Luke 7

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

But wisdom is justified of all her children.

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, 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,

And 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.

Now 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.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

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.

Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

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.

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

What does Luke 7:38 mean?

Explanation

Luke 7:38 describes a poignant and intimate event, where a woman, traditionally identified as a sinner, approaches Jesus as He is dining at the house of a Pharisee named Simon.

She stands behind Jesus, at his feet, expressing her deep emotion through tears.

As her tears fall onto His feet, she proceeds to wash them, then dries them with her hair, kisses them, and finally, anoints them with ointment.

This act is rich with symbolism and significance.

The woman’s tears are seen as an expression of repentance and sorrow for her sins.

Using her hair to dry Jesus' feet is an act of humility and service, and kissing His feet signifies deep respect and love.

The costly ointment used for the anointing reflects the value and honor she is bestowing upon Jesus.

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Historical Context

In the cultural context of first-century Judea, the actions of the woman would have been considered highly unusual and transgressive. Women did not typically interact with men in such a public and intimate manner, especially with a religious teacher like Jesus.

Moreover, the act of wiping Jesus' feet with her hair would have been viewed as an act of contrition and self-abasement, indicating her recognition of her own sinfulness in contrast to His perceived holiness.

This event is also significant as it occurred in the house of a Pharisee, a group often at odds with Jesus due to their strict interpretation of religious law.

Jesus' acceptance of the woman’s act highlighted His message of forgiveness and inclusivity, contrasting with the judgment she might have received from the Pharisees.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates several key themes:

Forgiveness of Sins: The woman’s actions are seen as an act of repentance that leads to forgiveness.
Servant Leadership: Jesus exemplifies humility by allowing the woman to serve Him in this manner.
Judgment and Mercy: The Pharisee’s reaction (later in the chapter) serves to contrast human judgment with Jesus' message of mercy and grace.
The Role of Faith: Jesus acknowledges the woman's faith as the reason for her forgiveness, which is a central tenet in Christian salvation.

Different denominations may emphasize various aspects of this event.

For instance, Catholic theology might highlight the sacramental nature of the woman's actions and their relation to penance and absolution.

Practical Applications

Modern readers can find several ways to apply the teachings from this verse in daily life:

Humility: Emulating the woman’s humility in serving and honoring others.
Compassion: Extending forgiveness to others as an act of compassion, acknowledging that everyone has faults.
Worship: Engaging in acts of personal worship that involve sacrifice and expressions of deep reverence.

Cross-References

John 12:3: "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment."
Psalm 51:17: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Luke 7:38:

Weeping (κλαίω / klaio): Expresses not just crying, but a deep, audible lamentation, indicating intense emotional pain.
Wash (βρέχω / brecho): This word can mean to wet fully, and here it indicates that she was using her tears to wash his feet.
Wipe (ἐκμασσω / ekmaso): Refers to wiping off by rubbing, indicating a thoroughness and a care in her actions.
Kissed (καταφιλέω / kataphileo): Signifies an affectionate, fervent kiss, a gesture of honor and deep respect.
Anointed (ἀλείφω / aleipho): Refers to smearing or anointing with oil, a common practice for guests, but here enhanced by the use of costly ointment.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of foot-washing and anointing has parallels in various ancient cultures.

For example, in ancient hospitality customs, offering water to guests to wash their feet was a sign of welcome and respect.

The use of expensive ointment could be likened to rituals in other ancient cultures, where oils and perfumes were used to show honor to deities or distinguished persons.

In religious comparisons, this act of anointing is similar to various rites of consecration found in different faith traditions, where sacred objects or individuals are anointed to signify being set apart for a divine purpose.

Scientific Perspectives

While there are no direct scientific implications in this verse, the act of crying and the physiological responses associated with deep emotional states are of interest to psychological and medical sciences.

Emotional tears are known to contain different components than reflex tears (caused by irritants) and are involved in human emotional response and relief.

Commentaries

Scholarly commentaries offer insight into the passage’s meaning and its implications:

Traditional Commentary: Often focuses on the allegorical interpretation, seeing the woman as representative of the repentant sinner and Jesus as the embodiment of divine forgiveness.
Feminist Theology: Might view the passage as an example of the active role women played in the early Christian community.
Social-Cultural Analysis: Commentators might explore the social norms and class distinctions present in the account, with the woman likely being of lower social status and Jesus challenging societal boundaries.
Literary Analysis: Some scholars might consider the narrative techniques used by the author of Luke and how the story integrates into the larger narrative of Jesus’ ministry.

Luke 7

Luke 7

What does Luke 7:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 7:38 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?