THE SINFUL WOMAN’S GRATITUDE
The story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume is one of the most powerful examples of true gratitude in the Bible. Her actions, not only demonstrate deep repentance but also highlight the connection between forgiveness, love, and gratitude.
( Luke 7: 36 -50 )
BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Jesus is invited to the home of Simon, a Pharisee, to dine. During the meal, a woman who is known for her sinful lifestyle(often assumed to be a prostitute) enters the house and approaches Jesus. She brings with her an alabaster jar of perfume, a valuable possession. Her actions take every one by surprise, particularly Simon the Pharisee.
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.37 When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. 38 Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them of with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
( Luke 7: 36 -38 )
Her actions of weeping, washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing His feet, and anointing them with perfume are rich in meaning. These actions represent more than just a simple act of kindness or worship—they reflect profound love and gratitude toward Jesus for His grace and forgiveness.
The Significance of her Actions
The Humility of the Woman:
The woman’s act of washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and drying them with her hair is deeply symbolic. In the culture of that time, the feet of guests were often washed as an act of hospitality, but it was typically done by a servant. The fact that this woman, a sinner, is performing this act herself shows her humility. She is unashamed in her deep gratitude for Jesus’ forgiveness. Her tears symbolize both sorrow for her past sins and joy at being forgiven.
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t of er me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. ( Luke 7: 44 -46 )
Jesus contrasts the woman’s deep acts of gratitude with Simon’s lack of hospitality. Simon, who considered himself righteous, failed to offer even the basic courtesies to Jesus, such as washing His feet or offering a greeting kiss. The woman, in contrast, offered lavish, heartfelt devotion.
The Costliness of the Perfume:
The perfume the woman poured on Jesus’ feet was likely an expensive item, probably her most valuable possession. In offering this perfume, she demonstrates that true gratitude in volves sacrifice. It was not a cheap or easy gesture but one that cost her something significant. This act echoes the principle found throughout Scripture that true worship and gratitude to God often require sacrifice.
Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. ( Mark 14: 3 )
Here it describes a similar act of devotion where Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed Jesus with an expensive jar of perfume. This action is a demonstration of the kind of love and gratitude that often transcends earthly concerns, giving everything in recognition of God’s grace.
Her Approach to Love and Repentance:
The woman’s boldness in approaching Jesus in front of others reveals the public nature of her gratitude. In a time when society would have shamed her for her past sins, she was not concerned about public opinion. Instead, she chose to honor Jesus in the most vulnerable and loving way she knew. Her actions show that true gratitude to Jesus cannot be hidden or contained—it is something that overflows, regardless of what others think.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” ( Luke 7: 39 )
Simon’s judgment contrasts sharply with the woman’s unashamed devotion. While Simon looks on her with contempt, Jesus looks upon her with compassion and forgiveness. The woman’s bold actions show her willingness to humbly express her love for Jesus, regardless of others’ perceptions.
Jesus’ response: Forgiveness and Salvation
In response to the woman’s acts of love and gratitude, Jesus teaches Simon the Pharisee a lesson on forgiveness and the connection between forgiveness and love. Jesus tells a parable about two debtors, one who owed a small amount and another who owed a large sum. When both debts are forgiven, the one who owed more is more grateful.
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. ( Luke 7: 41 -43 )
The parable reveals that the woman’s extravagant love and gratitude were a natural outpouring of the forgiveness she had received. She understood the magnitude of her forgiveness and responded with great love.
“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” ( Luke 7: 47 )
Jesus affirms that the woman’s acts of love are a demonstration of her forgiven state. Her deep gratitude for being forgiven much is what motivates her to love much. Jesus’ forgiveness of her sins was a catalyst for her overwhelming response.
Jesus Declares Her Forgiven
In the final words of this encounter, Jesus assures the woman of her forgiveness and peace. He tells her that her faith has saved her, sending her away with the assurance that her sins are forgiven.
Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?” 50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; goin peace.” ( Luke 7: 48 -50 )
This declaration of forgiveness and peace highlights that the woman’s faith in Jesus and her response to His mercy were what brought her salvation. It was not her actions that earned her forgiveness, but her faith in Jesus as the One who could forgive and cleanse her
The key Principles of the Christian faith:
1. Repentance Leads to Gratitude
The woman’s actions—washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume—demonstrate deep gratitude born from repentance. Her out ward acts of devotion were a result of her inner recognition of her sinfulness and the forgiveness she had received. Repentance, according to the Bible, produces genuine gratitude for God’s grace.
Here the woman’s outward expressions of sorrow and gratitude, reflecting a heart deeply moved by repentance.
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us a way from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
( 2 Corinthians 7: 10 )
This verse clarifies that true repentance brings about salvation and a lasting transformation, a concept reflected in the woman’s actions of deep sorrow and repentance.
2. Forgiveness Transforms Lives
The forgiveness that Jesus offers is transformative. The woman’s love for Jesus and her actions of devotion are not about earning forgiveness but are the natural out pouring of a life that has been radically changed by grace. When forgiven, a person’s life is altered, as they begin to live in response to the grace they have received.
Jesus directly links the woman’s transformation—her great love—with the forgiveness she received. Her love is a response to the forgiveness she experienced, illustrating how forgiveness radically changes a person’s life.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! ( 2 Corinthians 5: 17 )
This verse underscores the idea that when a person receives forgiveness through Christ, they become a new creation, with their life and behavior transformed as a result.
3. The Danger of Self-Righteousness
Simon the Pharisee, in his judgment of the woman, demonstrates the danger of self-righteousness. He fails to see his own need for forgiveness, thinking he is above such acts of repentance. Jesus uses the woman’s actions to contrast the humble repentance of sinners with the pride of the self-righteous, who often fail to recognize their own sinfulness. Simon’s judgment reveals his self-righteous attitude. He is more concerned with the woman’s sin than with his own need for grace.
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12Ifast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I ama sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”( Luke 18: 11 -14 )
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector:
“The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.'” This parable contrasts the Pharisee’s self-righteousness with the humility of the tax collector, illustrating the danger of thinking oneself righteous while disregarding the need for forgiveness.
And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. ( Matthew 7: 3 -5 )
This passage teaches that self-righteous judgment is hypocritical and blind to one’s own faults.
4. Faith as the Path to Salvation
Jesus emphasizes that the woman’s faith has saved her. Her faith in Him as the one who can forgive sins is what ultimately leads to her salvation, not her actions alone. True faith in Jesus Christ is what enables a person to experience forgiveness and peace.
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; goin peace.” ( Luke 7: 50 )
Jesus directly links the woman’s faith to her salvation. It is not just her acts of love, but her trust in Jesus as the forgiver of sins that results in salvation.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not are ward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
( Ephesians 2: 8 -9 )
This passage reinforces the idea that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works. The woman’s faith in Jesus, demonstrated by her humble acts of devotion, is what saves her.
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. ( Romans 3: 28 )
Paul clarifies that justification (and salvation) comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not through following the law or performing religious acts.
5. The Measure of Love
In the parable of the two debtors, Jesus teaches that the amount of love we show is connected to the amount of forgiveness we perceive. The woman’s extravagant acts of love were a response to the great forgiveness she had received. This teaches us that understanding the depth of our forgiveness leads to greater love for God.
But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” ( Luke 7: 42 )
In this parable, the more significant the debt forgiven, the greater the love shown. Jesus uses this analogy to explain why the woman, who is aware of her many sins, shows such deep love. ( Matthew 18: 21 -35 )
This parable illustrates the importance of recognizing how much we have been forgiven and showing that same forgiveness toothers. The servant who has been forgiven a great debt should, in turn, forgive others. The same concept applies to the woman—her great love is shown because she understands how much she has been forgiven. 19 We love each other because he loved us first. ( 1 John 4: 19 )
This verse emphasizes that our love for God is a response to His first loving us. The sinful woman’s love for Jesus is a direct result of understanding and receiving His forgiveness.
The story of the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet teaches us valuable moral lessons about humility, gratitude, repentance, and love. It shows that true gratitude is expressed through heart felt actions and sacrifice, while also highlighting the importance of forgiveness, non-judgment, and compassion. The woman’s transformation reminds us that recognizing our need for grace and responding with love can lead to profound change in our lives.