Luke 7:46-50

Luke 7:46 (KJB)
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Simon had violated all the rules of proper etiquette. Simon should also have given Jesus some perfumed oil for His head. In other words, Simon failed to allow Jesus to refresh Himself before sitting down to dinner. It would be a situation like a worker coming in from the field with mud all over his boots and sweaty. Instead of cleaning up before the meal, he sits down like that. Jesus then makes another comparison of Simon’s inhospitality. Simon did not give any oil for the head of Jesus yet this woman had used the expensive oil to anoint His feet.

Luke 7:47 (KJB)
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.

Jesus then makes the summation of the entire analogy. The woman had attended to Jesus continuously because she knew she had many sins but all those sins were forgiven and removed from her. She had now been able to show her great love for Jesus because all her sins had been forgiven and no longer is she carrying the guilt of those sins. She was the one who was represented by the 500 Denarii. Those whom only a little have been forgiven will show only a little love and appreciation. She was overly grateful for her salvation.

Luke 7:48 (KJB)
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Now Jesus verbally spoke those words which she so longed to hear as Jesus specifically points to her sins and then states that they are forgiven. No longer would there be any guesswork because she had been declared forgiven. Her past life was probably very evil and the sins that she had engaged in were many but now they were forgiven and all removed so she would never have to worry about facing those sins again. She was free in a way that those who were still bound by the law could never understand.

Luke 7:49 (KJB)
And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

Then there was probably an amazement on the part of the many guests who were invited but it seemed none of them had the guts to verbalize what they were thinking. They were wondering who Jesus thought He was by telling the woman that her sins were forgiven. No one but God has the authority to forgive anyone’s sin but God has chosen to limit the forgiveness of sins only to those who receive His Son as Saviour. So Jesus telling her that her sins were forgiven was a very biblical act.

Luke 7:50 (KJB)
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

The woman had tremendous faith that Jesus could forgive her sins. That is why she went to the house of Simon uninvited and attended to Jesus continually. Jesus saw her faith in action and told her that her faith hath saved her and to go in peace. No longer was she at war or enmity with God but at peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

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