Luke 7:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He justifies the unrighteous through faith and liberates those who are bound by their transgressions. This He proclaimed through one of the holy prophets, saying: "In those days and at that time, saith the Lord, they shall seek the sin of Israel, and shall not find it, and the sin of Judah, and shall not find it; for I will be merciful to them that are left in the land, saith the Lord." Indeed, the fulfillment of this promise occurred for us at the moment of His Incarnation, as attested by the holy Gospels. He was invited by a Pharisee, and being good and fully human, "desiring all men to be saved and to attain to the knowledge of the truth," He willingly engaged with the one who sought Him.

It is genuinely a banquet; it embodies the joy of heavenly festivities to witness the King sharing a meal with servants, the Divine in communion with humanity, the Judge among the guilty partaking of common fare. This essence of His coming reflects that He arrived on earth without departing from heaven, and that He became fully human while remaining fully God, to rescue those ensnared by sin who are tossed about by the tempests of life, and to guide back those who, like lost sheep without a shepherd, have strayed from His fold. As the shepherd who searches for the lost sheep, He sought out the one, not out of disregard for the many, nor due to preference, but because He recognized that the ninety-nine were secure and for the sake of the one that might fall prey to evil. A sheep separated from the flock becomes vulnerable to predators, and a soul not protected by His grace is easy meat for demons. Recently, Zacchaeus was like a sheep He rescued from the jaws of danger and welcomed into His fold. Just as a shepherd, in an effort to retrieve a lost sheep, allows a tame sheep to roam to entice the wanders back, the Word of God permitted the flesh taken from the Virgin to reveal Himself at the meal with Zacchaeus, drawing him into the embrace of hospitality and connecting him discreetly to His chosen people. Meanwhile, the Pharisees, witnessing this meal with tax collectors, grumbled in misunderstanding. Let them express their discontent, for they cannot accept the new insights of His teaching, yet let us follow our compassionate Shepherd. Just as He embraced Zacchaeus and led him into the fellowship of believers, so too He rescued a sinful woman who had committed countless wrongs, drawing her from the grip of evil and placing her within His cherished flock. To illustrate Christ’s humanity, the folly of the Pharisees, and the repentance of sinners, I will share the essential words of the Gospel. For if you grasp the depth of what is read, you'll understand its true significance. Oh, inexpressible joy! O, wondrous humanity! He dines with Pharisees, yet does not shun tax collectors; He welcomes sinners, converses with the Samaritan woman, honors the Canaanite woman’s faith with His words, and heals the woman who suffered from bleeding. Indeed, He restores health as He addresses all forms of suffering, benefitting both the wicked and the righteous, the ungrateful alongside the earnest. Thus, as He is invited by the Pharisee, He enters a place previously filled with evil. Where the Pharisee dwells, there is vice, sin, and pride. Yet, the Lord's love compels Him to enter despite this. Just as the sun’s rays do not tarnish but rather cleanse what is dirty, so too does Christ, the Sun of righteousness, illuminate every place tainted by vice, dispelling darkness with His goodness without injuring or degrading it. This is why He willingly accepted the invitation from the Pharisee, without anger or objection, and without signifying that he had not examined his own life. He aimed to sanctify both the guests and the host, as well as the setting, demonstrating through His meals that the Incarnation is no illusion. Moreover, knowing the sinner was eager to display her earnest repentance, the Savior swiftly agreed to the Pharisee's invitation, so she might openly confess her sins in front of scribes and Pharisees and teach them how those burdened by sin should seek God’s favor. A reflection on the sinner’s encounter with the Pharisee is in order.

It seems that the Pharisee, despite his zeal and partial faith, allowed his sense of righteousness and status to dictate the extent of his hospitality to the Divine Guest. Had he set aside such considerations, he might have rushed to meet the Heavenly Visitor, falling before Him in reverence and offering his soul and heart at His feet. This opportunity was missed; the Pharisee forfeited the chance to honor the Savior as the Redeemer.

Instead of harboring these emotions privately, shame and fear did not keep her from expressing them in front of those considered 'righteous.' She arrived carrying an alabaster jar filled with precious ointment to anoint her Savior. Though she intended to pour it on His head, her sense of unworthiness compelled her to kneel at His feet. Bowed low, her tears—more valuable than earthly treasures—streamed down as she wiped them with her hair, anointing His feet with the fragrant oil. This poignant moment lingered. To Simon, it might not have seemed unusual for Jesus to allow a woman to humble herself before Him; he might have accepted that. However, it puzzled him that the Lord would permit Himself to be touched by someone known as a sinner. If Jesus was not aware of her past, surely His prophetic spirit should have revealed her identity to Him.

Standing behind Jesus, she wept, washing His feet with her tears, drying them with her hair, kissing His feet, and anointing them with precious ointment.

Simon the Pharisee, proud of his sense of righteousness and considering it inappropriate to associate with a woman identified as a sinner, could not grasp why Jesus permitted her to touch Him. He reasoned that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would discern the nature of the woman who was reaching out to Him. In response to Simon’s silent thoughts, the Lord invited him to listen closely, sharing the parable of two debtors. One debtor owed five hundred denarii while the other owed fifty. Neither was able to repay their debts, yet the lender graciously forgave both of them. The Lord then inquired, ‘Tell me, Simon, which of them will love him more?’ Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one to whom he forgave more.’ The Lord affirmed Simon's response and demonstrated to him that his own words revealed the judgment of his cold heart, unaffected even by the woman's tears of love and repentance, confirming the Savior’s compassionate acceptance of sinners.

