Jesus anointed by a sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50. Jesus early in His ministry had gone to have an evening meal with a religious leader called Simon.

A woman who had lived a life that had not pleased God came to say “I love you Jesus”.

She showed her love by anointing Jesus with her own burial perfume. With her tears she washed Jesus’ feet and with her hair she wiped Jesus’ feet dry.

Simon had not done the customary thing, by not washing his guest’s feet.

Background Reading:

Jesus Anointed by a sinful woman and Forgives her

7:36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee’s home and took his place at the table. 37 There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume 38 and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.

39 Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and told himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She’s a sinner!”

40 Jesus told him, “Simon, I have something to ask you.”

“Teacher,” he replied, “ask it.”

41 “Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. 42 When they couldn’t pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled.”

Jesus told him, “You have answered correctly.”

44 Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but this woman has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 So I’m telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that’s why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.”

48 Then Jesus told her, “Your sins are forgiven!”

49 Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

50 But Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Luke 7:36—50
Read the other times Jesus was anointed with perfume Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3, Luke 7:36 John 12:1-11.

More Information:

The jars were sealed and had to be broken for the contents to be used. So the jar was used once and thrown away. The perfume was usually used on the wearer at their death. The perfume cost about a year’s wages.


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