An immoral woman’s devotion to Jesus in Luke 7

The gospel of Luke tells the account of an immoral woman’s devotion to Jesus and how she shows her love to him by anointing his feet with perfume. In the face of criticism from a religious Pharisee, Jesus used the event to teach a lesson on faith, love, and forgiveness.

An immoral woman anoints Jesus

Jesus demonstrated a special compassion for women and had no problem with ministering to those who had fallen into sexual sin such as the woman at the well (John 4:1-26). In the Luke 7 story, a woman with an immoral reputation heard that Jesus was visiting her town, so she sought him out. She found him eating at the house of Simon, a Pharisee.

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 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. 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. (Luke 7:36-38)

This account has some similarities to the story that occurred in Bethany in Matthew 26:6-13, so, some say the immoral woman was Mary of Bethany. But this is unlikely as these two accounts have major differences. Some identify her as Mary Magdeline, but again this is doubtful. Regardless, it’s not necessary to know this woman’s identity to understand the message of this account.

The woman had lived a sinful life, meaning she had regularly slept with various men, probably to earn money. At some point, she heard that Jesus performed miracles, healed diseases, and taught about God’s love for sinful people. It was the latter that caught her attention—could God love a woman like her? It was said that Jesus even forgave people of their sins. Could Jesus extend his forgiveness to her also? Or were her sins unforgiveable? Maybe God would accept her and give her a new start in life.

So, she did what she knew to show her love and devotion to Jesus. She anointed his feet with a costly perfume. Sometimes people do bold things when they have nothing to lose. This woman had no fear of losing respect because she had none to begin with.

The Pharisee’s criticism

But the dinner host was scandalized:

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.” (Luke 7:39)

The religious Pharisee who saw this happening had his moral antenna up and immediately detected a scandal. He knew this woman to be immoral and her just touching Jesus would make him ceremonially unclean. He was thinking, “If Jesus were a real prophet of God, he would never let this woman touch him like this.” “A true man of God would know just by looking at her, the way she dresses and how she acts, that this woman is sinful.” In his mind, this woman kissing and crying over his feet was disgusting. Jesus should’ve been offended that she even dared to touch him. Wiping his feet with her hair was even more repulsive.

Jesus’ parable of the two debtors

So, Jesus, knowing what Simon is thinking, proceeds to admonish him. And always a teacher and storyteller, Jesus uses this event as a teaching opportunity and illustrates the lesson with a parable.

Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 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?” (Luke 7:40-42)

Short and to the point, Jesus’ parable compares two people who owe money to a lender. One owed a large amount, and the other owed a small amount, but the lender forgives the debt of both. His question is simple: “Who then will love the lender most?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. (Luke 7:43)

Simon’s nonchalant answer was correct, but he didn’t win any prize for his insight. Jesus had asked a rhetorical question, so the answer was obvious.

The sincere love of the immoral woman versus cold religion

But then came the hard blow:

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. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. (Luke 7:44-46)

Simon hadn’t even afforded Jesus the basic hospitality that was customary for guests at that time. He didn’t wash his feet with water or anoint his head with oil. But the woman outperformed him in every way. She washed Jesus’ feet with tears and anointed his feet with a costly high-end perfume. And these were tears of repentance and the perfume of devotion.

So, Jesus praised the love and devotion of an irreligious woman known for her sinful life. In contrast, Simon was a Pharisee with abundant religious credentials and a stellar reputation among the community. Outwardly, he was the one who should have been acknowledged and honored. But Jesus judged the two by what was in their heart, not by their worldly credentials or outward appearance. It was the immoral woman’s love and devotion for Jesus that he praised, not the distant and cold reception he received from Simon.

Jesus forgives the immoral woman

Why did the woman love Jesus more?

 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:47-48)

The lesson is obvious: the greater the debt, the more love and thankfulness toward the debtor when he forgives their debt. Those who have committed great sins against others and against the Lord need greater forgiveness. And when they find it in the Lord and experience his mercy, their love exceeds even that of most religious people. Of course, we don’t need to have sinned a lot to love Jesus, but we find those who have tend to be more passionate for God.

But whoever has been forgiven little, loves little. The Pharisee thought he was in good standing with God and didn’t need much forgiveness, if any. He had kept the ceremonial laws of Moses and didn’t see much need for improvement. But pride in his own righteousness and reputation weakened and dimmed his love for God. And his passion for God was dampened by submitting to societal expectations that religious leaders display moderation and respectability.

Love demonstrates faith

But how could Jesus say the woman’s sins were forgiven? She hadn’t even spoken to Jesus before.

The woman had heard that Jesus was a kind and forgiving rabbi. She knew, or at least hoped, that he had that power to forgive, because that’s what she needed more than anything. That is obviously why she came to him in the first place.

We know that it’s impossible to love God without faith. Love and faith are like hand in glove: they’re inseparable. And the immoral woman’s devotion to Jesus showed she had faith in Christ’s power to forgive. So, the woman’s many sins were forgiven because of her faith in Jesus, and her love for him demonstrated that faith.

But the others present complained:

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

The other guests were friends of Simon, many of them Pharisees also. They would have had the same beliefs and values as Simon.  Certainly, any religious Jew at that time would’ve seen Jesus’ statement as a scandal or even blasphemy.

Jesus provides salvation to those who have faith

The woman needed forgiveness, a new start, a real relationship with God. And who in that scene could give her what she was seeking? Certainly not the Pharisee or his friends. Only Jesus. He is the God-man to whom the Father has granted all authority and power, and in this case the authority to forgive sins and grant eternal life.

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:49-50)

So, Jesus proclaimed to the woman with unwavering confidence: “Your faith has saved you.” It was her faith in Jesus that led her to the greatest gift of all—salvation. She had found not only forgiveness, but peace, salvation, and eternal life in him.

Our faith in Jesus’ power to forgive

Faith by itself is nothing; it has no substance or power. Faith needs an object, otherwise it’s not really faith. It’s the object of faith that is important—who or what we trust. It’s our faith in Jesus that saves us: our reliance on him and his power to forgive.

When we need forgiveness and mercy, faith in ourselves is fruitless. We can’t forgive a debt that we ourselves owe to someone else, so we can’t forgive the sin that we have committed against God. Only faith in Christ can provide that. He is the true Savior—he is the debt forgiver.

Jesus has abundant power: to forgive, to save, to justify, to restore. Jesus brings all these blessings to those who will trust him. Are you in need of forgiveness? Turn to Jesus Christ the Savior and he will supply it, immediately and abundantly.

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