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The Anointing by the Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36–50 · Passion week in Jerusalem

Scripture

Luke 7:36–50

nd 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. 37And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44And 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. 45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore 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. 48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

King James Version · public domain

Lluka 7:36–50

dhe një nga Farisenjtë i lutej të hajë bashkë me atë; edhe ay hyri ndë shtëpit të Fariseut, edhe ndënji ndë mësallët. 37Edhe javoka, një grua nd’atë qytet, e-cila ishte fajtore, kur mori vesh, se kishte rënë ndë shtëpit të Fariseut, pruri një allavastrë me vaj erërash; 38Edhe ndënji prapa përanë këmbëvet t’ati dyke qarë, edhe zuri e lakte këmbët’ e ati me lottë, edhe j’a fshinte me flokët’ e kres’ së saj, edhe puthte këmbët’ e ati, edhe j’a lyente me vajn’ e erëravet. 39Edhe Fariseu që e kish thërriturë, kur pa, tha me vetëhen’ e ti, dyke thënë, Ky po të ishte profit, dotë njihte cila edhe ç’farë gruaje ësht’ ajo që e prek, se është fajtore. 40Edhe Jisuj i upërgjeq e i tha ati, Simon, diç kam të të them. Edhe ay i thotë, Mësonjës, thuaj. 41Një hua-dhënës kishte dy detorë; njëri i kishte detyrë pesë qint dinarë, edhe tjetëri pesë-dhjetë. 42Edhe passi nukë kishinë t’j’a laninë, u’a fali të dyve. Thuaj pra, Cili nga ata dot’e dojë më tepërë? 43Edhe Simoni upërgjeq e tha, Më duketë, se ay, të-cilit i fali më të-shumatë. Edhe ay i tha, Drejtë gjykove. 44Edhe si ukthye nga gruaja, i tha Simonit, A e sheh këtë grua? Hyra ndë shtëpit t’ënde, edhe ti nukë më dhe ujë për të larë këmbëtë; po ajo me lottë më lagu këmbëtë, edhe me flokët’ (e kres’ së saj) i fshiu. 45Ti nukë më puthe; po ajo, që kur hyra, nukë pushoj dyke puthurë këmbët’ e mia. 46Ti me vaj nukë më leve kryetë; po ajo me vaj erërash më leu këmbëtë. 47Përandaj po të them, Janë ndjerë fajet’ e asaj të-shumë; sepse deshi shumë; po ati që i ndjenenë pak, pak do. 48Pastaj i tha asaj, Të janë ndjerë fajetë. 49Edhe ata që kishinë ndënjurë ndë mësallët zunë të thonë me vetëhen’ e tyre, Cili është ky që edhe faje ndjen? 50Edhe ay i tha gruasë, Besa jote të shpëtoj; hiq ndë paqtim.

Kristoforidhi, Dhiata e Re Toskërisht 1879 · zotërim publik

In their own words

Thus the harlot became then more honorable than the virgins. For no sooner was she inflamed with penitence, than she burst forth in love for Christ.

St. John Chrysostom, as preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke (on Luke 7:36–50)

The Anointing by the Sinful Woman (Luke 7:36–50)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the penitent's love outrunning the virgins:

Thus the harlot became then more honorable than the virgins. For no sooner was she inflamed with penitence, than she burst forth in love for Christ. And these things indeed which have been spoken of were done outwardly, but those which her mind pondered within itself, were much more fervent. God alone beheld them.

On why those plunged deep in evil follow hard after good:

For those who have violently plunged into evil, will in time also eagerly follow after good, being conscious to what debts they have made themselves responsible.

On presuming on no virtue and despairing of no sin:

Let then no sinner despair, no virtuous man fall asleep; neither let the one be self-confident, for often the harlot shall go before him, nor the other distrustful, for he may even surpass the foremost.

St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444)

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Sermon XL (on Luke 7:36–50) Source: trans. R. Payne Smith, Library of Fathers, 1859. Public domain. Full text: https://www.tertullian.org/fathers/cyril_on_luke_04_sermons_39_46.htm

On the new way of salvation opened by Christ:

For He justifies the wicked by faith, and sets free those held captive by their sins.

On the sinful woman who fled for refuge to Christ:

Thus a woman, who beforetime had been lewd, and guilty of sensuality, a sin difficult to wash away, missed not the path of salvation; for she fled for refuge to Him Who knoweth how to save, and is able to raise from the depths of impurity.

On the godlike authority of "Thy sins are forgiven thee":

Worthy indeed of God is a declaration such as this! It is a word joined with supreme authority. For since the law condemned those that were in sin, who, I ask, was able to declare things above the law, except Him only Who ordained it?

On not being troubled by the greatness of former sins:

Be not troubled when thou meditatest upon the greatness of thy former sins: but rather know, that still greater is the grace that justifieth the sinner, and absolveth the wicked.

St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 335–395)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On those who justify themselves and keep apart from sinners:

For there are very many who justify themselves, being puffed up with the dreamings of an idle fancy, who before the time of Judgment comes, separate themselves as lambs from the herds, not willing even to join in eating with the many, and hardly with those who go not to extremes, but keep the middle path in life.

On the woman standing behind with downcast eyes:

But to mark her own unworthiness, she stands behind with downcast eyes, and with her hair thrown about embraces His feet, and washing them with her tears, betokened a mind distressed at her state, and imploring pardon.

Titus of Bostra (d. c. 378)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the lesser debtor who still stands in need of pardon:

As if He said, Nor are you without debts. What then! If you are involved in fewer debts, boast not thyself, for you art still in need of pardon.

On the tears she poured forth being harder than water to give:

As if He said, To provide water is easy, to pour forth tears is not easy. You have not provided even what was at hand, she has poured forth what was not at hand; for washing my feet with her tears, she washed away her own stains.

On the pride that keeps the lesser sinner from healing:

But it more frequently happens that he who has sinned much is purified by confession, but he who has sinned little, refuses from pride to come to be healed thereby.

Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On "Go in peace" as the adding of good works to forgiveness:

But after having forgiven her sins, He stops not at the forgiveness of sins, but adds good works ... Go in peace, i.e. in righteousness, for righteousness is the reconciliation of man to God, as sin is the enmity between God and man; as if He said, Do all things which lead you to the peace of God.

St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the woman running to wash her shame at the fountain of mercy:

For this woman, beholding the spots of her shame, ran to wash them at the fountain of mercy, and blushed not at seeing the guests ... Observe with what sorrow she is wrung who is not ashamed to weep even in the midst of a feast!

On her turning the number of her faults into as many virtues:

She converts the number of her faults into the same number of virtues, that as much of her might wholly serve God in her penitence, as had despised God in her sin.

On the Physician set between two sick persons:

The Physician was between two sick persons, but the one preserved her faculties in the fever, the other lost his mental perception. For she wept at what she had done; but the Pharisee, elated with a false sense of righteousness, overrated the vigor of his own health.

On the fire of charity that consumes the rust of sin:

The more then the heart of the sinner is burnt up by the great fire of charity, so much the more is the rust of sin consumed.

Patristic sources

Read the sources: Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on Luke, Sermons 39–46 (tertullian.org) · Catena Aurea on Luke (isidore.co)