Luke 7:44
Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus intentionally contrasts the woman's extravagant devotion with Simon's utter lack of hospitality, revealing that Simon's invitation was less an act of honor and more a casual, even dismissive, gesture. While Simon's home was the expected place for courtesy, Jesus points out that he failed even the most basic customs of respect, highlighting the vast gulf between a lukewarm host and a profoundly grateful guest.
Jesus has just accepted an invitation to dine with Simon, a Pharisee, who is observing Jesus closely. A woman known to be a sinner enters the house and begins anointing Jesus' feet with perfume, washing them with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. Jesus then turns to Simon, the host, to highlight the stark contrast between the woman's extravagant display of devotion and Simon's lack of hospitality.
Jesus was invited to dinner by a Pharisee, a man of religious standing. Yet, something crucial was absent from the way he was treated. Can you guess what it was?
When Jesus entered Simon the Pharisee's house, he wasn't just a guest; he was a guest of honor. In that culture, certain acts of hospitality were expected for any guest, especially one held in high regard.
Expected Rites:
Simon provided none of these.
What This Means:
His invitation to Jesus wasn't born out of deep honor, but perhaps more out of curiosity or even a desire to trap Him. The expected courtesies were skipped, revealing a fundamental lack of reverence for Jesus. This starkly contrasts with the woman's actions, showing the vast difference between outward religious observance and genuine heart-felt devotion.
This woman didn't bring expensive gifts or eloquent speeches. Her offering was deeply personal and unconventional. What can we learn from her 'watery' worship?
The woman's response to Jesus is overwhelming and emotionally charged. Her tears aren't just sadness; they are a sacred offering poured out in gratitude and repentance.
A Contrast in Expressions:
Understand the original words
dakryon · Greek Noun
A saline secretion from the eyes; used metaphorically in Scripture to signify deep repentance, sorrow for sin, and humility before God.
This event occurred during Jesus' public ministry amidst strict social customs of hospitality and a rigid social hierarchy. Simon's failure to offer basic courtesies underscores his judgmental heart, while the woman's uninhibited devotion reveals the radical grace and forgiveness Jesus offers.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and gathering followers. This period saw increasing tension with religious leaders.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisaic Social Customs
Jewish society, especially among Pharisees, had strict customs of hospitality. These included offering water for guests' feet, a kiss of greeting, and anointing the head with oil.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus dines at Simon the Pharisee's house
Jesus accepted an invitation to eat at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. This setting highlights the stark contrast between religious respectability and open sin.
Early 1st century AD
Woman's act of devotion
A woman known in the city as a sinner, upon hearing Jesus was at Simon's house, came and poured out her devotion by washing Jesus' feet with her tears and anointing them.
This passage speaks of the 'fragrance of your good ointments,' echoing the precious ointment the woman used. It highlights the beauty and pleasing aroma of devotion and love, much like the woman's extravagant act of worship.
Psalm 56:8The verse states, 'You have kept count of my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?' This connects directly to Jesus noting the woman's tears, showing God's careful attention to the expressions of sorrow and devotion, even the tears shed at His feet.
Romans 5:20This verse says, 'where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.' The woman's great love, stemming from her forgiven sins, perfectly illustrates this principle: the greater the sin forgiven, the greater the resulting love and gratitude expressed.
1 Samuel 25:41This passage mentions, 'She arose and bowed herself with her face to the earth and said, “Behold, I am your servant to be a handmaid to wash the feet of my lord's servants.”' This shows a similar posture of humility and service in washing feet, even if the context is different, highlighting a willing submission to serve.
John 13:5In the Last Supper, Jesus washes the disciples' feet, a custom of hospitality. The contrast with Simon, who offered no water, emphasizes the Pharisee's lack of true respect and the woman's extraordinary devotion that went far beyond expected courtesies.
calvinLuke 7:36-50: "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat."
- And one of the Pharisees requested him to take food with him; and he entered into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down at table. 37. And, lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she knew that he sat at table in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment: [236] 38. And sitting at his feet behind him, and weeping, she beg…
barnesLuke 7:44: "And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head."
Seest thou this woman? - You see what this woman has done to me, compared with what you have done. She has shown me expressions of regard which you, in your own house, have not shown. I entered into thine house - I came at your invitation, where I might expect all t…
Jesus intentionally contrasts the woman's extravagant devotion with Simon's utter lack of hospitality, revealing that Simon's invitation was less an act of honor and more a casual, even dismissive, gesture. While Simon's home was the expected place for courtesy, Jesus points out that he failed even the most basic customs of respect, highlighting the vast gulf between a lukewarm host and a profoundly grateful guest.
Jesus has just accepted an invitation to dine with Simon, a Pharisee, who is observing Jesus closely. A woman known to be a sinner enters the house and begins anointing Jesus' feet with perfume, washing them with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. Jesus then turns to Simon, the host, to highlight the stark contrast between the woman's extravagant display of devotion and Simon's lack of hospitality.
Jesus has just accepted an invitation to dine with Simon, a Pharisee, who is observing Jesus closely. A woman known to be a sinner enters the house and begins anointing Jesus' feet with perfume, washing them with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. Jesus then turns to Simon, the host, to highlight the stark contrast between the woman's extravagant display of devotion and Simon's lack of hospitality.
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The Theology of Tears:
Jesus highlights these details not because he needed his feet washed, but to show the depth of her response.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus contrasts devotion
Jesus uses the woman's extravagant act of love and repentance to contrast with Simon's lack of customary hospitality, highlighting the depth of her forgiven sins.
"Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair." — Jesus intentionally contrasts the woman's extravagant devotion with Simon's utter lack of hospitality, revealing that Simon's invitation was less an act of honor and more a casual, even dismissive, g…
