36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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, 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, 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, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, 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.”
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; go in peace.”
Read Luke 7:36-50 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
When I compare the different gospel timelines of Jesus’ life, when I get to this event in the gospel of Luke, I am intrigued. While the other three gospel writers include a similar event to this one, they all place this event close to Jesus’ crucifixion week, and they emphasize the woman’s gift of perfume as foreshadowing Jesus’ upcoming death.
But Luke includes his event earlier on in his gospel, and death isn’t really even brought up. Instead, Luke draws our attention onto a parable and teaching that happened at this point that none of the other gospel writers mention in their respective records of this event.
This makes me wonder if there were two very similar events that happened at different points in Jesus’ ministry, or if Luke wants to help us see something different in this event. In Luke’s timeline, it may have made more sense to include the one event earlier than it actually happened, at a point where many of Jesus’ teachings are included, because Luke wanted us to learn something about God’s character here rather than one more example of foreshadowing the upcoming death.
Whether this was one or two events, Luke draws our attention towards an important teaching and truth that the other gospel writers missed or chose not to include: Those who have only been forgiven a little, only love a little, while those who have been forgiven a lot love a lot more.
The big point Jesus is making in Luke’s record of this event is found in verse 47, where Jesus says, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke wants us to focus in on forgiveness. While the cross has God opening the way for forgiveness and salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice, Luke wants to draw our attention onto the gift of forgiveness that God offers to all of us – and onto the truth that those who have been forgiven little will love a little, but whoever has been forgiven much will show great love and devotion.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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