Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is subtly correcting Simon's harsh judgment: the woman's immense love isn't the cause of her forgiveness, but rather the overwhelming evidence that she has already received immense forgiveness. This highlights that our capacity to love God is directly tied to our recognition of how much we've been forgiven, not the other way around.
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, a religious leader who is inwardly critical of Jesus for allowing a known sinner to approach him. After Simon's silent judgment, Jesus tells a parable about debtors and creditors to illustrate how the depth of love shown is proportional to the amount of forgiveness received, directly challenging Simon's harsh assessment of the woman. This leads Jesus to declare that the woman's abundant love is evidence that her many sins have been forgiven, while Simon, who feels little has been forgiven, shows little love.
Does our love for God earn His forgiveness, or is it the result of it? This verse unpacks that crucial distinction.
Jesus uses the woman's extravagant display of affection to show Simon, and us, that her actions are proof of a forgiveness already received.
From Effect to Cause:
The Pharisee's Blindness:
Ask a follow-up
Why does one person love God passionately, while another seems to love Him only a little? The answer lies in their perception of what they've been forgiven.
Jesus draws a stark contrast between the woman and Simon, revealing a universal principle: the depth of our love for God is directly proportional to our understanding of how much we've been forgiven.
The Woman's Overflowing Love:
Simon's Scant Love:
The Pharisee's Self-Righteousness:
Understand the original words
hamartia · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, missing the mark of God's standard of righteousness; an offense against God's law or character that separates humanity from Him and requires atonement.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
To remit, release, or pardon a debt or offense. In the New Testament, it refers to the divine removal of the guilt and penalty of sin through Christ's work.
agapaō · Greek Verb
The Greek 'agapaō' refers to a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love, characterized by commitment and action rather than mere emotion. It is the nature of God's love toward His people.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus dines with Simon the Pharisee
Jesus accepts an invitation to dine at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. This setting provides the stage for a dramatic encounter with a woman known in the city as a sinner.
c. 30 AD
Woman anoints Jesus' feet
A woman, identified as a sinner, enters the Pharisee's house and anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume, washing them with her tears and drying them with her hair.
c. 30 AD
Jesus tells the parable of the debtors
In response to Simon's unspoken criticism, Jesus tells a parable about a creditor who forgives two debtors, one owing much and the other little, to illustrate the connection between forgiveness and love.
c. 30 AD
Jesus declares the woman's sins forgiven
Jesus contrasts the woman's demonstrative love with Simon's lack of hospitality, concluding that her many sins are forgiven because she has shown great love, implying that Simon's lesser love stems from a lesser sense of forgiveness.
c. 30 AD
Jesus pronounces peace to the woman
Jesus directly tells the woman her sins are forgiven and that her faith has saved her, sending her away in peace.
This passage emphasizes that nothing can separate us from God's love, reinforcing the profound and enduring nature of God's forgiveness and grace, which is the foundation for our love towards Him.
1 John 4:19This verse directly states that 'we love because he first loved us,' echoing the sentiment of Luke 7:47 that our love is a response to God's prior, immense forgiveness.
The parable of the unforgiving servant illustrates the same principle: those who have been forgiven a great debt (like the woman) should show great love, while those who feel they owe little will exhibit little love and mercy, highlighting the importance of recognizing the magnitude of our forgiveness.
Paul speaks of the love of Christ compelling him, a powerful testament to how the overwhelming realization of Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness motivates believers to live for Him, mirroring the woman's passionate response.
Psalm 51:12David's cry for restored joy after sin highlights that the experience of forgiveness brings renewed spiritual vigor and a desire to praise God, aligning with how the woman's deep love stems from a profound sense of having been forgiven.
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 7:47: "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
Wherefore I say unto thee - As the result of this, or because she has done this; meaning by this that she had given "evidence" that her sins had been forgiven. The inquiry with Simon was whether it was proper for Jesus to "touch her" or to allow her to touch him, because she was such a sinner, Luke 7:39 . Jesus said, in substance, to Simon,…
Jesus is subtly correcting Simon's harsh judgment: the woman's immense love isn't the cause of her forgiveness, but rather the overwhelming evidence that she has already received immense forgiveness. This highlights that our capacity to love God is directly tied to our recognition of how much we've been forgiven, not the other way around.
Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, a religious leader who is inwardly critical of Jesus for allowing a known sinner to approach him. After Simon's silent judgment, Jesus tells a parable about debtors and creditors to illustrate how the depth of love shown is proportional to the amount of forgiveness received, directly challenging Simon's harsh assessment of the woman. This leads Jesus to declare that the woman's abundant love is evidence that her many sins have been forgiven, while Simon, who feels little has been forgiven, shows little love.
Jesus is dining at the home of a Pharisee named Simon, a religious leader who is inwardly critical of Jesus for allowing a known sinner to approach him. After Simon's silent judgment, Jesus tells a parable about debtors and creditors to illustrate how the depth of love shown is proportional to the amount of forgiveness received, directly challenging Simon's harsh assessment of the woman. This leads Jesus to declare that the woman's abundant love is evidence that her many sins have been forgiven, while Simon, who feels little has been forgiven, shows little love.
"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”" — Jesus is subtly correcting Simon's harsh judgment: the woman's immense love isn't the cause of her forgiveness, but rather the overwhelming evidence that she has already received immense forgiven…
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Last reviewed October 2026