Jesus highlights the stark contrast between Simon's cold formality and the woman's extravagant devotion, not just by listing her actions, but by emphasizing that Simon failed to provide the most basic courtesies of hospitality. This wasn't just about a lack of water; it was a deliberate omission that Jesus uses to expose the emptiness of Simon's invitation compared to the woman's heartfelt overflow of love.
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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has accepted an invitation to dinner at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. While Jesus is reclining at the table, a woman known in the city as a sinner enters the house and begins to lavish affection on Jesus by washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume. Simon, the host, internally judges Jesus, thinking that if he were a true prophet, he would know the sinful character of the woman and prevent her touch. Jesus, aware of Simon's thoughts, then turns to the woman and contrasts her actions with Simon's lack of hospitality.
Jesus highlights a stark contrast in how He was treated in Simon's home versus the woman's actions. What was expected, and why did Simon fall so short?
In ancient Near Eastern culture, hospitality was a sacred duty, especially for a host receiving a guest.
The Expected Rites
Simon's Cold Welcome
Simon, the Pharisee, failed to offer any of these common courtesies. Jesus points out the absence of even the most basic act – water for His feet. This wasn't just a minor oversight; it revealed a fundamental lack of honor and respect for Jesus.
The woman's tears did more than just wet Jesus' feet. They spoke a powerful language of repentance and devotion that Simon's 'respectability' missed.
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Jesus deliberately uses the woman's tears to expose the deficiency in Simon's hospitality.
The Language of Tears
Jesus' parable isn't about who deserved forgiveness most, but about how forgiveness transforms a person. Why does love become the key indicator?
Jesus uses a parable to explain the profound connection between receiving forgiveness and expressing love. Simon, the Pharisee, was likely focused on external religious observance, perhaps believing he had little need for forgiveness. The woman, however, clearly understood her deep need.
Forgiveness Sparks Love
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.
philēma · Greek Noun
A traditional sign of welcome, friendship, and reconciliation in Ancient Near Eastern culture; its absence serves as a contrast to the woman’s intense demonstration of devotion.
aleiphō · Greek Verb
To smear or rub with oil as a sign of hospitality, consecration, or healing. In a biblical context, it serves as a mark of honor, set-apartness, or refreshment.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus conducted His public ministry across Galilee, attracting large crowds with His teachings and miracles, and often interacting with people from various social strata, including Pharisees and those considered sinners.
Early 1st century AD
Pharisaic Social Customs
It was customary for hosts to offer guests water for washing their feet, a kiss of greeting, and anointing with oil as signs of hospitality and respect, especially for honored teachers or rabbis.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus dines at Simon the Pharisee's house
Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the home of Simon, a Pharisee, a setting that highlights the social and religious distinctions of the time and provides a backdrop for a significant encounter.
Early 1st century AD
A woman anoints Jesus' feet
A woman, known in the city as a sinner, enters Simon's house during the meal and begins to anoint Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, wash them with her tears, and wipe them with her hair.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus contrasts the woman's devotion with Simon's neglect
Jesus uses the woman's actions to rebuke Simon's lack of hospitality and contrasts her profound love and gratitude, stemming from forgiven sins, with Simon's coldness and presumed self-righteousness.
This passage speaks of being 'better than wine,' which resonates with Jesus highlighting the woman's tears as more valuable than the water Simon withheld.
Psalm 56:8The psalmist asks God to put his tears into His bottle, mirroring how Jesus noticed and valued the woman's tears shed at His feet.
Matthew 26:7This passage describes a woman anointing Jesus' head with a very costly ointment, similar to the woman in Luke 7 anointing His feet, showcasing acts of extravagant devotion.
John 13:5Here, Jesus washes the disciples' feet, a service that Simon the Pharisee failed to offer Jesus, highlighting the contrast in hospitality and recognition of Jesus' status.
Romans 5:8This verse states that God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, underscoring the theme of Christ's love and forgiveness extended to those deemed sinful.
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 highlights the stark contrast between Simon's cold formality and the woman's extravagant devotion, not just by listing her actions, but by emphasizing that Simon failed to provide the most basic courtesies of hospitality. This wasn't just about a lack of water; it was a deliberate omission that Jesus uses to expose the emptiness of Simon's invitation compared to the woman's heartfelt overflow of love.
Jesus has accepted an invitation to dinner at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. While Jesus is reclining at the table, a woman known in the city as a sinner enters the house and begins to lavish affection on Jesus by washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume. Simon, the host, internally judges Jesus, thinking that if he were a true prophet, he would know the sinful character of the woman and prevent her touch. Jesus, aware of Simon's thoughts, then turns to the woman and contrasts her actions with Simon's lack of hospitality.
Jesus has accepted an invitation to dinner at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. While Jesus is reclining at the table, a woman known in the city as a sinner enters the house and begins to lavish affection on Jesus by washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with perfume. Simon, the host, internally judges Jesus, thinking that if he were a true prophet, he would know the sinful character of the woman and prevent her touch. Jesus, aware of Simon's thoughts, then turns to the woman and contrasts her actions with Simon's lack of hospitality.
"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. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I c…" — Jesus highlights the stark contrast between Simon's cold formality and the woman's extravagant devotion, not just by listing her actions, but by emphasizing that Simon failed to provide the most ba…
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Last reviewed October 2026
