And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus doesn't just say her faith saved her; He emphasizes that it was faith, not her demonstrative love, that accomplished her salvation. This highlights that salvation is received through trust in God's provision, not earned by good deeds, though those deeds flow from a believing heart.
And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This climactic moment occurs after a dramatic encounter where a sinful woman, moved by Jesus' presence, washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with perfume. The Pharisee hosting Jesus, offended by this display and Jesus' apparent acceptance, inwardly judges him for not knowing the woman's sinful past. Jesus then uses a parable about debtors and forgiveness to expose the Pharisee's lack of love and to highlight the woman's profound gratitude, ultimately declaring her sins forgiven before sending her away in peace.
You might think the woman's overflowing tears and expensive perfume were what saved her. But Jesus points to something else entirely.
Jesus’ words, 'Your faith has saved you,' are crucial. While the woman's deep emotion and generosity were outward expressions of her heart, they weren't the basis of her salvation. Salvation comes through faith—a trusting reliance on who Jesus is and what He has done.
Think of it like this: her love and actions were the evidence of her faith, not the cause of her salvation. Faith is the hand that reaches out to grasp God's grace. The lavish anointing and tears showed how much she believed she was forgiven and how deeply she loved Him because of that forgiveness.
Jesus doesn't just offer forgiveness; He sends the woman off with a profound assignment: 'Go in peace.' What does that truly mean?
The command 'go in peace' is more than just a gentle dismissal. It's an invitation into a new reality. 'Peace' here isn't just the absence of trouble; it's the deep, settled well-being that comes from knowing you are reconciled with God. It’s an inward state of wholeness and security.
Imagine being invited to step into a warm, secure home after a long, cold journey. That's what Jesus offers. He's not sending her back to her old life unchanged, but into a new existence characterized by His presence and His shalom (a Hebrew concept encompassing well-being, wholeness, and security). This peace is the fruit of her salvation, empowering her to live differently.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
pistis · Greek Noun
Trust, reliance, and commitment of one’s life to God based on His character and promises. It is the instrument through which an individual receives the grace and salvation of God.
sōzō · Greek Verb
To be rescued from danger, preserved, or made whole. In the New Testament, it specifically refers to being delivered from the penalty and power of sin and restored to a right relationship with God.
eirēnē · Greek Noun
More than the absence of conflict; it signifies wholeness, well-being, and reconciliation with God. It is the result of experiencing God’s grace and righteousness.
This event unfolds during Jesus' public ministry in Galilee, a time of burgeoning popularity but also rising scrutiny from religious authorities, setting the stage for interactions like the one with the sinful woman.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus travels throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, gaining significant popularity and attracting crowds.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry Expands South
Jesus begins traveling to regions south of Galilee, including Judea and near Jerusalem, encountering different social and religious dynamics.
c. 27-30 AD
Growing Opposition from Religious Leaders
As Jesus' popularity and teachings spread, some Pharisees and scribes become increasingly critical and suspicious of his claims and actions.
This passage speaks about being justified by faith and having peace with God, echoing the assurance the woman receives after her sins are forgiven.
Ephesians 2:8-9It emphasizes that salvation comes through faith by grace, not by works, directly supporting Jesus' declaration that the woman's faith saved her.
Isaiah 55:7This verse promises that God will abundantly pardon, aligning with the theme of a sinner finding forgiveness and peace through God's merciful initiative, as seen with the woman.
Mark 5:34Jesus uses the same phrase, 'Your faith has made you well; go in peace,' when healing the woman with the issue of blood, highlighting a consistent pattern of faith leading to healing and peace.
Luke 18:42When Jesus heals the blind man, he says, 'Your faith has made you well,' further illustrating Jesus' consistent connection between a person's faith and their restoration and well-being.
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…
wesleyLuke 7:50: "And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
7:50 Thy faith hath saved thee - Not thy love. Love is salvation.
Jesus doesn't just say her faith saved her; He emphasizes that it was faith, not her demonstrative love, that accomplished her salvation. This highlights that salvation is received through trust in God's provision, not earned by good deeds, though those deeds flow from a believing heart.
This climactic moment occurs after a dramatic encounter where a sinful woman, moved by Jesus' presence, washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with perfume. The Pharisee hosting Jesus, offended by this display and Jesus' apparent acceptance, inwardly judges him for not knowing the woman's sinful past. Jesus then uses a parable about debtors and forgiveness to expose the Pharisee's lack of love and to highlight the woman's profound gratitude, ultimately declaring her sins forgiven before sending her away in peace.
This climactic moment occurs after a dramatic encounter where a sinful woman, moved by Jesus' presence, washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with perfume. The Pharisee hosting Jesus, offended by this display and Jesus' apparent acceptance, inwardly judges him for not knowing the woman's sinful past. Jesus then uses a parable about debtors and forgiveness to expose the Pharisee's lack of love and to highlight the woman's profound gratitude, ultimately declaring her sins forgiven before sending her away in peace.
"And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”" — Jesus doesn't just say her faith saved her; He emphasizes that it was faith, not her demonstrative love, that accomplished her salvation. This highlights that salvation is received through trust in…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026