§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued

Luke is the primary reading for this episode in the ministry of Jesus.

• The other readings supplied here are parallel to each other, but they represent a different episode toward the end of Jesus's time on earth.
• They are cited here because that future episode bears many similarities to the current account.

The central point of this episode is captured in one question from the Lord: "Do you see this woman?" The Pharisee hosting a dinner clearly does not see this woman, whom he considers inferior and irrelevant.

Our actions show our love, and our love for one another (or lack thereof) reflects our love for God.

1 John 4:20

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Indeed, the Lord's teaching implies a most important question: Do you see yourself?

Understanding certain details of the ancient dinner arrangement is very helpful for understanding these passages. For more information, see the Appendix, Reclining At Table

Luke 7

36  One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
37  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment,
38  and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
40  And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
41  “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
42  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
44  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.
46  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
47  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
48  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49  Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
50  And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; Go in peace.”

Matthew 26

 6  Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,
 7  a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.
 8  And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?
 9  For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”
10  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.
11  For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
12  In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.
13  Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Mark 14

 3  And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.
 4  There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?
 5  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
 6  But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.
 7  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.
 8  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial.
 9  And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

John 12

 1  Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
 2  So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.
 3  Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
 4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
 5  “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
 6  He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
 7  Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.
 8  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”