‘Do you see this woman?’ the Lord asked Simon. ‘I entered your house, and you did not offer me the usual signs of respect and hospitality, but from the moment I arrived, she has not stopped expressing her deep devotion. Therefore, I tell you that her sins are forgiven, for she has shown great love; but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ After speaking to Simon, He addressed the woman directly: ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ This declaration astonished the others present, prompting them to wonder among themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ (cf. Luke 5:21). The Lord then said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Jesus accepted the invitation and reclined at the table as was customary in the East. During the meal, a notorious sinner from the town entered Simon's home, traditionally believed to be Mary Magdalene. The Gospel recounts that Jesus cast out seven demons from her (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2), and since the number seven often symbolizes a multitude in Scripture, it suggests that Mary was deeply troubled by many sins. Subsequent accounts indicate that she followed Jesus closely, accompanied Him to the cross, witnessed His burial, and was the first to witness His Resurrection. Consequently, she holds a significant place in the biblical narrative.

Some argue that if Mary Magdalene had indeed entered Simon's dwelling, the meticulous Evangelist Luke would have identified her by name. Since the woman is unnamed, it is posited that she may have been another well-known sinner from the city. However, it is pertinent to note that after recounting the events at Simon's house, Luke describes how Jesus traveled through towns and villages, accompanied by the twelve Apostles and women, with Mary Magdalene mentioned first among them (Luke 8:1-3). If we consider the possibility that Luke intentionally left the sinner's name out to dissociate her past from the now redeemed Mary Magdalene, we may trust in tradition.

This woman brought an alabaster jar filled with precious ointment. Alabaster, a lightweight and durable marble, was often fashioned into containers for valuable perfumes; these containers typically had a tall, slender neck. The fragrant oil within, known as nard, was derived from a plant native to India, whose roots produced a highly valued aromatic juice used in anointing. In those times, it was customary for the wealthy to anoint themselves with fragrant oils during lavish feasts, applying it to their hair, beards, and even their entire faces. When Jesus, along with His disciples and a crowd, arrived in Simon's town, this renowned sinner likely felt compelled to see the new prophet. The transformative teachings of Jesus touched her deeply, prompting her to abandon her sinful lifestyle. Thus, when Jesus was at Simon's home, she approached Him, knelt at His feet, wept in sorrow, and washed His unclean feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing them, and anointing them with the precious ointment she had brought.

The profound moral transformation within her, evidenced by her tears of repentance and sincere confession of sins, left Simon the Pharisee unmoved. Instead of recognizing Jesus's true nature, Simon viewed Him as an ordinary man, lacking prophetic insight. He concluded that a true prophet would not permit a sinful woman to touch Him, expressing his thoughts: "If He were a prophet, He would know who and what sort of woman is touching Him and would not allow Himself to be defiled. But since He does not appear to be aware of her sinfulness, He cannot be a prophet."

This invitation was extended with a spirit of Pharisaical insincerity—merely to investigate the identity of this teacher from the despised Nazareth. Consequently, even the basic customs of hospitality were ignored; the host failed to greet the guest with a kiss, neglect to wash His feet, and did not provide the typical comforts expected. The guests were gathered at the table, abiding by the custom of the Jews who imitated Greco-Roman dining practices. During these banquets, the doors facing east were left open, allowing any passerby to enter, whether to partake in the feast or simply to observe the revelry. Yet, on this occasion, one individual took the bold step of entering this esteemed household, whose presence was not only unwelcome but utterly detested by the host. A wretched, fallen woman, well-known in the vicinity for her disgraceful life, learned that Jesus was reclining at the Pharisee's table. She bravely navigated through the crowd carrying an alabaster flask—a vessel named after the Egyptian city of Alabastra, where similar containers were produced and distributed across various nations. Upon finding the one she sought, she humbly positioned herself behind Christ and listened intently to His words. In her contemplation of His purity contrasted with her own sinful existence, tears began to fall from her eyes onto Christ's bare feet as she lowered herself continually, striving to mask her humiliation and shame. The Pharisee would have recoiled in shock at the very thought of contact, not to mention the tears from a person such as her; he would have purged himself multiple times of the perceived corruption and driven away the audacious sinner with scorn. However, this woman intuitively recognized that Jesus would not respond with condemnation; she sensed that supreme holiness was accompanied by the deepest compassion. She understood that where the rigid decorum of a sinner like herself would push away, the perfect sanctity of the Saviour would welcome her. It is quite possible she had heard the profoundly loving and merciful invitation from Christ earlier that day: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Reassured by His acceptance, she pressed closer, convinced that regardless of others’ opinions, the Saviour never despised her. Kneeling before Him, she began to wipe His feet, wet with her tears, using her long, flowing hair, and she covered them with kisses. In the Syriac translation of the Peshito, the term "break" in Mark 14:3 is interpreted as "having opened," a concept that may also apply here. Frequently, the precious ointment was obtained from alabaster vases by breaking off their narrow necks, and she began to anoint His feet with the fragrant oil.

Might this be the same individual who, due to the blessings the Lord had given him, gradually transitioned from being a Pharisee to one of the Saviour's close friends? Admittedly, that meal took place in Bethany while this event occurred in a different Galilean city. However, Simon could have relocated to Bethany over time, especially after distancing himself from the Pharisees in his hometown to become a disciple of the Saviour.