Lk 7:36-50
36A Pharisee invited [Jesus] to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. 37Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, 38she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. 42Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” 43Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. 46You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Forgiveness and Love: The Greek phrase hoti egapesen poly, “hence—or because—she has shown great love,” is ambiguous. If hoti is translated as “because,” the phrase will come to mean that forgiveness is granted as a result of the woman’s love. If hoti is translated as “hence,” the phrase now means that the woman is pouring out her love because she has been forgiven. The latter is more in keeping with the message of the parable: the one who has been forgiven a larger debt loves more (v 43). This implies that the woman comes to Jesus firmly convinced that she has already been forgiven by God. She showers Jesus with signs of love and gratitude. In contrast, the Pharisee who feels no need of God’s forgiveness does not show Jesus as warm a welcome.