The seventh woman of sin in the New Testament is presented in Luke 7:36-50. Her name
is not listed, and she is identified as a sinner. In this scenario, Jesus is invited to dinner at the
home of a Pharisee, and he accepts.
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 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.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 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.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Unpacking the Luke story. Jesus was invited to dinner by a Pharisee whose name was Simon (v.40), and He accepted (v. 36). The name of the woman who attended the dinner is not given, but she is clearly identified as a sinner and, likely, a prostitute in the city (v. 39). This sinful woman, when she came into the presence of Jesus, began to weep and cry at His presence. She cried so hard that she was able to wash his feet with her tears. She wiped his feet with her hair, kissed his feet in humility, and then anointed his feet with expensive and precious ointment from an alabaster box (vv. 37, 38).
Simon the Pharisee, seeing what was done for Jesus, took an exception and began to accuse Jesus in his heart, saying if he was really a prophet, he would have known that this woman was a prostitute and would not have allowed her to touch him (v. 39).
What happened next should have been enough to convince Simon that Jesus was a Prophet because He responded to what Simon was thinking. Jesus began to teach Simon a valuable lesson concerning love and forgiveness (vv. 40-43) and then pointed out the true examples of love and gratitude that were shown in the woman’s actions towards Jesus. He even mildly rebuked him (well, the rebuke was not so mild) for his lack of hospitality because (1) he did not give him water to wash his feet, (2) kiss him, or (3) anoint his head with oil, all of which was expected of a good host. He then compared Simon’s lack of diligence to the beautiful nature of the woman’s actions.
The outcome of the woman’s praise and worship of Jesus. And then the most amazing thing happened. Jesus turned to the woman, forgave her of her sins, and sent her away in peace. Hallelujah! In her love and adoration for Jesus, this woman gained salvation for her sins and peace for her soul. She obtained that same peace that is available to each of us when we desire it and humble ourselves with worship and humility.
Epilogue. Before ending this series on the Seven Sinful Women of the New Testament, it is important that we discuss a controversy that prevails concerning the female main character. There are some who believe that the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’s head and/or feet was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, because of the similarities of the stories in the gospels.
The first account of the anointing incident is found in Matthew 26: 6-13
6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
In Matthew 26:6-13 a woman is presented who lived in Bethany just as Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, did. She entered the house of Simon, the leper, and anointed Jesus’ head with very precious ointment from an alabaster box. Her name is not mentioned, and the use of the valuable ointment caused controversy among the disciples (vv. 8-9). Jesus defended her (v. 10) and memorialized her deed (v.13). He declared that her act was done in preparation for his burial (v.12) and that it would be mentioned wherever in the whole world the gospel is preached (v.13). No mention of the woman’s sinful nature is given.
Mark’s account (Mark 14:3-9) is very similar to that given in Matthew’s presentation. It took place in Bethany, where Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, lived. The dinner was also in the house of Simon. There is no mention of the woman’s name or that she was a sinner. She poured oil on Jesus’ head, not His feet. The disciples are presented as indignant over what they considered a waste of the ointment. Jesus defended her actions, memorialized her deed, identified it as preparation for his burial, and promised that it would be mentioned wherever the gospel was preached.
3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
John 12:1-8 presents a story about a dinner where Jesus’s friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, were present. There is no mention of the dinner being in Simon’s house, although it could have been. Martha served the supper, and the person who anointed Jesus’s head with precious ointment was identified as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. There is no mention or allusion to Mary as a sinful woman, although this passage of Scriptures does say that Mary anointed his feet with the ointment and wiped them with her hair, just as the woman of the Luke account did. The disciple who disagreed with her actions, calling it a waste of money, was identified as Judas Iscariot, a thief. (v. 6). This could be the same story as the Luke account.
12 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
I do not propose to know the answer to the controversy concerning whether the woman with the alabaster box is the same in all four gospel accounts. If she is the same, then the woman that Luke presents as a sinful woman would be Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. My purpose here is only to acknowledge the controversy among theologians and Bible students today.
Dake’s Annotated Bible states that Luke’s account of the sinful woman is an event found only in the Book of Luke. (Note m, pg. 115). He further states that the anointing identified in Luke’s account was the first of three anointings that were performed during the week of Jesus’s death. He presents the others as found in Matt. 26:7-13; Mk. 14: 3-9; and Jn 12:3-8, making at least three of the four anointings separate events.
We must remember that some Bible questions may only be answered when we arrive in Heaven. But what does it matter who the seventh sinful woman in The New Testament really is? This is one thing we do know. That woman was delivered from sin, just as we all must be delivered from sin in order to receive eternal life. AMEN.
