The Complete Sayings of Jesus

The Woman with the Alabaster Box of Ointment, and Simon the Pharisee: Parable of the Two Debtors.

A.D. 28. Age 31 Galilee (Capernaum?).

Luke 7, 36-50.

ONE of the Pharisees [Simon] desired him that he would eat with him. And Jesus went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood weeping; and began to wash Jesus' feet, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.¹ Now the Pharisee [Simon, the leper] spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known what manner of woman this is; for she is a sinner. Jesus said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee: 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, I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. Jesus said, Thou hast rightly judged. 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 loveth much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. They that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? Jesus said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Footnotes:

¹Read in Part 74 of this book the account of a similar service done by Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus.