MPV Commentary

37-38. A sinner, one who had led a profligate life, approached Jesus at his feet behind him. She brought an alabaster box of ointment, a perfume vessel that was often very costly. The ointment takes on special significance as the offering by a penitent of what had been used in her sinful activities.

She began to wash his feet with tears, pouring down a flood upon them as she bent down to kiss them. Deeming them fouled rather than washed, she quickly wiped them off with the only towel she had – the long tresses of her own hair, which slaves were accustomed to use to wash their masters' feet.

She kissed him fondly, caressing him repeatedly. This was prompted by much love, springing from a sense of much forgiveness. Jesus knew her heart and understood what had brought life to her dead heart and a sense of divine pardon to her guilty soul.

39. The Pharisee who had invited Jesus spoke within himself, thinking, "Ha! I have Him now; He plainly knows nothing about the person He allows to touch Him, and so He can be no prophet." Not so fast, Simon; you haven't seen through your Guest yet, but He has seen right through you.

40-43. Like Nathan with David, Jesus conceals His sharp rebuke under the veil of a parable, making his host himself pronounce upon the case. The two debtors are the woman and Simon; the criminality of one was ten times that of the other, but both were equally insolvent and both were forgiven with equal frankness. Simon is made to own that the greatest debtor to forgiving mercy will cling to her Divine Benefactor with the deepest gratitude.

44-47. I entered your house, Jesus says, without being offered water for my feet. Was this a sign of much love? And when he was not greeted with a kiss of salutation, how much love was shown? Even common olive oil was used instead of the aromatic balsam she had brought – what evidence did this provide of any feeling prompted by forgiveness?

48. Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." This is an unsought assurance that often arises unexpectedly in the midst of active duty and warm affections.

49-50. Those who sat at the table with them were startled to hear One reclining at their couch assume the prerogative of forgiving sins. But instead of backing down or softening His claim, Jesus repeats it, adding two precious truths: one, announcing what was the secret of her forgiveness and which carried salvation within it; the other, a glorious dismissal of her in that peace she had already felt, now assured she has His full warrant to enjoy.

This scene teaches us two weighty truths: (1) Though there be degrees of guilt or inability to wipe out the dishonor done to God, insolvency is common to all sinners. (2) As Christ is the Great Creditor to whom all debt contracted by sinners is owing, so to Him belongs the prerogative of forgiving it. Either then Jesus was a blaspheming deceiver, or He is God manifest in the flesh.