniless debtor would
be most thankful for loan forgiveness?
KJV
Luke 7:43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.
And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
The disciple answered
correctly, but more details were included, so that the woman judged by the righteous
Pharisee is far more thankful than Simon. “Look at her, Simon!”
KJV
Luke 7: 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.
(This is not the final draft.)
