Luke 7:44 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

NASB: And 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.

CSB: Turning to 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, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair.

NLT: Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

KJV: And 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.

NKJV: 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.

After a sinful woman interrupts a banquet at the home of Simon the Pharisee to wash Jesus' feet and anoint them with perfume, Jesus tells a parable. His story demonstrates that loving God, which is the most important of all the laws the Pharisees claimed to follow, is most easily fulfilled by those who understand the weight of the sins of which God has forgiven them (Luke 7:36–43). Now, Jesus closes the interaction by comparing the woman's extravagant display of honor to Simon's bare minimum attentions.

As in the case of the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43–48), Jesus stops everything to affirm the actions of a desperate woman. In the home of Simon the Pharisee—a man who lives every day in incessant rituals meant to protect him from sin—Jesus presents a sinful woman as an example to follow. In so doing, Jesus publicly announces that her loving actions are a sign that God has already forgiven her. This implies that Simon, the other guests, and all the onlookers should no longer consider her a sinner when God has made her whole, and ought to learn from her example.

Scholars debate whether Simon was culturally obligated to give Jesus water for His feet, kiss Him, and anoint His head with oil (Luke 7:45–46). Considering the echo of "the city" in verses 11 and 37—the Greek is the same, even though English translations differ—this is could still be the town of Nain, where Jesus raised the dead man (Luke 7:14–15). If so, Jesus has been there for enough time for John's disciples to visit him near the Dead Sea and return, and Jesus has spent this time healing the people and expelling demons (Luke 7:21–22). Even if this is not Nain, Simon knows what Jesus has done (Luke 7:17).

Simon is interested enough in Jesus to invite Him to his home, and respects Jesus enough to give a banquet; the reclining diners describes a formal meal (Luke 7:36). If the courtesies Jesus lists, such as water for feet, kiss of greeting, and oil for His head, are cultural standards, Simon has disrespected Jesus. Considering the importance of hospitality and honor in that time and place, that's unlikely.

It's more likely that Jesus is noting the things Simon could have done if he loved and honored Jesus. Simon invited Jesus to a culturally appropriate meal and gave a culturally sufficient welcome. The woman Simon silently shamed (Luke 7:39) has shamed Simon by demonstrating what it means to truly honor Jesus.

Luke 7:39–50 places Simon the Pharisee at center stage. Unlike the centurion (Luke 7:1–10), Simon misreads his standing in comparison to the greatness of Jesus. He's somewhere between the humble who accept Jesus and the arrogant who flatly reject Him (Luke 7:29–34). Simon has invited Jesus to dinner, given Him the minimum hospitality, and silently judged Him. This contrasts with the repentant woman who interrupts dinner to bless Jesus (Luke 7:36–38). Jesus goes where Simon doesn't expect: Simon understands neither forgiveness nor love.

Luke 7 presents a chiasm: a set of themes mirrored around a reflection point. The humble centurion (Luke 7:1–10) contrasts the legalistic Pharisee (Luke 7:39–50). The widow of Nain (Luke 7:11–17) and the sinful women (Luke 7:36–38) have nothing to offer but gratitude for Jesus' blessings. In the center are John the Baptist and his disciples who struggle to trust that Jesus is worth following (Luke 7:18–23), then the sinners who do choose to follow Jesus and the religious leaders who refuse (Luke 7:24–35).

Luke 7 continues Jesus' mission primarily to the people of Galilee expressed as a series of pointed events and teachings punctuated by calls to follow Him. He has finished teaching the rigors of discipleship (Luke 6:17–45) and invited the crowd to place their faith in Him (Luke 6:46–49). Here, Luke describes different reactions to Jesus' miracles and message. Next, Jesus will reveal the mechanics of and reactions to His call (Luke 8:4–21) before showing His great authority over nature, demons, sickness, and worldly powers (Luke 8:22—9:17). After a final call to the disciples to deepen their faith (Luke 9:18–50), Jesus will turn toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51—19:27).

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.