“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 3:23 – 24
A Forgiven Woman’s Fragrant Faith
Luke tells the story of a woman who was known for her sin, but he doesn’t give her name or identify her sins. It doesn’t seem to matter for the sake of the story — just that she had done something everyone else thought was pretty bad.
A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to dinner. He had heard about Jesus, because Jesus had been preaching in Judea and the surrounding areas. While Jesus reclined at the Pharisee’s table with his feet out behind him, the woman known for her sin showed up with an alabaster jar. She had probably heard Jesus talk about how, through grace, one could be forgiven and lead a new life.
The woman stood at Jesus’ feet and wept, her tears cleaning his dusty feet. After she wiped his feet dry with her hair, she kissed them, and then broke open an alabaster jar and poured perfume on Jesus’ feet.
The Pharisee Simon was someone who loved the law and was proud of his good works. He thought to himself that if Jesus were a prophet, he wouldn’t have let this unclean woman touch him. He must have had a disapproving look on his face, because Jesus said, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” the Pharisee said.
“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon said, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”
“You’re right,” Jesus said. “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn’t give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t give me a kiss, but this woman hasn’t stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t put oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet. Her many sins have been forgiven — for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Then Jesus spoke to the woman. “Your sins are forgiven,” he said. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
God knows you better than anyone else and still loves you and forgives. Others may reject you for what you do or don’t do, but Jesus forgives you. And because of his love and forgiveness, you can live in peace with God. That’s grace.
More To Explore: Luke 7:36 – 50
Girl Talk: Think about the last time someone forgave you for hurting them. How did that feel?
God Talk: “Dear God, thank you for sending your perfect Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. Every day, help me see my sins and confess them to you and accept your great forgiveness. Amen.”
From Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson