In Luke 7:36-50 (NKJV), we read the story of how a Pharisee asked Jesus to come to his house to eat. When a sinful woman (considered a prostitute) found out that Jesus was there, she took an alabaster flask of fragrant, expensive oil and began to anoint His feet. In the presence of a religious leader and his friends, she worshipped her Messiah.
Let’s look at some important points found in this story:
She Didn’t Care
Many of us would find it difficult to come before Jesus in worship in this situation. This woman was considered a sinner, criticized and looked down upon by everyone, especially the religious leaders. She had a wicked past that brought shame wherever she went. But she didn’t wait to find Jesus isolated so she could unashamedly worship Him in private. Instead, she unashamedly worshipped Him in the presence of the ones who would criticize her worship the most.
This woman also didn’t care how she looked while she worshipped. Her worship was messy and would have marred the beauty she would have walked in with. Her crying would have made her eyes puffy and red. Her hair would become wet, perhaps matted, with her tears and oil. Yet she did it anyway, uncaring what people thought of both her appearance and her past. Her focus was on the One who deserved her worship.
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (v. 37-38).
She Gave Jesus Everything
This woman’s worship was not quick, towel-in-hand washing. She took her time, making her worship very personal. She washed His feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. She also anointed Him with oil that cost her money. It cost her time, humility, and money—but she was willing to give it all.
As beautiful as this was, her offering didn’t go without criticism.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner” (v. 39).
Religious leaders, including Simon, considered it unclean by the Law’s standards that she even came near Him, much less worship Him. Though Simon the Pharisee even criticized Jesus’ knowledge, Jesus’ understanding went beyond the woman’s natural profession. He saw her through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and saw her heart. Instead of criticizing her and throwing her out, he complimented her love for Him.
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (v. 40-47).
She Didn’t Leave the Same
The love she poured out through her worship brought more than just the honor of Jesus’ acceptance. Her oil and tears were not just an act of worship but were an act of faith in Who He was. She believed He was the Messiah, and that faith brought her forgiveness for the past and newness to her future.
Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (v. 48-50).
We don’t know exactly what the woman did after she left the house. But Jesus’ instruction was to go in peace. What fear she would have felt when first entering the house was erased. Any concern she would have had about her appearance was gone. Every sacrifice she made was worth it because Jesus forgave her many sins.
Whether saved or unsaved, we may feel too intimidated by our sins to come to Jesus in worship. But Hebrews 4:14-16 urges us to come boldly into God’s presence without shame. Our Heavenly Father’s arms are open, not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done. His sacrifice alone gives us the legal right to bypass our accuser, Satan, and worship unashamedly at Jesus’ feet (Revelation 12:10).
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:14-16, NLT).
Christa Madrid 