Love, Forgiveness, and Following Jesus (Luke 7:36–8:3)
Have you ever felt like your past disqualified you from being close to God? Or maybe you’ve seen others treated as “too far gone” to be forgiven? In this beautiful part of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus shows us something powerful: no one is beyond His love and grace—and those who know they’ve been forgiven deeply often love Him the most.
Let’s walk through this moment together.
A Dinner Invitation and an Unexpected Guest
One day, Jesus was invited to dinner by a religious leader named Simon. It was a formal setting, likely full of important guests. But something surprising happened. A woman—known around town for her sinful past—walked into the room.
She brought a jar of expensive perfume. Standing behind Jesus, she began to cry. Her tears fell on His feet. She knelt down, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume over them.
It was an act of love, humility, and worship. But not everyone saw it that way.
A Quiet Judgment and a Gentle Lesson
Simon, the host, didn’t say anything out loud—but in his heart, he judged both the woman and Jesus. He thought, “If this man were really a prophet, He’d know what kind of woman this is.”
Jesus knew what Simon was thinking. So He told a simple story:
Two people owed money—one owed a small amount, the other a lot. Neither could pay, so the lender forgave both debts. “Which one will love the lender more?” Jesus asked.
Simon answered, “The one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
Exactly.
Forgiveness Fuels Love
Jesus then pointed out the difference between Simon and the woman. Simon hadn’t offered Jesus the usual kindness—no water to wash His feet, no kiss of greeting, no oil for His head. But this woman had done all those things, not out of duty, but out of deep love.
Why? Because she knew how much she had been forgiven. Her heart was full of gratitude.
Jesus then said something amazing: “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Faithful Women on the Move
Right after this powerful scene, Luke mentions some of the women who traveled with Jesus and helped support His ministry. They included Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and others. These women had experienced healing from Jesus and were now using their lives and resources to follow Him.
It’s a reminder that everyone—men and women, rich and poor, past mistakes or not—is invited to be part of what God is doing.
What This Means for Us
This passage teaches us a few simple but life-changing truths:
- When we realize how much Jesus has forgiven us, our love for Him grows.
The woman wasn’t trying to earn forgiveness—she was responding to it. - God doesn’t turn away people with a messy past.
Jesus welcomed the woman with love, not shame. He saw her heart, not her history. - Anyone can follow Jesus.
The women who supported Him were once hurting or broken, but now they were part of His mission.
Final Thoughts
Maybe you feel a little like the woman—ashamed of your past, unsure if God could accept you. Or maybe, like Simon, you’re struggling to understand how grace works. Either way, this story reminds us that Jesus looks at the heart. He honors humble love. And He offers peace to anyone who comes to Him in faith.
So wherever you are today, know this: you are not too far from His love. And when you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, your heart can be filled with love, just like hers.
Luke 7:36-8:3 (WEB)
7:36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37 Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”He said, “Teacher, say on.”41 “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”43 Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You didn’t 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 one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48 He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”8:1 Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve, 2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who served them from their possessions.