Luke 7:36-47 Meaning: Why Did Jesus Dine with a Pharisee?
36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table.
37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.
38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”
40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.”
41“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”
43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”
44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
36And 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.
37And, 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,
38And 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.
39Now 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.
40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44And 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.
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47Wherefore 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.
36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,
38and 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 kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.
40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on.
41A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.
42When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?
43Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44And 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.
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47Wherefore 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.
36And a certain one of the Pharisees was asking him that he might eat with him, and having gone into the house of the Pharisee he reclined (at meat),
37and lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having known that he reclineth (at meat) in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster box of ointment,
38and having stood behind, beside his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with the tears, and with the hairs of her head she was wiping, and was kissing his feet, and was anointing with the ointment.
39And the Pharisee who did call him, having seen, spake within himself, saying, `This one, if he were a prophet, would have known who and of what kind is the woman who doth touch him, that she is a sinner.'
40And Jesus answering said unto him, `Simon, I have something to say to thee;' and he saith, `Teacher, say on.'
41`Two debtors were to a certain creditor; the one was owing five hundred denaries, and the other fifty;
42and they not having wherewith to give back, he forgave both; which then of them, say thou, will love him more?'
43And Simon answering said, `I suppose that to whom he forgave the more;' and he said to him, `Rightly thou didst judge.'
44And having turned unto the woman, he said to Simon, `Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; water for my feet thou didst not give, but this woman with tears did wet my feet, and with the hairs of her head did wipe;
45a kiss to me thou didst not give, but this woman, from what time I came in, did not cease kissing my feet;
46with oil my head thou didst not anoint, but this woman with ointment did anoint my feet;
47therefore I say to thee, her many sins have been forgiven, because she did love much; but to whom little is forgiven, little he doth love.'
36But one of the Pharisees begged him that he would eat with him. And entering into the house of the Pharisee he took his place at table;
37and behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh,
38and standing at his feet behind [him] weeping, began to wash his feet with tears; and she wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the myrrh.
39And the Pharisee who had invited him, seeing it, spoke with himself saying, This [person] if he were a prophet would have known who and what the woman is who touches him, for she is a sinner.
40And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he says, Teacher, say [it].
41There were two debtors of a certain creditor: one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty;
42but as they had nothing to pay, he forgave both of them [their debt]: [say,] which of them therefore will love him most?
43And Simon answering said, I suppose he to whom he forgave the most. And he said to him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44And turning to the woman he said to Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house; thou gavest me not water on my feet, but she has washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair.
45Thou gavest me not a kiss, but she from the time I came in has not ceased kissing my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but she has anointed my feet with myrrh.
47For which cause I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven loves little.
Meaning in one sentence
Understand Luke 7:36-47: why Jesus accepted a Pharisee’s invitation, the woman’s anointing, and what her love teaches about forgiveness.
Context
This story takes place in the middle of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, shortly after he raised the widow’s son at Nain. Luke shows Jesus constantly moving among people who did not expect him. A Pharisee named Simon invites Jesus to dinner. The invitation may have been polite curiosity or even a test. Jesus accepts anyway, knowing what is in Simon’s heart. While they recline at the table, a woman known as a sinner enters, carrying an alabaster jar of perfume. She weeps at Jesus’ feet, wipes them with her hair, and anoints them with the ointment. Simon judges both the woman and Jesus. But Jesus uses the moment to teach a lesson about forgiveness and love that overturns every calculation.
Key Words
Three Greek words give this scene its power. The verb behind “she loved” is agapaō, not a passing fondness but a deep, willing devotion. The woman did not simply feel sorry; she gave everything she had. The word for “forgave” in the parable is echarisato, from charizomai, which means to show grace, to pardon freely. It is the same family as charis, grace. Both debtors were graced, not paid. Then there is kataphileō, the word for “kiss” in verse 45. The prefix intensifies the action: she kissed his feet repeatedly, tenderly. This was not a quick greeting. It was a prolonged act of love. Together these words show that forgiveness is a gift, and love is the grateful, concrete response.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this passage with different emphases. Early church writers like Augustine saw the woman as a figure of the repentant church, weeping for sin. The Reformers, including Calvin and Wesley, stressed that her love was the effect of forgiveness, not its cause, a point Wesley makes plainly: “she loveth much… the fruit of her having had much forgiven.” Catholic tradition honors this woman (sometimes thought to be Mary Magdalene, though the text does not name her) as a model of contrition and devotion. Eastern Orthodox hymns echo her tears and the freedom of forgiveness. All traditions agree that this story displays the welcome of Christ for everyone, no matter their past.
A common misunderstanding
Many readers assume the woman earned her forgiveness by loving Jesus so much. In fact, Jesus’ parable reverses that logic. Both debtors were forgiven before anyone loved the lender. The woman’s love is the evidence that she already received forgiveness, not the payment that bought it.
Living This Out
This week, let the woman’s freedom move you. She did not wait until she had her life together. She brought her shame and her tears straight to Jesus. You can do the same. You do not need to clean yourself up first. And if you have known forgiveness for a long time, ask whether your love still looks like hers, uncalculated, personal, willing to risk what others think. Maybe there is someone you can show grace to this week, not because they deserve it, but because you remember how much you have been forgiven.
Main takeaway: Our love for Jesus is the grateful response to the forgiveness we have received, not the payment that earns it.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus went to eat at a man’s house. A woman who had done wrong things came and cried on Jesus’ feet. She wiped them with her hair and put perfume on them. Jesus said she was forgiven because she loved him very much. We can love Jesus too because he forgives us.
For ages 9, 12
In this story, a woman known as a sinner came to Jesus while he was eating at a Pharisee’s house. She showed her love by washing his feet with her tears and anointing them with perfume. The Pharisee judged her, but Jesus pointed out that she understood her need for forgiveness better than he did. Her love was not the cause of forgiveness but the evidence that she had already received it. This challenges us to see our own need for grace and to respond with heartfelt love.
Questions People Ask
Who was the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7?
The woman is not named in this passage. Some have speculated she was Mary Magdalene, but there is no biblical evidence for that. She is simply described as 'a woman in the city, who was a sinner.' Her identity is less important than her actions of repentance and love.
Did the woman earn her forgiveness through her love?
No. Jesus’ parable of two debtors shows that both debtors were forgiven freely before they showed any love. Her love was the grateful response to forgiveness already received. The Greek word behind 'for she loved much' can indicate evidence rather than cause.
Why did Jesus eat with a Pharisee who was critical of him?
Jesus accepted the invitation because he came to engage all people, even those who were hostile or skeptical. He used the opportunity to teach about forgiveness and to show compassion to the woman. He did not avoid those who opposed him.
Is this the same story as the anointing in Matthew 26 and Mark 14?
Most interpreters see this as a different event. That anointing happened in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, and the woman anointed Jesus’ head. Here it happens in Galilee, the woman anoints his feet, and the focus is on forgiveness. The timing and details differ significantly.
What does the alabaster jar represent?
The alabaster jar contained expensive perfume. The woman brought her most valuable possession to offer to Jesus. It symbolizes costly devotion and the willingness to give everything in response to grace.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study