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She Loved So Much
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the town, who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment (perfume). And standing behind Jesus at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head; and kissed His feet affectionately, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw it, he said to himself. “If this man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him. For she is a notorious sinner - a social outcast devoted to sin.” |
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Jesus replying said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And Simon answered, “Teacher, say it.” So Jesus said to Simon. “A certain lender of money at interest had two debtors; one owed him five hundred denari (or pence), and the other fifty. When they had no means of payment, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more.” And Jesus said to him, “You have decided correctly.” Then Jesus turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I came into 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. You gave Me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not ceased intermittently to kiss My feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint My head with cheap ordinary oil, but she has anointed My feet with costly and rare perfume. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, many as they are, are forgiven her because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. And Jesus looked at the woman and said to her, “Your sins are forgiven!” Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, Who is this, Who even forgives? But Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go enter into peace - in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin.” |